I have known Sherri Mitchell Hazlewood since we were in the Five Forks 4-H Club together in the 1970s.
Mrs. Hazlewood has 28 years’ experience in the Patrick County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. Having worked in the circuit court clerk’s office in Franklin County, I know that this job is highly complex and requires a great deal of knowledge and experience.
The following is just a handful of the 800 duties the Code of Virginia lists as responsibilities of the circuit court clerk. Is this really a position that needs to be given to a person that has not worked one day in the clerk’s office? I think not.
The grand jury that hears criminal indictments is assembled by the Clerk for the prosecutors and the sheriffs. The Clerk collects criminal fines and costs levied against criminals upon conviction in court trials. The Clerk is the official record-keeper of criminal felony cases, misdemeanor appeal cases and criminal indictments. The Clerk prepares many legal documents for the court such as criminal court orders that determines the outcome of a criminal court case, summonses and legal service of process, authorizations for arrest and other judicial directives.
The Clerk is responsible for maintaining all court files and ensuring proper recordkeeping of the legal documents in the court files. The Clerk manages jury operations and is responsible for issuing juror questionnaires to establish a qualified jury pool, issuing jury summons for jury trials, preparing jury lists, providing a comprehensive juror orientation and coordinating the needs of citizens who report for jury duty.
The Clerk is responsible for collecting the taxes and fees associated with the legal recordation of deeds. Additionally, the Clerk is responsible for retaining all deeds and land records recorded since the inception of the city/county and for ensuring adequate public access to these public records.
The Clerk acts as a probate judge when a last will and testament is presented to the Clerk for legal probate of an estate. The Clerk ensures the authentication of the will, conducts a legal hearing with witnesses, makes a legal appointment of an executor or administrator of a decedent’s estate and prepares legal documents and orders related to the handling of the estate.
The Clerk is responsible for issuing marriage licenses in Virginia, processing notary public commissions, and processing business name applications for citizens in a county/city. The Clerk issues witness subpoenas in court cases, issues concealed handgun permits, and administers the oath of public office to elected officials, sheriff deputies and to citizens who are appointed to local or state commission posts. In most jurisdictions, military discharge papers, referred to as DD-214, are filed with the Clerk. In some jurisdictions, the Clerk may provide passport application services and fishing license services.
The Clerk takes custody of all election ballots after the local election officials have certified the election results. The Clerk’s Offices throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia possess a wealth of historic records, such as the original last will and testament of George Washington, that are available for public inspection.
I hope the citizens of Patrick County will turn out on November 7th and vote for the knowledge, experience, and conscientiousness of Sherri Mitchell Hazlewood.
Beverly Belcher Woody
