Ex-Officio Clerk and County Auditor to the BOCC
  Clerk Accountant
  County Auditor
  Official Recorder

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is an elected county official who derives her responsibility and authority from the Florida Constitution and Statutes.  The Clerk is an officer of the courts and belongs to the judicial as distinguished from the executive or legislative branches of government.  As an elected county officer, she also has the responsibilities of auditor and custodian of all county funds. Her duties involve a variety of legal and administrative responsibilities essential to the smooth operation of the judicial process and to the functioning of the Board of County Commissioners.  In general, the Clerk of the Circuit Court is the Circuit Court official; County Treasurer; County Auditor; Recorder; and Clerk Accountant to the Board of County Commissioners. 

This document is designed to briefly describe the diverse responsibilities of the office and provide you with a better understanding of the role the Clerk assumes in the operation of county government.

CIRCUIT AND COUNTY COURT OFFICIAL

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is in charge of the clerical business of the courts.  The Clerk is entrusted with the duties of keeping court records; issuing processes; entering judgments; and, managing court funds.  As an officer of the courts, some of her duties, although not inclusive are as follows: 

• Maintains records of daily court proceedings for civil and criminal matters.
   

• Maintains a progress docket noting the prosecuting attorney and issues a capias for the arrest of the person charged.
   

• Maintains a trial calendar and judgment book.
   

• Issues summons for the appearance of jurors and witnesses at least ten days before the first day of court.
   

• Compensates jurors for their services.
   

• Records judgments and, if necessary, conducts the sale and distribution of proceeds according to the terms of the final judgment.
   

• In the Circuit Divisions, Deputy Clerks staff the Civil, Probate, Criminal and Juvenile Courts, perform a variety of duties in the Clerk’s Office and maintain court records and monies entrusted to the Clerk.
   

• In the County Divisions, Deputy Clerks staff the Civil, Traffic and Misdemeanor courts operated in the county.  Marriage licenses are issued and the central Violations Bureau provides a fine collections service for traffic violators.