A circuit clerk is the court’s administrative officer. These members of the judicial branch of government are in charge of keeping the court’s records. Everything that happens in court goes to the circuit clerk’s desk first, and anyone who wants to do research on cases that have happened in court must go to the clerk’s office. These officials are traditionally elected voters for terms varying in length depending on the region, with four to six year terms being the most common.
Anyone who wishes to file a case with the circuit clerk must do so. The clerk examines civil, criminal, juvenile, and probate filings to ensure that they are complete, and then creates a record for each filing that will be used to track its progress through the court. These clerks go to court on a regular basis, or send their assistants to represent them, and they keep copies of all documents presented in court, as well as final rulings and other information. Many keep both electronic and paper records, and some clerks are working to digitize old handwritten records.
In addition to being an administrator, a circuit clerk is also the court’s financial officer. Circuit clerks handle the court’s fees and disbursements, as well as keeping track of the money that has passed through the system. They may also act as collections agents or contract out collection work to companies that specialize in this type of work in order to collect past-due court fees.
In many areas, in addition to keeping records, the circuit clerk also keeps the Court’s Seal and may be involved in court proceedings such as the reading of the verdict. Because the work in even a small court can be overwhelming for one person, the circuit court clerk is usually assisted a team of employees. These court officers also provide information about the court that may be useful to those in attendance, such as answering questions about court hours or assisting with legal filings.
People who want to look up historic court records for any reason work with the circuit clerk to locate the documents they require. Genealogy research, research on historic property lines and boundaries as part of a title search performed when a piece of real estate is sold, and historical research are all examples of reasons why people might want to review old records.