Independence County circuit Clerk, Claudia Nobles

The Circuit Clerk is an elected official in county government. The Constitution of the State of Arkansas provides for the election of the Circuit Clerk to a two-year term of office with the requirements that she be a qualified elector and resident. Before beginning her duties, the Circuit Clerk must enter into an official bond, to guarantee her proper performance of the duties. This may be accomplished either through the State Blanket Bond Program which covers all employees on the payroll, or a Surety Bond purchased for the officer. She must also take the constitutional oath of office.

To assist the Clerk in the performance of her duties, the Circuit Clerk may appoint such number of deputies as the Quorum Court may approve.

The office of the Circuit Clerk is to be operated according to the office budget which is established annually by the Quorum Court of the County.

In general, the Circuit Clerk maintains records of, and is the focal point for the orderly flow of paperwork through the Courts of the County. Under provisions of Arkansas Code Annotated 14-14-1301(2), the Circuit Clerk also acts as ex-offcio Recorder for the County unless that function is otherwise provided by law.

The primary duties of the office revolve around filing, docketing, attending court, issuing of notices, records management, and reporting to the Administrative Office of the Courts. It is the responsibility of the Circuit Clerk to prepare a list of prospective jurors, docket cases of the respective courts, issue summonses, subpoenas, writs and warrants related to each case, attend court and swear witnesses. The Clerk maintains the records of the civil, criminal and Juvenile divisions of the Courts and prepares transcripts of proceedings under appeal. In addition, duties of the office in the capacity of Recorder include recording all deeds, mortgages, and conveyances of lands and buildings lying within the County, as well as maps and plats of newly laid out villages and all records from other counties concerning land sales or conveyance which affect title in the County. Other duties assigned the Recorder include the recording of powers of attorney, liens on real property, soldiers discharges, leases, financing statements, performance bonds and public official bonds. The records of the Circuit Courts are the evidence of their official acts and, therefore, it is necessary that they be accurately recorded and well maintained.