What is
Clerk of Court?

The Clerk of Court is the elected official lawfully tasked with the administrative oversight of the Clerk of Court’s Office, the repository for all documents filed in the South Carolina Circuit Court, in both the Court of General Sessions (criminal court) and the Court of Common Pleas (civil court), as well as the Family Court. In addition to the maintenance of all filed legal documents and court records, the Clerk of Court is also prescribed with the following duties: docket management of legal cases to be heard by the court; collection of fees, fines, and costs; and submission of official reports to varied state and federal agencies.

 

The Clerk of Court’s duties in criminal court are profound as the Clerk’s Office serves as a vital component of our state’s criminal justice system, being tasked with the accountability and receipt of criminal warrants and the transmittal of the same to the Circuit Solicitor. Likewise, the Clerk’s Office is responsible for receiving all bond information, compiling trial dockets, the proper staffing of courtrooms, and overseeing the management of petit jurors and the Grand Jury.

 

Regarding Family Court, the Clerk of Court’s mandated duties are similar to those owed to the circuit court but are uniquely expanded as the Clerk’s Office is tasked with enforcing court-ordered child support and alimony payments. Additionally, the Clerk’s Office is responsible for the filing of Orders of Protection, and the transmission of the same to local law enforcement.

 

Overall, the Clerk of Court is a position, dating back to the medieval days of England, which now bears many legally mandated responsibilities, requiring a firm understanding of the legal nuances affecting our community.

 

As Clerk of Court, Jay Gresham pledges to propel our Clerk’s Office into the modern era by bringing his legal skills, energy, and innovative initiatives to better serve Greenville County and our court system.