Forms

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

OF THE CIRCUIT CLERK

Statewide, nearly one million cases are processed annually, all of which are initiated in the office of the Circuit Clerk. Hundreds of millions of dollars of court monies pass through the Clerk's office yearly. Court monies include filing fees, court costs, fines, restitution, child support, and civil judgments. The accounting and payment of these monies is solely the responsibility of the Circuit Clerk. Numerous local and state agencies and state general funds are recipients of the disbursement of these funds. Additionally, the Circuit CLerk serves the judiciary manager for many court-ordered investment accounts.

—The duties of the Circuit Clerk are broad and are enumerated in the Code of Alabama and the Alabama Rules of court. Magistrate duties require that the Circuit Clerk be available to law enforcement for the issuance of warrants around the clock. Circuit Clerks must be available 24 hours a day.

—Fiscal responsibilities include the management of all court monies requiring banking and fiscal knowledge. Accounts are routinely audited by the Examiners of Public Accounts.

—Administrative responsibilities include personnel management, court planning, purchasing, and inventory control. The Circuit Clerk issues writs and all summonses including jury summons and witness subpoenas. The Circuit Clerk is responsible for jury management. This officer of the court serves as custodian of all court records and is responsible for providing access to those records by court personnel, the legal community, and the public. While most records are public, confidentiality is maintained for those records protected by law.

COURTS OF JURISDICTION INCLUDE

— Juvenile, Domestic Relations, Child Support

— Small Claims, District Civil and Circuit Civil

— Traffic, District Criminal and Circuit Criminal

ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES INCLUDE

— Business Manager at Trial Court level

— Custodian of Records (file storage, electronic imaging and document retrieval)

— Fiscal Officer

— Chief Magistrate (issues warrants, sets bail, accepts guilty pleas)

— Election Official

- Appointing Board (poll workers)

- Absentee Election Manager

- Canvassing Board (counts and certifies votes)

- Case Manager for all courts

- Purchasing Agent

- Personnel and Human Resource Manager

ADMINISTRATIVE DUIES INCLUDE

— Overseeing all aspects of Jury Management

— Issuing Summons, writs, and process

— Preparing appeal transcripts

— Conducting Judicial Sales

— Pre-Qualifying and monitoring Bonding Companies

— Approving Bonds

— Attending sessions of court

— Setting dockets

— Generating reports and statistics

— Maintaining inventory control

— Managing and monitoring the SJIS information flow at the local level (including hardware, software and computer access and security)

— evaluating all areas of need and coordinating efficient solutions