Legal Advice
In accordance with the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 955, Clerk's Office staff are prohibited from giving legal advice or engaging in the practice of law. Therefore, Clerk's Office personnel cannot:
- Explain the meaning of a specific rule
- Make an interpretation of case law
- Explain the result of taking or not taking an action in a case
- Answer whether jurisdiction is proper in a case
- Answer whether a complaint properly presents a claim
- Provide advice on the best procedure to accomplish a particular objective
Clerk's Office staff can provide procedural information such as:
- Instructions on how to execute a task (e.g. number of copies, use of forms, etc.)
- Provide information as to compliance with this Court's policies