Greg Sutton will run unopposed for re-election of his Henderson County Circuit Court Clerk seat.
Sutton was appointed to the position in April 2022 when Herbie McKee, who was then the circuit court clerk, moved over to take a position in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office.
Sutton also previously served in the circuit court clerk position from March-November 2016.
Sutton said a couple noteworthy changes are set to happen or are happening in the local court system. The current statewide system for filing legal paperwork will be upgraded to a system that will require every document to be filed electronically, he said.
That transition from Court Net 2.0 to Court Net 3.0, coordinated by the state Administrative Office of the Courts, was supposed to occur locally in August 2022, but was put on hold, Sutton said.
Additionally, the local court system currently has one “self-representative litigant” computer terminal that allows people to do their own legal work. Sutton said he has asked the AOC for another, and he expects that will occur.
This second terminal would be placed in a room dedicated to those filing emergency protective orders. He said it would allow for privacy to victims as they work through the process.
Sutton also said he plans to renovate the circuit court clerk’s offices, which have not been changed since the judicial center was built in 2002.
Sutton sent the Hendersonian a statement about his service in the remaining year of the current term and in his next term, which will be from 2025-2031. Read it below.
“I appreciate that I will be serving the citizens of Henderson County and the 51st Judicial Circuit in another term as Henderson County Circuit Court Clerk. As Circuit Court Clerk, I am responsible for managing the records of Circuit and District Courts in Henderson County, which is the 51st Judicial Circuit. I receive lawsuits, court documents and filings. I record legal documents. I provide legal documents and other legal materials to those that may request them and who meet the requirements to obtain a copy of the items requested. I am present during trials, schedule juries, and maintain the jury system. I receive and disburse money that comes to the Circuit Clerk’s office as part of some sort of legal proceeding. I administer oaths and handle affidavits. I serve as one of 120 Circuit Court Clerks across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Our office has a staff of 21, including myself, and I am fortunate to have a group of talented and dedicated employees working alongside me. The Henderson County Office of the Circuit Court Clerk works quietly and diligently each day to meet our duties. We are the ‘Keeper of Record’ for the Judicial System.
I have been a lawyer for nearly 30 years and have served as City Commissioner/Mayor Pro Tem on the Henderson City Commission, Directing Attorney of the local Public Defender’s Office, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. My wife, Nelissa Sandoval Sutton, teaches English at Henderson County High School. We have three young adult children.
I look forward to the remainder of my present term and the following term. We are busy and have a lot of work to do in the Circuit Clerk’s Office. Importantly, the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky Court System is moving towards an electronic record. The Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, in a continuing series of Orders over the past year is moving all Judicial Circuits to an electronic record. Part of what this means is that paper filings in the Circuit Clerk’s offices will no longer be accepted, except under limited circumstances, and the electronic filing of documents will be required. We work on this each day, we work with attorneys so they understand the process and can transition and participate without difficulty, and we work diligently to prepare our workspace for this continuing transition – our workspace being the Judicial Center.
Also, and of huge importance to me professionally and personally, is that we have recently installed – as part of a larger project across the state – a “self-representative litigant” computer terminal. This terminal allows an individual who may, for some reason, need to be able to do their own legal work, an opportunity to access a self-guided system that will assist and guide them through preparing certain types of legal documents they may need to effectively participate in the legal process they are going through. This is a growing statewide project and very important to our community and communities across the commonwealth. I plan to have a second ‘self-represented litigant’ portal installed soon in our new EPO room. Our ‘new’ EPO room is a space we have reworked in our office to allow individuals who may be a victim of domestic violence and are filing a request for an emergency protective order (EPO). It is in a place out of the way and secure so that they have the opportunity to feel more at ease about the circumstances they are going through. These are difficult situations and I feel that an important part of our duty in the clerk’s office is to help them feel safe and secure.
I was born here. Henderson is home. For the most part it is a wonderful place to live, work, grow and raise a family. We have a lot going on in our community right now. We all have important work to do for those who come after us. I feel fortunate to be able to participate in shaping the future and to do my part.”
