A summons may be served by the court clerk because it does not arrest anyone.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if the defendant is in custody
• D. Only by a deputy

Answer: (B)

Serving a summons is about delivering notice to the defendant that a legal action has started and requires a response or appearance. The person who serves must be authorized to effect service. The court clerk’s job is to issue and file the summons and keep the records, not to personally hand it to the defendant. In most jurisdictions, service is carried out by a sheriff’s deputy, a constable, or a private process server. The fact that the action does not involve an arrest isn’t the deciding factor here—arrest powers belong to law enforcement, and service of process is a separate duty performed by someone authorized to do so. (In some places, service by mail is allowed under specific rules, but that still doesn’t make the clerk the one who personally serves.)