Rockwall County proposes new clerks and salary adjustments for civil family courts

The Rockwall County Commissioners Court Workshop Meeting held on June 17, 2025, focused on staffing needs within the civil and family department of the county courts, driven by an increase in case filings and the establishment of a new district court.

The meeting began with a request for the addition of a new deputy clerk position dedicated to the civil family department, which is essential for managing the anticipated workload from the incoming 500 and 503rd district courts. The proposal included promoting an existing employee to a supervisory role within the department and creating a full-time position for records management, funded through the district clerk's records management budget. Additionally, there was a request to reclassify the job grades for deputy clerks and senior clerks to better align with competitive salaries in surrounding counties.

The discussion highlighted a significant increase in civil and family cases, with approximately 400 new cases filed over the past two years. This surge has resulted in clerks being overwhelmed, processing an average of 18 to 20 e-filings per day, far exceeding the comfortable workload of 10 to 12 filings. The organizational chart presented during the meeting illustrated the current staffing structure and the additional clerks needed to manage the increased caseload effectively.

The proposed changes aim to alleviate the burden on existing staff and ensure that the new court can operate efficiently. The meeting concluded with a consensus on the necessity of these staffing adjustments to meet the demands of the growing case volume and to maintain the quality of service within the county's judicial system. Further discussions on budget implications and staffing needs are expected as the court prepares for the upcoming changes.