Also known as: entries of judgment · entry of the judgment · judgment entry · entering judgment
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
The formal recording by the clerk of a court's final decision in the civil docket or judgment book. This step marks the point at which the judgment becomes effective for purposes such as starting appeal periods and triggering post-judgment motion deadlines.
Ella Emerson obtained a jury verdict against Emerald Enterprises. The clerk recorded the final decision in the docket on March 1. Emerald filed its motion for a new trial on March 30. The court denied the motion as untimely because more than twenty-eight days had passed since the recording.
Evelyn Ellison and Ethan Evans divorced after a bench trial. The court dissolved the marriage on April 10 and the clerk recorded the decree. Evelyn later sought attorney fees for services rendered after the recording. The court ordered payment directly to her lawyer under the statute authorizing such awards following entry.
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Erika Echevarria won a contract judgment against Evergreen Bank. The clerk entered the judgment on June 5. Evergreen filed a motion to alter the damage calculation on July 3. The court rejected the motion because it was filed more than twenty-eight days after the recording.
Edward Everett sued Elemental Pharmaceuticals after a bench trial. The court announced judgment for the defendant on September 12 and the clerk recorded it the same day. Everett moved within twenty-eight days to add findings on causation evidence the court had overlooked. The court granted the motion and amended the judgment accordingly.
Emanuel Escobar, a minority shareholder, prevailed on a breach-of-fiduciary-duty claim against the controlling family. The appellate court reversed the dismissal and directed the trial court to record judgment ordering the corporation to purchase his shares at fair value. The trial court then entered the judgment as instructed.
A nonresident defendant received notice by publication in a quiet-title action. The statute permitted the defendant to appear within one year after the clerk recorded the judgment. The court upheld the judgment because the defendant failed to appear within the statutory window following the recording.
The period begins on the date the clerk records the final decision in the docket. A motion filed after that date is untimely even if the court later corrects the judgment for clerical error.
Yes. An aggrieved party may appeal directly to the court of appeals from the judgment in the same manner as an appeal from any other district-court judgment once the magistrate judge's decision has been recorded.
Yes. The court may order a party to pay reasonable fees and costs incurred after the recording when the statute authorizes such awards following entry.
The motion is untimely and the court lacks authority to amend the findings or the judgment on that ground.
…Swan & Critchfield, provide for a similar publication, and that the defendant may come in to defend within five years after the entry of the judgment, but that the title to property held by any purchaser in good faith under the judgment shall not be affected thereby. The attachment laws of New Jersey, Nixon Dig. (4th ed.), p. 55, are…