Duty

What duty means

In practice, you will see duty in pleadings, motions, orders and court rules. The definition above explains the general meaning. Even so, the meaning can shift with context. Therefore, always read it alongside the rule or document where it appears.

Where duty comes up

The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.

How to research the term

Start with the primary source. For example, if duty appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read duty in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.

You can read the current federal court rules online for free.

Related legal terms

• Docket: the court's official record of filings and events in a case.
• Docket sounding: a court session, used in Florida circuit courts, at which the judge calls the cases set for an upcoming trial period to find out whether each one is ready for trial, has settled or needs a continuance.
• Doctrine: a legal rule or principle that courts develop and apply over time, often through case law. Examples include the doctrine of stare decisis, the doctrine of res judicata and the abstention doctrines in federal court.
• Due process: the constitutional guarantee that the government will not deprive a person of life, liberty or property without fair procedures. It appears in the Fifth Amendment for the federal government and the Fourteenth Amendment for the states. At a minimum, it usually requires notice and an opportunity to be heard.

Why precise terms matter

Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.