(a) The duties of the clerks of the circuit court include all of the following:

lawyer at desk

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Alabama Code 12-17-94

  • circuit: means judicial circuit. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Pleadings: Written statements of the parties in a civil case of their positions. In the federal courts, the principal pleadings are the complaint and the answer.
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(1) To sign and issue all summons, subpoenas, writs, executions, and other processes, under the authority of the court.
(2) To keep a consolidated docket sheet of civil and criminal cases, the names of the parties, the character of action or offense, the names of the attorneys and the sheriff’s return, which shall be entered in all civil and criminal cases standing for trial, in the order in which they are brought, and the bench notes, orders, rulings on motions and pleadings, other preliminary matters and final judgment which have been made in each case by the judge, which shall be the official minutes.
(3) To keep all papers, books, dockets, and records belonging to their office with care and security, with the papers filed, arranged, numbered, and labeled, so as to be of easy reference, and the books, dockets and records properly lettered. Parties shall be allowed to inspect the records free of charge.
(4) To make out and deliver, on application and payment of the legal fees therefor, to any person applying for the same, a correct transcript, properly certified, of any paper or record in their offices.
(5) To exercise such duties as are, or may be, conferred upon them by law, including administrative rules promulgated by order of the Supreme Court of Alabama.
(6) To monitor compliance with court orders issued by a state court which assess court costs, fines, and other related court-ordered money against criminal defendants and to utilize accounts receivable systems and other procedures, including notice processes, to ensure payment of court-ordered money.
(b) Any clerk of any circuit court who fails to perform any duty imposed on him or her, for the failure to perform which no other punishment is provided, shall, on conviction, be fined not exceeding $200.00.
  Previous section
Next section  
 Division 2 Contents