Clerks may issue summonses.

Clerks may issue summonses.

• A. True
• B. Some jurisdictions
• C. Only for misdemeanors
• D. False

Answer: (D)

A summons is a court-initiated notice that requires a defendant to appear in court. The authority to issue that summons rests with the court itself, not with the clerk acting independently. The clerk’s role is to prepare the document, ensure it is properly formatted and signed on behalf of the court, and then have it issued under the court’s authority for service. Service is carried out by the appropriate officer (such as a sheriff or constable) or a process server. So, clerks don’t independently issue summonses; the court issues them, and the clerk handles the preparation and issuance under the court’s direction.

A summons is a court-initiated notice that requires a defendant to appear in court. The authority to issue that summons rests with the court itself, not with the clerk acting independently. The clerk’s role is to prepare the document, ensure it is properly formatted and signed on behalf of the court, and then have it issued under the court’s authority for service. Service is carried out by the appropriate officer (such as a sheriff or constable) or a process server. So, clerks don’t independently issue summonses; the court issues them, and the clerk handles the preparation and issuance under the court’s direction.