Carbon Dems announce process for Clerk of Courts recommendation

The Democratic Party of Carbon County is looking for someone to fill the soon-to-be vacant county clerk of courts position.

William McGinley, the longtime Carbon County clerk of courts, submitted his letter of retirement to Gov. Tom Wolf recently. It will take effect on May 1.

The clerk of courts position is an elected officer position within the commonwealth, meaning that the person who fills the vacancy must be vetted by the Democratic Party of Carbon County before any appointment by the governor.

The selected person will be recommended by the party to the governor’s office, who will then make the nomination to the state Senate.

If the person is confirmed by the Senate, he or she will fill the position until the end of McGinley’s term, which is Dec. 31, 2019.

According to state law, the qualified nominee must be a resident of Carbon County, be a registered Democrat as of Jan. 1 and be able to pass a background check for work with the county court system.

Other desired qualifications include strong personnel management experience; excellent and effective communication and interpersonal skills; and the ability to understand and oversee systems for implementation of court rules and regulations in an impartial manner.

Experience in local or state government and an understanding of the Pennsylvania Court System and legal terminology would also be helpful.

The overall objective of the position is to ensure the preparation and maintenance of records for the Court of Common Pleas and to oversee the performance of specialized clerical and administrative duties within the department.

The clerk of courts’ duties include attending court hearings, swearing in defendants, taking notes of court proceedings and preparing court orders for judges; processing and completing various forms and documents including warrants and orders as required by the office and the courts; accepting and processing bail money, assisting in collection or receipt of money due to the office, and maintaining accurate records and reports of such transactions; preparing reports to executive agencies including the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Justice, the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Revenue; and interacting daily with the public, other internal offices, outside employers, agencies and courts while maintaining effective working relationships with all.

Interested candidates should submit a résumé and cover letter indicating their qualifications to perform the duties of the Office of Clerk of Courts. The résumé and cover letter should be submitted via email to carbondems@gmail.com or submitted by personal delivery of the materials to Democratic Party of Carbon County, 125 E. Ludlow St., Summit Hill, PA 18250.

The deadline for application materials is no later than 5 p.m. on April 16.

Materials should indicate the candidate’s compliance with the requirements of the Office of Clerk of Courts including Democratic Party membership since at least Jan. 1. Candidates are required to successfully complete a background check in order to work with the county court system.

Materials will be reviewed by a subcommittee of the executive board of the Democratic Party of Carbon County and the most qualified candidates will be invited to an in-person interview on April 17 and, if necessary, April 18.

The subcommittee will make recommendations to the full executive board, which will consider the recommendations at a special April meeting to determine the party’s recommendation to Wolf.