District Clerk
Honorable David Lloyd
Phone: (817) 556-6839
Fax: (817) 556-6120
JCDC@johnsoncountytx.org
Guinn Justice Center
204 South Buffalo Avenue
Cleburne, Texas 76033
Mission Statement
To provide the Judicial System and the public with information and support in the most technologically advanced methods possible by:
- Fulfilling our statutory duties as record custodian and fee officer to the best of our abilities;
- Fostering an environment for our employees that encourages the development of new ideas and the willingness to improve productivity
- Implementing our goals and objectives with the team approach and decision making at all levels of the organization
- Striving to be a leader and example to other county and state agencies
Meet the District Clerk
The District Clerk is elected to a four year term and manages most of the business operations for the 3 District Courts in Johnson County that hear Civil, Family and Criminal Cases. The Office of the District Clerk is probably best known for its jurisdiction over the selection of prospective jurors for the 3 district courts, and 4 justice of the peace courts in Johnson County. Juries are drawn from a jury database that consists of names of registered voters and/or holders of a Texas Driver's License – Identification Card.
The Johnson County District Clerk's Office, the official record-keepers for the District Courts, has other far-ranging duties and plays a vital role in the day-to-day operation of the justice system and of the operation of county government. As the official custodian of record, the District Clerk's Office is responsible for the care and safekeeping of all court records for the District Courts of Johnson County.
The office functions with 20 employees who, in addition to their court duties, maintain and manage the records and monies for court fees, over 6 million dollars in custodial accounts which are invested for the benefit of many minor children, bail bond forfeitures and all tax lawsuits. The office also produces a substantial number of court documents including, but not limited to, civil citations, criminal warrants, criminal judgments and sentences and protective orders.
Responsibilities
The District Clerk receives for filing and processing all documents in a court case. The Clerk maintains the official court records and must mark the exact date and time of receipt, issue papers during the life of a case and for many years after a case is final, prepare the "docket" or calendar of hearings and trials, compile the court minutes, and prepare transcripts of proceedings for appeals and writs of Habeas Corpus.
Records Management
Most court records are public information. The District Clerk is responsible for managing records so that they are easily retrieved for public information, preserved for permanent storage in archives, and disposed of according to law.
Financial Officer
The District Clerk is charged with the responsibility of collecting and disbursing court costs, fines and other fees that benefit 20+ agencies at the state and local level in addition to child support payments, money placed in the court registry fund that is in dispute, money invested on behalf of minor children for safekeeping until age 18, and preparation of the operating budget for the office.
Vital Statistics
The District Clerk is responsible for gathering data and reporting to several state and local agencies. A few are the County Auditor, County Treasurer, Voter Registrar, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Department of Public Safety, Attorney General, State Treasurer, State Board of Medical Examiners, State Library, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Office of Court Administration
Jury Manager
The District Clerk is the officer of the Court in charge of the jury selection process to determine the number of potential jurors required to begin a trial, send summons to jurors, process jurors on trial day, assign jurors to panels, pay jurors for service, and act as liaison between the jurors, courts and employers.
Personnel/Office Management
The District Clerk is responsible for employing deputy clerks to assist with all of the duties described above. Personnel and office management includes hiring, office policies and procedures, scheduling office hours and holidays, compliance with all federal labor and employment laws, projecting the equipment, space and storage needs for the office, and public assistance with information about the court system and other government agencies.
Continuing Education
Within two years of the day on which a person first takes office as District Clerk, he or she must successfully complete hours of instruction in performance of the duties of office. Subsequently, a clerk must successfully complete 20 hours of continuing education courses in the performance of the duties of office at least one time in each 24-month period.