Court Clerk

A Court Clerk is the record keeper in a courthouse. With you on staff, a court becomes a court of record, which is important because only courts that maintain permanent records can imprison and fine those that defy its rulings. Additionally, if a claimant appeals a decision, precise records of what happened at trial are crucial when Appellate Judges review the case to decide if it merits a second hearing. Without you, the court is considered an inferior tribunal with little power beyond the scope of single decisions. These courts often handle lesser administrative matters like reviewing Social Security disbursements.

A typical day will find you administering the oath to witnesses and jurors before the Judge, setting up the docket of cases to be heard that day and chronicling the events taking place during a proceeding. The most crucial part of your job happens outside the physical courtroom. You’re the one who authenticates records, publishes decisions and checks to make sure everything is accurate. In other words, you bear the court’s seal like the torch bearer at the Olympic Games and secure its reputation with the tenacity of a Pinkerton Guard.

Variety in your daily duties is determined by what kind of court you work for and in which state you work. In North Carolina, for instance, Court Clerks issue warrants and set up representation for those that can’t afford legal Counsel. In some jurisdictions, Court Clerks read the jury’s verdict, perform civil weddings and process passports.