Title IV, Judicial Branch

administrative control of Chief Justice. (1) For the purpose of KRS 30A.010 to 30A.190, "clerk" means the Circuit Court clerk serving in his capacity as clerk of both the Circuit Court and the District Court. (2) As personnel within the Court of Justice, clerks are state officers…

(1) The Administrative Office of the Courts, under the direction of the Supreme Court, shall provide initial training courses and, at least once every two (2) years, continuing education courses for circuit clerks and deputy clerks concerning the dynamics of domestic violence, ef…

Every clerk and deputy, in addition to the oath prescribed by Section 228 of the Constitution, shall, before entering on the duties of his office, take the following oath in presence of the Circuit Court: "I, ....., do swear that I will well and truly discharge the duties of the …

(1) All clerks, deputy clerks, and other persons employed in the office of the clerk shall be bonded to the Commonwealth for the faithful performance of their duties and for the accounting of all funds which may come into their hands by virtue of their office. They shall be cover…

Every Circuit Court and every District Court shall have a clerk's office in each county, and shall have such branch offices within the county as are approved by the Supreme Court. Minimum office hours of the clerk's offices shall be determined by the Supreme Court.

deputy clerks -- Compensation. (1) The number and qualifications of deputy clerks and other employees in the office of each clerk shall be determined by the Administrative Office of the Courts after consultation with the clerk concerned. All deputies and employees of the clerk's …

for preparation and acceptance of bail bonds by other public officers or employees. (1) Each clerk shall prepare in a proper manner every bond to be taken by or given before him or his court. (2) The clerk shall refuse any surety offered in a bond to be taken by him who is, in hi…

Every clerk may administer oaths, in or out of court, touching any matter in which an oath may be legally administered, and may take any affidavit requested or permitted in the progress of a proceeding in his court.

order of Supreme Court. (1) Every clerk shall maintain all records, files, dockets, and indexes as are prescribed by statute or rule. (2) All necessary record books and all necessary supplies required by the clerk's office shall be procured through the Administrative Office of th…

(1) Unless the plaintiff has established his right to prosecute as a poor person as provided by statute or rule, each clerk shall, when a proceeding is filed in his court, collect the filing fee fixed by law. He shall also collect any charges which have accrued during the progres…

At the termination of an action, every clerk shall assess the costs of each party and file it with the case. The assessment shall be subject to correction by the court by motion upon notice given.

Reports to the Finance and Administration Cabinet -- Penalty. (1) Each clerk shall pay to each juror and to each witness the compensation allowed to him by law, under appropriations provided by the General Assembly and in accordance with procedures governing expenditures from app…

the Finance and Administration Cabinet -- Delinquency. (1) Every clerk shall collect all fines and forfeitures imposed in District and Circuit Court, and shall issue receipts therefor. (2) At the close of business daily the clerk in each county shall deposit in a bank designated …

Office of the Courts -- Update of database within ninety days of disposition. Each circuit clerk shall submit to the Administrative Office of the Courts, in a manner prescribed by the Administrative Office of the Courts, the final court disposition. Said disposition shall be incl…

Every clerk shall prepare, attest and certify copies of all documents and records in his office upon payment of the charge established by statute.

Every clerk shall perform such additional duties as may be prescribed by statute or court rule.

determinations -- Administrative Office of the Courts to monthly report the names of persons excused from jury duty to the Attorney General, United States Attorney, and State Board of Elections. (1) Each circuit clerk shall send certified notices of incompetency to the State Boar…

Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of the clerk, the chief judge of the judicial circuit shall within thirty (30) days appoint a qualified successor to the office who shall serve until replaced as provided by Section 152 of the Constitution.

Upon the resignation, removal from office or expiration of the term of office of a clerk, he shall immediately deliver to his successor, or such other person as the court orders, all books, records, and other papers belonging to his office. For failure to do so he shall be guilty…

Each circuit clerk shall be, ex officio, a special circuit clerk of the Commonwealth, and as such shall perform the duties and services required by KRS 30A.180, at such time and places, coextensive with the Commonwealth, as required by the Chief Justice.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of circuit clerk in any county, the Chief Justice may assign any other circuit clerk in the Commonwealth as special circuit clerk to fill the vacancy for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days, or until a person is appointed to fill the va…

collected. All fees, fines, forfeitures, and costs in any District Court or Circuit Court case shall be collected and accounted for by the Circuit Court clerk and paid into the State Treasury, except that: (1) Sixty percent (60%) of any fines imposed for the violation of KRS Chap…

All moneys which are deposited with the clerk and which are payable to a third person, not the Commonwealth, or which may become payable to such third person as a result of court action or otherwise shall: (1) Be logged in the appropriate record of the clerk and the person paying…

(1) The bank accounts of the circuit clerk authorized by KRS 30A.200 shall accrue interest at such rate per annum upon the average daily deposit on hand at the close of banking hours as may be agreed upon by the bank and the Chief Justice or his designee. Interest accrued shall n…

The Supreme Court shall issue rules relating to the receipt, handling, deposit, and disbursal of moneys by the circuit clerk which are held in accounts covered by KRS 30A.200.

The Court of Justice may expend funds necessary to insure circuit clerks and their deputies against any liability arising out of an act or omission committed in the scope and course of performing legal duties.

check or sight order dishonored. (1) A clerk may, but shall not be required to, accept payment of any fine, forfeiture, tax, or fee by debit or credit card account. If an individual chooses to pay a fine, forfeiture, tax, or fee by debit or credit card account, the clerk may reco…

(1) Each Circuit Judge may appoint a secretary for his circuit. (2) Each secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the judge. (3) The secretary shall meet the qualifications for the position established by the Judicial Personnel System. (4) The secretary shall be compensated accor…

The Chief Justice, through the Administrative Office of the Courts, may authorize the appointment or employment by the chief judge of such secretaries, court reporters, interpreters, court administrators, friends of the court, and other personnel demonstrated as being necessary t…

(1) If a person has been detained in police custody or has been arrested, an interpreter shall be provided prior to any interrogation or taking of a statement from the person if the court determines he meets the criteria set forth in KRS 30A.410. (2) Any statement made by a perso…

(1) Any person appointed as interpreter pursuant to this chapter shall be qualified by training or experience to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary. (2) The Supreme Court shall prescrib…

(1) The court in any matter, criminal or civil, shall appoint a qualified interpreter or interpreters, to be paid out of the State Treasury, for the following categories of persons, whether they are parties, jurors, or witnesses: (a) Persons who because of deafness or hard of hea…

(1) In criminal or civil cases, the Court of Justice shall be responsible for payment, including ordinary and reasonable expenses, for interpretive services for court appearances. (2) In any case in which the interpreter is providing services out of court, even though that servic…

In cases where compensation by the state is required or permitted interpreters' fees and ordinary and reasonable expenses shall be paid out of the State Treasury according to the pay schedule of the Judicial Personnel System.

The duties of the interpreter may include: (1) Interpreting during court and court-related proceedings, including any and all meetings and conferences between client and his attorney; (2) Translating or interpreting documents; (3) Assisting in taking depositions; (4) Assisting in…

communications. Every person who acts as an interpreter in circumstances involving the arrest, police custody or other stage in a criminal, civil, or other matter of a person coming under KRS 30A.410 shall not be examined as a witness regarding conversations between that person a…

(1) In the performance of his duties the interpreter may utilize electronic recording, foreign language translation, and other equipment. A person who is deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired may elect to use assistive technology in lieu of or in addition to the services of a…