Legal Definitions - bench docket

A bench docket is a formal record that a judge or court clerk keeps to note all the proceedings and filings in a court case. It can also refer to a schedule of pending cases. For example, a court may have a list of cases set for trial, arranged in order of priority, called a preferred docket.

• A court clerk keeps a bench docket to record all the proceedings and filings in a court case.
• A court may have a list of cases set for trial, arranged in order of priority, called a preferred docket.

These examples illustrate how a bench docket can be used to keep track of court cases and schedule them for trial.