Author: The Clerk’s Desk
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“Getting Plugged In: A New Municipal Court Clerk’s Guide to MMCCA Membership, Training, and Conferences”
Starting as a Municipal Court Clerk can feel overwhelming. Between learning daily court operations, understanding reporting requirements, handling defendants, preparing dockets, and managing deadlines, many new clerks are also trying to figure out how professional organizations, training opportunities, memberships, and conferences actually work. This guide is intended to help new clerks understand the basics of…
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Administrative Triage in the Clerk’s Office
There are times in court administration when the workload does not stop just because you are out of the office. Conferences, training, budget meetings, holidays, and even vacation days do not pause incoming emails, attorney requests, records requests, continuance requests, phone calls, filings, or operational responsibilities. In many clerk’s offices, the work simply piles up…
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Fix It Before Next Week: How We Reduced Court Day Confusion
Court day confusion usually is not caused by one major failure. Most of the time, it comes from dozens of small things that were never corrected: At some point, we realized we could not continue “working harder” every Wednesday and expect things to magically improve. We had to start building systems. That does not mean…
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Ethics in Everyday Court Work: Doing It the Right Way
Court ethics is not always one big dramatic moment. Most of the time, ethics in the clerk’s office shows up in the small decisions we make all day long: For court clerks, ethics is practical. It is not just something written in a policy manual. It is the way we protect the process, preserve public…
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Useful Organizational Tools for the Clerk’s Office
There are a lot of organizational apps and project-tracking platforms available now, and while many of them are marketed toward large businesses or technology companies, several can actually be very useful in a municipal court environment as well. This article is simply meant to share practical tools and ideas that may help another clerk or…
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Proving a DUI Second, Third, or Subsequent Offense: Why Your Records Matter
At some point, you may receive a request for a certified abstract of record in a DUI case. This often happens when another agency—whether it’s your own police department, a sheriff’s department, another court, or even a district attorney’s office—is trying to determine whether a DUI should be charged as a second, third, or subsequent…
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How to Make Your Clerk Binder Actually Work for You
What to Add to Your Binder Sections 1. Add a “Quick Reference” Section (Front of Binder) This is huge for day-to-day use. Create a front section with: 👉 This becomes your flip-open-and-find-it-fast section. 2. Include Real Forms (Not Just Blank Ones) Don’t just store templates—add completed examples: 3. Add a “Problem Notes” Section This is…
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Build Your Clerk Binder Right the First Time
One of the best things you can do early on is set up a binder you can rely on. This is not just for notes—this becomes your working reference while you learn your court. Done right, it will save you time and keep you from feeling overwhelmed. 1. Start with the Right Binder Add: 👉…
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New Clerk Onboarding
Immediate First Steps (After You Are Sworn In) These are administrative items that need to be completed right away to ensure you are properly recognized and set up within the court system. 1. Oath of Office 2. Confirm Your Official Court Email is Active Use this email for: 👉 This ensures you do not miss:…
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Two Conferences. Two Purposes.
MMCCA Summer Conference Hosted by: Mississippi Municipal Court Clerks Association (MMCCA)Location: Golden Nugget Casino & Resort, Biloxi, MississippiWhen: Wednesday & Thursday of MML Week PurposePractical, day-to-day training focused on real clerk operations, workflow, and problem-solving. What to Expect Funding & TravelFunded by each municipality. Typical planning includes: Clerks typically travel the day before and return…
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Court Administration: The Work Behind the Work
Most people associate the court with what happens on court day—cases being called, orders being signed, and fines being paid. What is less visible is the administrative side of the court, where much of the real work takes place long before and long after anyone steps into a courtroom. Court administration is not a day-to-day…
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10 Thing Every Court Clerk Should Do/Know
These points may seem simple, but most issues in a clerk’s office come back to one of these areas. 1. Learn Your Court’s Workflow First Understand how a case moves from start to finish in your court—not just in theory.If you don’t understand the flow, you will always feel behind. 2. Docket Everything — Every…
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DUI Non-Adjudication: Step-by-Step Clerk Process
This workflow has been confirmed with Mississippi DPS Driver Services and reflects a compliant, real-world clerk process. Download DUI Non-Adjudication Step-by-Step Process Step 1: Plea & Entry into Non-Adjudication Program At this stage, the case is “Pending Non-Adjudication”. Step 2: Clerk’s Initial Reporting to DPS (Within 5 Days) The clerk must submit the following to…
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Understanding SONAR in Municipal Court: What Clerks Need to Know
There has been a little confusion across courts regarding how cases appear in the SONAR registry and how non-adjudication dispositions are reflected in Driver Services records. This article is intended to provide a clear, practical explanation based on direct communication with Mississippi DPS Driver Services. The Core Issue Most confusion does not come from misunderstanding…
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Law Enforcement: Trial Preparation and Court Expectations
Trial is where everything comes together. What happens—or doesn’t happen—leading up to trial can directly impact whether a case moves forward or is dismissed. This is a practical overview of what officers should know when a case is set for trial in municipal court. Subpoenas A subpoena is not a request—it is a court order.…
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What the Clerk’s Office Needs Law Enforcement to Know
This is a practical overview of simple things that make a big difference once a case reaches the court. These are small details that help cases move smoothly, prevent unnecessary issues, and ultimately support successful outcomes in court. Writing Traffic Tickets One of the most basic functions of the clerk’s office is entering traffic tickets…
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Stop Waiting on “The Right Time” to Fix What’s Not Working
There’s a pattern most of us fall into at some point in this job. We see something that isn’t working. We know there’s probably a better way. But we don’t move on it. Not because we don’t care—but because it feels like it’s going to be a process. Too many steps. Too many people involved.…
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Arrest Tracking Numbers (ATN) & Court Disposition Reporting
