ABSTRACT
When a claim form is presented for issue or when a defence is filed, it will first be received by a court officer. A court officer4 is a member of the court staff, but has no judicial function. However, in order to further the process of case management at all levels, court officers presented with documents by parties with a request for a step to be taken can, instead of taking that step, consult a judge instead. The judge can then decide whether that step should be taken (r 3.2).
