TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Leon County Clerk of Courts is soon to be subject to an \u201cadministrative order.\u201d <\/p>\n
The announcement came at the Leon County Legislative Delegation meeting on Monday, when the clerk addressed local lawmakers on funding requests.<\/p>\n
The order will require the clerk to process all criminal cases within eight hours after many complaints about the office. <\/p>\n
Earlier this year, those involved with the Leon County court system were hopeful that concerns raised by Chief Judge Frank Allman of Florida\u2019s Second Judicial Circuit would lead to improvements. <\/p>\n
Chief Judge Allman sent a letter to Leon County Clerk of Courts Gwen Marshall<\/a>, outlining over ten issues that could amount to \u201cneglect of duty.\u201d <\/p>\n Attorney Don Pumphrey, who spoke to WCTV earlier this year, said he\u2019s had clients still waiting in jail for hours when they should have been released because a deputy clerk didn\u2019t immediately scan in a judge\u2019s order or accurately recount what happened in court.<\/p>\n More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n After the \u201cneglect of duty\u201d claims, Marshall denied the accusations in a letter to the Florida Supreme Court<\/a>, saying mistakes do happen, but they are caught and corrected.<\/p>\n \u201cAs with any entity, however, mistakes are sometimes made. Where mistakes are made, steps are taken to ensure that they aren\u2019t likely to recur. That\u2019s what\u2019s happening now in the Leon County Clerk\u2019s Office,\u201d the letter says.<\/p>\n The letter also stated the clerk of the court office is facing funding and staffing issues. <\/p>\n \u201cThose issues are uniquely affecting the Leon County Clerk\u2019s Office. The office is forced to do more with less,\u201d the letter reads.<\/p>\n During Monday\u2019s meeting, the clerk echoed her August statements, saying her office hasn\u2019t had a funding increase since 2008. <\/p>\n \u201cThis means we\u2019re operating a 2025 business on 2008 prices,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n Marshall said that this administrative order would require overtime that is not in her current budget. <\/p>\n \u201cWe have long-term funding problems,\u201d 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.\u201d <\/p>\n Marshall ended by asking for the delegation\u2019s support in the upcoming legislative session.<\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n