The Skagit County Clerk and Ex Officio Clerk of the Superior Court is one of several independent elected officials provided by the Washington State Constitution with specific and special duties assigned by statute, as well as local and state court rules. The three branches of county government are Executive, Judicial and Legislative. The County Clerk is an Executive Branch position and is the administrative and financial officer of Superior Court.
Specific Functions of the County Clerk Include:
Administrator of Court Records and Exhibits: The Clerk receives, processes and permanently preserves all documents presented in a Superior Court cause of action. These records include filings and documents within the following case types: Adult Felony, Civil, Domestic, Probate, Guardianship, Paternity, Adoption, Involuntary Commitment, Truancy, Children at Risk, Children in Need of Services, Dependency and Juvenile Offender.
Financial Officer of the Court: The Clerk collects statutory fees, fines, victim restitution and trust funds. The trust account for monies received is maintained by the Clerk and disbursed upon court order.
Quasi-judicial Officer: The Clerk exercises quasi judicial functions (to exercise discretion of a judicial nature) for the issuance of writs, subpoenas, warrants of arrest, letters testamentary and other court related orders.
Ex Officio Clerk of the Court: Under the Constitution of the State of Washington the Clerk has the title of "ex officio clerk of the court". This requires the Clerk's presence at all court sessions for the purpose of establishing an independent record of each hearing called "Minutes" which are available to the public. The Clerk must also be present at every court hearing or trial to receive and keep a record of all exhibits (evidence) entered by the parties.
