Juvenile court clerk requests 10 new staff and $17,000 to digitize records

Juvenile court clerk Jeanine Gordon presented her first formal budget request since taking office, emphasizing technology investments and staffing needed to support the court’s caseload. Gordon said the clerk’s office has adopted digital docketing and virtual check-in systems and plans an e-filing rollout in the first quarter of FY-26. She requested $17,000 to digitize about 603 fragile record books in partnership with the Register of Deeds and asked the commission to approve 10 new full-time positions to staff minute clerks, records and legal departments tied to two additional magistrates.

Gordon framed the request as a cost-saving and access-to-justice measure: "We're launching the garnishment project that was suspended because of COVID and so that will relaunch again," she said, adding that the office has increased paperless operations for the truancy docket and aims to reduce storage and postage costs. She said the juvenile court handled more than 36,000 cases in 2024 and that the office’s summons/subpoena staff earn under $35,000 despite risk exposure; she asked commissioners to consider adding modest salary support to retain those staff.

Commissioners asked about coordination with other clerks and shared technology opportunities; Gordon said elective clerks meet regularly and collaborate on shared solutions. She also noted she is negotiating with a vendor (Veritas) to resume child-support order mailings and hopes to move some orders to verified email delivery in the future.