Legal Definitions - clerk of indictment

A clerk of indictment was an officer of England's Central Criminal Court who was responsible for preparing indictments and assisting the Clerk of Arraigns. This office was abolished in 1946, and its duties were moved to the Central Office.

The Central Office is the primary office for most of England's courts. It was established in 1879 to consolidate the masters and associates of the common-law courts, and the clerical functions of the Crown Office of the Queen's Bench Division, the Report and Enrollment offices of the Chancery Division, and several other offices.

For example, if someone was accused of a crime, the clerk of indictment would prepare the indictment, which is a formal accusation of a crime. The clerk of indictment would also assist the Clerk of Arraigns, who is responsible for reading the indictment to the accused person and asking them to enter a plea.

The Central Office is responsible for many clerical functions of the courts, such as filing court documents and maintaining court records. This helps to ensure that the courts run smoothly and efficiently.