Real-Life Communication
A court clerk must be a good communicator. "These skills are so important,"
says Jackie Meisenheimer, a court clerk. "We have to take care of filing of
papers, we communicate with attorneys, we act as go-betweens for attorneys,
and we deal a lot with the public in person and on the phone."
Court
clerk Mike Finney agrees. "Verbal skills are important. We also must have
a good comprehension of the system."
When the justice system makes changes,
court clerks must have a thorough knowledge of the alterations. "Things change
and we have to keep on top of that," says Meisenheimer.
You're
a court clerk working in new territory in a very remote area called Newland.
You've worked in other court systems, but a new approach is being taken
in this remote location. It's your duty to learn about this system.
This
is one of the memos you read about Newland's court system:
The
Newland Court of Justice
When the new territory of Newland was established,
a new kind of court was created as well. The Newland Court of Justice combines
the power of the superior trial court and the territorial court so that the
same judge can hear all cases that arise in the territory.
In Newland,
most of the communities are small and isolated, so the court travels to them
"on circuit." The circuit court includes a judge, a clerk, a court reporter,
a prosecutor and at least one defense attorney.
Court workers and victim
or witness assistants might also travel with the circuit court, depending
on the cases to be heard.
Interpreters are hired in the communities
when possible, or travel with the circuit court when necessary.
In addition
to holding regular sessions in Center City (the capital of Newland), the court
flies to most communities in Newland at intervals that range from six weeks
to two years, depending on the number of cases.
(Based on information
from the Department of Justice Canada. Used with permission.)
In
order to make sure you've understood what you've read, a colleague
quizzes you about the new system. These are the questions she asks you:
- Why did the Newland Court of Justice combine the power of the superior
trial court and the territorial court?
- What is a circuit court?
- Who travels with the circuit court?