Art. 131 Duties and powers

Court staff members like clerks, sheriffs, constables, marshals, and stenographers each have specific jobs to do in a criminal case. This rule simply says that these officers can only do what the law allows them to do, and they must carry out the duties the law gives them.

In practice, this means every court officer has a defined role. Clerks handle records and paperwork, sheriffs and marshals deal with things like serving papers or keeping order, and stenographers record what happens in court. None of them can go beyond the authority the law gives them, and they can't ignore the responsibilities the law places on them either.

For someone involved in a criminal case, this rule is a reminder that court staff are bound by law in how they do their jobs. If a court officer acts outside their legal authority, that action may not be valid.