OPINION: Idaho’s County Clerks are not mere clerks; let’s give them our respect
Jim Jones
We sometimes hear Idaho’s county clerks spoken of dismissively as mere clerks — low-level functionaries just there to carry out the orders of county commissioners. Those dismissive individuals might be surprised to learn that elected clerks are the heart and soul of most counties in the Gem State. Idaho law says they serve as clerk of the courts in their county, as well as ex officio auditor, recorder and county commission clerk.
When I started practicing law in Jerome in 1973, it did not take long to learn how much influence the clerk had over county business. The clerk, Virginia Ricketts, was the institutional memory for the commission board, helping it to avoid legal pitfalls while guiding it to efficiently perform important county functions. In addition, she oversaw the maintenance of county records, recording of property documents, auditing of county records and operating the courts in the county.
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