The Clerk of Court is responsible for a number of different tasks. Their primary function is to serve as an administrator for the circuit court. As members of the judicial branch of the government, one of their primary jobs is to serve as a record keeper for the court. Typically anything that moves through the court system lands in the hands of the clerk of the court first. When cases are filed, they go through the clerk. The clerk also regularly attends hearings or has an employee do so. They keep records of the cases as well as the results and any other relevant information. Though the exact duties of the clerk of court will vary depending upon the county, in many cases this person is also responsible for accepting applications for marriage licenses and distributing them appropriately. In addition, when an individual is in need of information regarding certain cases or public information, they must also see the clerk of court.

In addition to keeping important records, the clerk of court also frequently serves as the financial officer of the court. This means that they are responsible for handing fees and fines paid to the court as well as disbursements paid out by the court. Naturally, they are also responsible for keeping detailed records regarding any money that moves through the court system. In some cases, the clerk may also serve as a collections agent for the court or he may be responsible for hiring an outside collection agency as necessary. This is done when individuals owe past-due monies to the court and it becomes necessary to collect the debt through any legal means possible.

The position of Clerk of Court is typically an elected one. Clerks serve varying amounts of time between elections, but commonly the position is held for four to six years before another election as held. Most often, the Clerk of Court has a staff of additional employees who can assist with the day to day jobs of the Clerk. The Escambia County Clerk of Court is Ernie Lee Magaha. He can assist Florida residents with a variety of things including paying traffic fines or obtaining a marriage license.