FRANKFORT, Ky., Aug. 12, 2021 – Circuit court clerks from across the commonwealth met for their first educational program since COVID-19 prevented in-person meetings in 2020. The Circuit Court Clerks College took place June 27-30 in Covington.
“After a long and challenging year, the circuit clerks were excited to get together for our summer college,” said Bell County Circuit Court Clerk Colby Slusher, who was elected at the college to a one-year term as president of the Kentucky Association of Circuit Court Clerks. “We had a lot of topics and updates to cover, including a discussion about how our offices adapted operations to serve the public during the pandemic.”
Circuit clerks were able to earn continuing education credits at the college, which was hosted by the KACCC’s Education Committee and the Division of Education Services at the Administrative Office of the Courts.
One session focused on the progress being made to transition all of Kentucky’s driver’s licensing services from the Offices of Circuit Court Clerk to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. As of Aug. 12, services had been moved from 40 circuit clerk offices to driver’s licensing regional offices. The other 80 counties are scheduled to make the change by June 30, 2022. Kentuckians can now obtain driver’s licenses and ID cards at any of the regional offices, regardless of where they live or whether their county has transitioned. Residents in counties that have not made the change yet can still get the items at their local circuit clerk office if they want.
The college included a session on how circuit clerks can assist people with probate and mental health cases and provided an overview of changes to juvenile court rules. Circuit clerks also participated in discussions on best practices based on the population size of their counties and learned about how generational differences can affect diversity and inclusion.
The circuit clerks learned how to obtain data from the Kentucky Court of Justice’s new website to improve their work and received an update about the Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks’ Trust for Life program. Kentuckians can register to be an organ donor at their local Office of Circuit Court Clerk or at donatelifeky.org.
The college featured several special guests. The circuit clerks took part in a discussion with the justices of the Supreme Court of Kentucky and the AOC director. Gov. Andy Beshear also spoke at the college, as did Sen. Chris McDaniel of Kenton County and Rep. Ed Massey of Boone County. The legislators reviewed the 2021 session of the Kentucky General Assembly and looked ahead to the 2022 budget session. McDaniel is chairman of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee and Massey is chairman of the House Judicial Committee.
Circuit Court Clerks
Circuit court clerks are responsible for managing the records of Kentucky’s Circuit and District courts. Circuit clerks are constitutionally elected officials from all 120 counties and serve a six-year term. They provide professional recordkeeping, receive money due the courts, pay money to required parties and to the state, record legal documents, provide legal documents and other legal materials, maintain the jury system, administer oaths, handle affidavits and issue driver licenses and non-driver ID cards.
Administrative Office of the Courts
The AOC is the operations arm for the state court system and supports the activities of nearly 3,300 employees and 406 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC also executes the Judicial Branch budget.
By county, circuit court clerks who attended the college include:
Anderson County Circuit Court Clerk Pamela J. Robinson
Barren County Circuit Court Clerk Krissie Coe Fields
Bath County Circuit Court Clerk Claudette Faudere
Bell County Circuit Court Clerk Colby Slusher
Boone County Circuit Court Clerk David S. Martin
Bourbon County Circuit Court Clerk Trina B. Huston
Boyd County Circuit Court Clerk Tracey L. Kelley
Breathitt County Circuit Court Clerk James E. Turner
Breckinridge County Circuit Court Clerk Cindy Rhodes
Bullitt County Circuit Court Clerk Paulita A. Keith
Calloway County Circuit Court Clerk Linda Avery
Campbell County Circuit Court Clerk Tonya Nolan Jack
Carroll County Circuit Court Clerk Gloria Belcher
Casey County Circuit Court Clerk Craig L. Overstreet
Christian County Circuit Court Clerk Paige Parker
Clark County Circuit Court Clerk Martha M. Miller
Crittenden County Circuit Court Clerk Melissa Guill
Fleming County Circuit Court Clerk Amy M. Saunders
Floyd County Circuit Court Clerk Douglas Ray Hall
Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk Amy Feldman
Gallatin County Circuit Court Clerk Tammy Trimble
Garrard County Circuit Court Clerk Dana Hensley
Grayson County Circuit Court Clerk Stacie Blain
Greenup County Circuit Court Clerk Allen Kent Reed
Harrison County Circuit Court Clerk Teresa W. Furnish
Henderson County Circuit Court Clerk Herbert McKee Jr.
Henry County Circuit Court Clerk Gina Lyle
Hopkins County Circuit Court Clerk Tanya M. Bowman
Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David L. Nicholson
Kenton County Circuit Court Clerk John C. Middleton
Knox County Circuit Court Clerk Greg Helton
LaRue County Circuit Court Clerk Emily N. Ernst
Letcher County Circuit Court Clerk Mike Watts
Lewis County Circuit Court Clerk Teresa Callahan
Lincoln County Circuit Court Clerk Teresa Reed
Livingston County Circuit Court Clerk Debbie Harp Knoth
Madison County Circuit Court Clerk David M. Fernandez
Marion County Circuit Court Clerk Kim T. May
Marshall County Circuit Court Clerk Tiffany Fralicx Griffith
Martin County Circuit Court Clerk Denise M. Gauze
Mason County Circuit Court Clerk Kirk Tolle
McCracken County Circuit Court Clerk Kim Channell
Meade County Circuit Court Clerk Ellen F. Lindsey
Menifee County Circuit Court Clerk Donald T. Harper
Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk Tanya P. Terry
Nicholas County Circuit Court Clerk Sandye Watkins
Ohio County Circuit Court Clerk Shannon Kirtley (attended remotely)
Owen County Circuit Court Clerk Margaret Forsee
Pulaski County Circuit Court Clerk J.S. Flynn
Rowan County Circuit Court Clerk Kim Barker Tabor
Russell County Circuit Court Clerk Tony D. Kerr
Scott County Circuit Court Clerk Tina M. Foster
Shelby County Circuit Court Clerk Wendy B. Graney
Taylor County Circuit Court Clerk Susie Skaggs
Trigg County Circuit Court Clerk Pam W. Perry
Trimble County Circuit Court Clerk Stacy M. Bruner
Washington County Circuit Court Clerk JoAnne Mudd Miller
Whitley County Circuit Court Clerk Gary W. Barton
Woodford County Circuit Court Clerk Christie Edwards
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