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Retiring circuit clerk says technology has helped keep pace with tripled caseload
A retirement reception had been held in the main courtroom the previous day with a large number of friends turning out to wish him well. Brunson, who grew up in Grove Hill and lived in Jackson, has been circuit clerk since 1989. Before that, he served 10 years as city clerk and administrator for the City of Jackson. And before that, he taught school and coached for a brief period. Brunson said the clerk’s job is to oversee the heavy load of district and circuit case filings and proceedings, as well as handle fines and other duties associated with the court system.
“And we still are doing it with the same number of employees, five,” he said. He praised his five staffers. “These ladies know their jobs and they do a good job.” He said that technology changes have enabled his staff to halfway keep up with the mounting caseload. Computers, the Internet and other advances have been a big help. Now, the state system is moving toward “e-filings,” or a paperless court system where everything will be done by computer. “Today, we can access all district and circuit court cases in the state, in all 67 counties, by computer,” he said. “If you have a name or a case number you can find out details about a case anywhere in the state. Just a few years ago that would have been unbelievable.” Child support payments used to be made through the circuit clerk’s office and was a time consuming chore. Today, a central state agency, the Child Support Disbursement Center, handles the payments and it has taken a big load off the clerks, said Brunson, a former president of the Alabama Association of Circuit Clerks. Brunson grins when asked to share a few funny stories or tell some gossip on happenings in the courthouse. He only chose to tell one—on himself. “Court was in session in the main courtroom one day and I went in, surveyed the room and nodded at the gathering. I went to sit down in a chair in the corner and I missed the chair and busted it right on the floor,” he laughed. Even with all of the technology changes and all of the challenges of working with the public, “What this job all boils down to is helping people. That is the part I have enjoyed the most,” he said. Brunson said that he enjoyed helping people who need help. “Sometimes people just can’t pay all of a fine at one time but if they make a good faith effort we work with them and take what they can pay until they get it paid,” he explained. Those are the people you enjoy working with, he said. “There are others who expect you to do for them, just because of who they are or who they know,” he said. Jay Duke, the present revenue commissioner, was elected to the circuit clerk’s office this year and will take over Jan. 15. Brunson and his wife, Becky, will be spending more time at a new home in Baldwin County. Brunson jokingly interchanges “Good morning” as a salutation, observation or exclamation, regardless of the time of day. As he plans to leave public life he nods and smiles and offers that familiar phrase:
“Good morning.”
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