One area that often causes confusion for new clerks is Arrest Tracking Numbers (ATNs) and how they relate to court disposition reporting. Understanding this process is critical, because it directly affects the accuracy of a person’s criminal history. What is an ATN? When fingerprints are taken—whether by traditional ink roll or through a LiveScan machine—the…
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What Every Clerk Should Check Before Court Starts
Before court begins, there are a few key things that should always be verified. Taking a few minutes to check these items can prevent confusion, delays, and unnecessary stress once court is in session. Quick Pre-Court Checklist Before court starts, make sure: Why This Matters Once court begins, things move quickly. If something is missing…
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NCIC: What Clerks Need to Know
The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is a computerized index of criminal justice information maintained by the FBI. It includes data such as: NCIC is available to authorized criminal justice agencies at the federal, state, and local level and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Purpose of NCIC The purpose of NCIC…
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Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPO): Clerk Procedures and Key Differences
This section provides a general overview of how Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) are processed in municipal court, including the difference between ex parte, temporary, and final orders. Note:Always reference the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office – Bureau of Victim Assistance website, under the Court Forms section, for the most current protection order forms and procedures.…
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DUI Disposition Reporting: What the Statute Requires (In Plain Terms)
Mississippi Code § 63-11-37 outlines what must be reported after a DUI conviction and how quickly that reporting must happen. This is one of the most important reporting responsibilities in the clerk’s office. What the Statute Says (Simplified) In plain terms: After a DUI conviction, the court must send the following to the Department of…
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DUI: Driving Under the Influence
This section outlines the applicable state statutes related to DUI cases.Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-30 DUI cases can be confusing at first. If you are a new clerk, I recommend printing a copy of the applicable statutes and sitting down with your prosecutor to walk through them. They can often explain DUI laws in a…
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Records Retention: How Long Do I Have to Keep Everything?
Municipal courts in Mississippi receive records retention guidance from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH). For the most accurate and up-to-date information, I have included a link above to the official MDAH records retention schedule. At the time of this posting, the most recent version available on the MDAH website is dated Tuesday,…
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Court Doesn’t Run on Its Own: The Prep No One Sees
People see court day. They see the judge on the bench, attorneys at the tables, defendants waiting, and cases moving through the docket. What they don’t see is everything that happens before that. Court doesn’t run on its own. It Starts Long Before Court Day In our office, we start preparing for the next court…
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The Notes I Keep That Make Me a Better Clerk
Every day in this job, something happens that could make your court better—if you catch it. An inefficiency.A process that needs rethinking.Something that went wrong in court.Something that went really well.An idea that pops into your head in the middle of everything else going on. The challenge is not noticing those things. The challenge is…
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Proper Docketing Techniques: Your Paper File and Computer File Should Match
From day one in this field, I’ve always believed this: You should be able to hand your computer file or your paper file to someone who has no knowledge of the court system, and they should be able to read it from start to finish and clearly understand what happened. Your case management system, your…
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DUI License Suspension from MS DPS
The screenshot below is a page from the reference book that DPS handed out during a conference in the last couple of years. More to come on this topic. Related Article: DUI: Driving Under the Influence
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Domestic Violence Case Disposition Checklist for Clerks
When a domestic violence case is concluded and the judge renders a judgment, there are several critical steps that must be completed to ensure the case is properly documented and reported. Following a consistent process helps ensure: Below is a practical checklist to follow after disposition. Step 1: Finalize and File the Court Order Step…
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Felony Initial Appearances and Preliminary Hearings: What New Clerks Need to Know
Rules 5 and 6 of the Mississippi Rules of Criminal Procedure (linked above) cover arrest procedures, initial appearances, and preliminary hearings. These rules begin around page 19 of the printed version and outline what must happen after a defendant is arrested. This is one of those areas where the law is consistent, but how it…
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The First 10 Things Every New Municipal Court Clerk Should Do
Stepping into the role of Municipal Court Clerk can feel overwhelming at first. The work moves quickly, the responsibility is significant, and there is a lot of information to absorb in a short amount of time. Most new clerks describe their first few months as feeling like they are drinking from a fire hose. That’s…
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The Memory Jar I wish I’d Started
This is more of a reflection than a training note, but it’s something I’ve thought about a lot lately. Looking back over the last several years and realizing just how much things have changed since I first stepped into the clerk’s office, there is one thing I wish I had done from the very beginning.…
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My First Conference – And the Moment Everything Changed
I was sworn in as Municipal Court Clerk on July 1, 2022. By the time the September conference rolled around, I felt like I was barely keeping my head above water. Like many new clerks, I stepped into an office that was short staffed, overloaded with work, and running on processes that no longer worked.…
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AI in the Clerk’s Office: A tool, Not a Shortcut
Artificial intelligence has received a great deal of attention in the legal community over the past few years. Much of that attention has focused on situations where attorneys relied on AI-generated legal research that contained inaccurate information, sometimes even citing court cases that did not exist. These incidents have raised concerns about how AI tools…
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Expungements: Clerk Procedures
Expungements allow certain criminal records to be removed from public access when authorized by statute and ordered by the court. While eligibility is determined by the judge and applicable law, the clerk’s office is responsible for processing the petition, entering the order, and notifying the appropriate agencies. The outline below describes a typical workflow for…