A nunc pro tunc order corrects the record to reflect what actually occurred at an earlier time. It cannot supply an act that never happened or change a substantive ruling retroactively.
The power is limited to clerical correction.
Alternative Names:
Now for Then|Nunc Pro Tunc Order
Why it Matters?
The limitation to recording what actually happened is what defeats most requests, since parties seek nunc pro tunc relief to cure a missed deadline or supply an order the court never entered. Courts have been explicit that the device corrects the record rather than rewriting history. A genuinely clerical omission, such as an order announced from the bench but never docketed, is the appropriate application.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What can nunc pro tunc relief accomplish?
Why are most requests denied?
