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Clerk of Superior Court details staffing recovery, e‑filing and jury/recording challenges
Summary
Clerk of Superior Court Val Wyatt told the Board she has reduced vacancy numbers since last year but remains concerned about retention, the statewide shortage of certified court reporters and digital‑recording risks; she asked to use clerk forfeiture funds for travel to coordinate statewide clerk and jury practices.
Val Wyatt, the elected Clerk of Superior Court, presented staffing and operational updates to the Board of Supervisors during the budget session and asked supervisors to approve limited, forfeiture‑funded travel for statewide coordination of clerk and jury practices.
“Retention is key to the democracy of our judicial system,” Wyatt said, noting that her office recently filled many of the vacancies that had created performance pressures the previous fiscal year.
Staffing and recruitment: Wyatt described a recovery from high vacancy counts (11 vacancies at one point) and said most positions have been filled, though two experienced staff members were preparing to leave for comparable roles outside the county because of housing and pay differentials. She urged continued attention to competitive compensation to retain trained staff.
Court reporters and recordings: Wyatt and the judges previously described a statewide shortage of certified court reporters. The clerk’s office is piloting integrated digital‑recording workflows and a transcript‑generation technology that links audio files to draft transcripts. Wyatt said the office will continue to need reliable audio/IT infrastructure because loss of courtroom recordings during long jury trials risks a reversible error on appeal.
Jury management, e‑filing and outreach: The clerk explained ongoing expansion of digital evidence handling, e‑filing for civil and juvenile case types, and jury questionnaire management tools. She and court managers described the Justice Bus outreach program — courthouse services temporarily deployed to Page, Tuba City and other communities — and a recent mobile event that included civil name‑change assistance and other low‑barrier services.
Budget request and administration recommendation: Wyatt asked to use a portion of the clerk’s forfeiture special‑revenue balance to pay for travel related to statewide clerk coordination and training (no general‑fund impact). County management recommended the clerk’s travel request and the office’s 5% CPI adjustment in the fiscal package. Wyatt emphasized she would prefer stronger recurring compensation adjustments to reduce turnover and said the office will continue to pursue grants and partnerships for specific projects such as remote access “pods.”
Ending: Wyatt closed by thanking staff and the board for prior support and noting the clerk’s continued coordination with courts, justice partners and the administrative office of the courts.
