TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Leon County Clerk of Courts is soon to be subject to an “administrative order.”
The announcement came at the Leon County Legislative Delegation meeting on Monday, when the clerk addressed local lawmakers on funding requests.
The order will require the clerk to process all criminal cases within eight hours after many complaints about the office.
Earlier this year, those involved with the Leon County court system were hopeful that concerns raised by Chief Judge Frank Allman of Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit would lead to improvements.
Chief Judge Allman sent a letter to Leon County Clerk of Courts Gwen Marshall, outlining over ten issues that could amount to “neglect of duty.”
Attorney Don Pumphrey, who spoke to WCTV earlier this year, said he’s had clients still waiting in jail for hours when they should have been released because a deputy clerk didn’t immediately scan in a judge’s order or accurately recount what happened in court.
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After the “neglect of duty” claims, Marshall denied the accusations in a letter to the Florida Supreme Court, saying mistakes do happen, but they are caught and corrected.
“As with any entity, however, mistakes are sometimes made. Where mistakes are made, steps are taken to ensure that they aren’t likely to recur. That’s what’s happening now in the Leon County Clerk’s Office,” the letter says.
The letter also stated the clerk of the court office is facing funding and staffing issues.
“Those issues are uniquely affecting the Leon County Clerk’s Office. The office is forced to do more with less,” the letter reads.
During Monday’s meeting, the clerk echoed her August statements, saying her office hasn’t had a funding increase since 2008.
“This means we’re operating a 2025 business on 2008 prices,” she said.
Marshall explained that Leon County is in a unique position because whenever someone sues the state of Florida, the case must be filed in the 2nd Judicial Circuit. She also said that no costs or fines are associated with those.
Marshall said that this administrative order would require overtime that is not in her current budget.
“We have long-term funding problems,” she said. And we need your help. My 150 employees work hard every day serving our shared constituents, our local government, and the court system.”
Marshall ended by asking for the delegation’s support in the upcoming legislative session.
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