Define 'docket'.

• A. The formal record with brief entries of the proceedings in a case
• B. A calendar of future appearances
• C. A list of charges against the defendant
• D. The judge's personal notes

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is that a docket is the formal record of a case in court. It is the official file that tracks every event, filing, motion, order, hearing, and disposition with brief entries. This gives judges, court staff, and the parties a complete history of what has happened and what remains to be done, not just a schedule of future dates. So while you might see upcoming hearings listed on the docket, its main purpose is to document all actions and dates in the case.

The calendar of future appearances is more about scheduling, not the full history. A list of charges belongs in the charging document itself, not as the ongoing case record. The judge’s personal notes are not part of the formal docket.