Public’s View of Clerks – Their window to the judicial process. Photo by Michael Stevens using an iPhone 5.
Supreme Court Order 2014-12 deals with standards of conduct we expect of our circuit court clerks.
[I]t is essential that circuit court clerks uphold high standards of integrity, impartiality, and independence in their personal and professional affairs in order to promote public confidence in the judicial system. Circuit court clerks shall diligently perform their duties and avoid situations that might lead to conflict, the appearance of conflict, or the appearance of impropriety between self-interest and their duty to the courts and the general public.
SC Order 2014-12, Section 1
It is not just compliance with the rules but avoiding conflicts, the appearance of conflicts, and the appearance of impropriety between self-interest and their duties. A standard that is high but nothing less than what we need and require considering the constitutional and statutory responsibilities thrust upon the clerks who keep the process moving, the courts open, the jurors showing up, and the records safeguarded.
For the AOC’s archived Rules and Orders, click here.
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