PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Supreme Judicial Court on Friday recognized all the clerks working in courthouses by awarding them with the 2012 Judicial Branch Special Service Award.
Saufley ordered that all courts be closed from 12:30 to 1 p.m. so clerks could be personally recognized, according to a press release issued Friday.
“The clerks of court of the Maine judicial branch work tirelessly to bring about improvement for the benefit of those who use the services of the court system, and are truly deserving of this award,” Chief Justice Leigh I. Saufley said in the release.
“Clerks are required to have the technical understanding of the various case types and case processing requirements that are essential for an efficient and effective court system,” she continued. “They must also possess excellent interpersonal skills as they deal each day with members of the public dealing with stress. This year, among all of their other responsibilities, the clerks worked together under difficult circumstances to assure that the newly designed electronic warrant system had updated and accurate information to protect liberty interests and improve public safety. We commend them for their efforts to improve where possible.”
In converting to the electronic warrant system, clerks in the Maine courts were required to work several successive weekends last spring in order to successfully complete the conversion from paper to electronic
warrants, while at the same time continue the day to day work in Maine courts, where on average almost 400 new matters are filed every day, according to the press release.
I’m looking forward to this woman’s annual appeal for special treatment of the judicial system during the upcoming season of State budget cuts. She amazes me every year – and I’m not being facetious. I find it remarkable that some of the highest paid folks in our society get special consideration every year when money is tight. Sit back and watch if you doubt me.
The clerks have had their benefits cut and no pay raises going on five years. Go ahead, just try to eat those attaboys. They don’t pay the rent.