Letter to the Editor: Director says elected clerk need not be a lawyer

In the recent article, which I have just seen, appearing in the Wilmington Business Journal, Dick Ellis, who was cited as being a spokesman for the Administrative Office of the Courts, was quoted as suggesting that a Clerk of Superior Court who held a law degree was preferable to one who did not. That is absolutely NOT the position of the Administrative Office of the Courts and is not the position of the Director.

The General Assembly and indeed the Constitution of North Carolina clearly state that such a degree is not a prerequisite as a qualification for Clerk. 

As Director, I have worked with all 100 of our fine Clerks of Court; and as a trial judge I presided in the courts of at least 80 of them. While opinions may differ as to whether or not any particular degree or level of experience affects potential performance, the AOC takes no position on that question. We have been honored to work with all of our clerks who were elected by the people and who come from a variety of backgrounds. Indeed, the elected clerks over the last 30 years from my home district in which the article was published have consistently been counted among the finest in the state. Furthermore, we look forward to working with whoever is chosen by the people they represent in any particular county.

Mr. Ellis was expressing a personal opinion only, and says he was unaware the comments would be used within the context of a contested election. In any event, the AOC has never taken such a position on this issue and it would be entirely inappropriate for us to do so now.

John W. Smith, Director, Administrative Office of the Courts