VOTE411 Voter Guide

The experiences that I have will that makes me the best Candidate for this Office is my background in Administration, Organizational Management, Paralegal Studies and mediation in Family Law Matters. I have experience with resolving conflicts that involve domestic relations with an emphasis in Domestic Violence. I have many years in Customer Service experiences and in many different digital platforms. I believe that it is important to train Staff and the Public familiar with eCourts, Odyssey and WebEx. The purpose of eCourts is in unifying all 100 Counties within the State of North Carolina. The purpose of the use of Odyssey is for Litigants to look up their own information for Hearings; the purpose of WebEx is to virtually appear in Court.

The most important issues for the Clerk of Courts Office currently are limited resources, retention with employment and leveraging technology with public access. The Clerk’s Office has been named in two lawsuits within the last two years. There seems to be a disconnect of what the Clerk’s role is within their core functions. There seems to be a lack of supervision of staff and accountability is lacking. The Clerk’s Office should carry out the routine functions of filing documents for basic administrative tasks without requiring the North Carolina Court of Appeals to issue a Writ of Mandamus to compliance. There seems to be a lack of supervision and it causes excessive judicial oversight, which will lead to a strain on the limited resources.

The changes that I would like to implement at the Clerk’s Office would be extensive training in the Customer Service aspect of the Office. Everyone who walks into the front office are Customers and should be treated as such. The Staff should be trained to assist with filling out basic forms when there are self-represented Litigants (Pro Se). There should be a Pro Se resource center contained within the Courthouse. These are concerns that only the elected Clerk of Court can implement. While there are other judicial requirements for the Clerk of Court, there numerous, Judges, Magistrates, Retired Judges and visiting Judges from other Counties that can assist with those duties. Only the elected Clerk of Superior Court that can supervise Staff.

The Clerk of Superior Courts exercise a tremendous amount of discretion, power and authority. It is imperative to have a properly trained staff that has the ability to communicate effectively with the Clerk. The lawsuits that have occurred has been the responsibility of the Clerk of Courts. The assistant Clerks have the ability to deny filings, Issue Writs of Eviction, Issue Writs to encumber real and personal property. When these errors are made, no one is held accountable and it is innocent people who suffer when errors occur and then the only remedy is going to the NC Court of Appeals, which is expensive and time consuming. At this time, I feel that my unique skill set of being able to assist self-represented Litigants is imperative to improve the overall performance and quality of the Clerk of Courts Office. Right now, Durham County is recognized as Legal desert, which means that there is only 1 Attorney for every 1000 People, who are then forced to represent themselves or suffer.

I bring over 17 years of judicial experience and public service, including 14 years as a magistrate and my service as Clerk of Superior Court. As Clerk, I exercise the full constitutional, statutory, and administrative authority of the office, presiding over estates and special proceedings that require careful legal analysis, sound judgment, and clear written orders. I manage a staff of approximately 70 employees, oversee court administration and records, and serve as comptroller responsible for safeguarding public funds. I led Durham County’s transition to eCourts and introduced plain-language forms and customer-focused tools that improve access, accuracy, and public trust.

The most pressing issues facing the Clerk’s Office are increasing workload with limited resources and ensuring court processes are understandable and accessible.

I address these challenges by modernizing workflows, streamlining internal processes, introducing service-focused tools, and ongoing staff training. I also support informed public engagement and strengthen transparency through direct public communication, including our website, resource newsletter, and dedicated public email. In addition, I prioritize staff stability by recognizing excellence, supporting professional development, and fostering workplace morale. Together, these efforts improve efficiency while preserving accuracy, accountability, and public confidence.

I will continue expanding the progress already underway to strengthen a people-centered, accountable Clerk’s Office. This includes building on our shift from a reactive model to a preventative one by expanding plain-language forms, clear checklists, and public education that help residents avoid unnecessary court involvement. Since the successful implementation of eCourts, we have continued refining internal systems to improve accuracy and efficiency, while strengthening training and oversight in estates and special proceedings to protect families, property, and vulnerable individuals. My focus remains on modern, ethical, and accessible court operations that serve the public effectively.

I believe strongly in human-centered court operations. People often encounter the courts during moments of stress or crisis, and how they are treated shapes both their personal experience and their confidence in the justice system. I am committed to ensuring that accuracy, fairness, and respect guide our work and our interactions with the public.