Ministerial act

Examples of what is, and is not, ministerial

Examples of ministerial acts include:

• the entry of an order of the court by a clerk of the court,
• notarization (acknowledgement) by a notary public,
• mechanical processing of an income tax return
• determining the existence of facts and applying them as required by law, without any discretion
• issuance of a building permit
• approval of a subdivision real estate
• approval of a demolition permit
• a court's remand for "the correction of language in a judgment or the entry of a judgment in accordance with a mandate"

Actions that are not ministerial would include:

• a decision about application of a tax law, auditing of an income tax return, determining facts and applying law to those facts, and prioritizing such returns

Effects

If a ministerial act is not performed, then a court may issue a writ of mandamus to compel the public official to perform said act.

Absolute or sovereign immunity does not apply to the performance or non-performance of ministerial acts.

References

References

1. (2002). "The people's law dictionary: taking the mystery out of legal language". MJF Books.
2. Id.; Ballentine's Law Dictionary, p. 341.
3. Ballentine's, supra.
4. N.Y. Penal L. section 195.00 (requiring a notary to officiate upon request); see also People v. Brooks, 1 Den. 457; which may be found at [http://www.dos.state.ny.us/lcns/lawbooks/notary.html N.Y. Notary Law] {{webarchive. link. (2006-10-11 .)
5. See: [http://www.ftb.ca.gov/law/summaries/Interest_Abatement.pdf California Tax regulations].
6. See discussion at:[http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/forms_center/departments/county_attorney/forms/Land_Use_Law_Handbook_Chapter10_Legislative_Judicial.pdf Virginia Land Use law], citing Richlands Medical center v. Commonwealth, 230 Va. 384 (1985), Bd. of Co. Supervisors of Prince William Co. v. Hylton Enterprises, Inc., 216 Va. 582(1976).
7. :[http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/forms_center/departments/county_attorney/forms/Land_Use_Law_Handbook_Chapter10_Legislative_Judicial.pdf Virginia Land Use law], supra, citing Town of Jonesville v. Powell Valley Village LP, 254 Va. 70 (1997).
8. [http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/forms_center/departments/county_attorney/forms/Land_Use_Law_Handbook_Chapter10_Legislative_Judicial.pdf Virginia Land Use law], supra, citing Planning Comm'n of City of Falls Church v. Berman, 211 Va. 774 (1971).
9. [http://law.mongabay.com/news/Ministerial_Act.html Ministerial Act news]
10. [https://circuit2.blogspot.com/2006/10/appellate-remand-that-requires-solely.html Second Circuit Blog], citing Burell V. United States, No. 05-2945-cr (2nd Cir. 2006)(decision by Sotomayor, J.), at [http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov:8080/isysnative/RDpcT3BpbnNcT1BOXDA1LTI5NDUtY3Jfb3BuLnBkZg==/05-2945-cr_opn.pdf#xml=http://10.213.23.111:8080/isysquery/irl57e7/1/hilite].
11. See, supra, [http://www.ftb.ca.gov/law/summaries/Interest_Abatement.pdf California Tax regulations]
12. [http://www.albemarle.org/upload/images/forms_center/departments/county_attorney/forms/Land_Use_Law_Handbook_Chapter10_Legislative_Judicial.pdf Virginia Land Use law], supra, citing Phillips v. Telum, Inc., 223 Va. 585 (1982).
13. Virginia Land Use law, supra, citing Bogan v. Scott-Harris, 523 U.S. 44 (1998); Anderson v. Creighton, 483 U.S. 635 (1987); Harlow v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 800 (1982); and Heider v. Clemons,241 Va. 143 (1991).