Circuit Clerk

Crystal Ballard Crystal Ballard
P.O. BOX 100
111 CHESTNUT
LOUISVILLE , IL 62858
PH: 618-665-3523
FAX: 618-665-3543
circlk@wabash.net
Hours of Operation:
Mon. – Fri.
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(see “Holiday Schedule”)

Payment      Fees      Records      Jury Info       Fourth Judicial Circuit Courts

The mission of the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Clay County is to serve the citizens of Clay County & the participants of the Judicial System in accordance with the statures in a professional, efficient & ethical manner.

The duty of the Clerk of the Court is to be the administrative arm of the County Court System. I am charged with keeping the official seal and record of the Court in each and every case that comes before the Court. My duty is to the Judges, attorneys, law enforcement officials and other elected officials, but most importantly, to the public who elected me.

Being the keeper of all the records and files, the Clerk shall attend the sessions of their respective courts, preserve all the files and papers thereof, make, keep and preserve complete records of all the proceedings and determinations. This all being done as set forth by the Illinois Statutes, Supreme Court Rules, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts and local Circuit Court.

The office of the Circuit Clerk has enormous financial responsibilities as well as administrative and managerial duties. We collect and disburse all money owed to the court by criminal defendants and filing fees paid by civil litigants. This money is distributed each month to the State, County, Municipalities, and restitution recipients.

The Circuit Clerk is responsible for summonsing Petit Jurors, Grand Jurors and Quick Notice Jurors. For the convenience of the jurors summoned, an answering machine provides updated information to the prospective jurors.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES: Genealogy searches, and public terminal at the counter for pro se filings.

How to Make a Payment:

When e-filing, you must pay through Odyssey.

NO personal checks from individuals or pro se filings will be accepted for payment of fines, costs, filing fees and etc..

Payments must be made by Money Order, Cashiers Check, Cash, or one of the following options:

Online Payment of fines, costs, restitution or yearly maintenance can be made through www.AllPaid.com or www.Judici.com
          

To pay by phone dial: 888-604-7888 (24 hrs/day)

You will need the following information to make a payment online or by phone: Pay Location Traffic #5920,  Maintenance Fee #5922, Case # or Citation #

  • Dollar Amount You Are Paying
  • A Valid MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express Card

NOTE:  A 4.75% service fee will be added to the amount of fees due, if paid by phone.  A 3.5% service fee will be added to the amount of fees due, if paid online.  AllPaid Powerful Payment Solutions is an independent company that charges this fee for its services.  The court receives no part of that fee.

Clay County Court Records:

Access court records online at Judici: 

RECORDS SEARCHES:

Record Searches are done for the statutory fee of $6.00 per name searched.  A written request with payment for search and self-stamped, addressed envelope are required.  Copies are $2.00 for the first page, $.50 cents for the next 19 pages, and $.25 cents for each page thereafter.  Any computer-generated information is $6.00 per page.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES:

Genealogy searches and public terminal at the counter for pro se filings.

Clay County Jury Information:

Jury Trial Weeks List 2021
NO January trial August 2nd, 2021
February 1st, 2021 September 6th, 2021
March 1st, 2021 October 4th, 2021
No April trial NO November trial
May 3rd, 2021 December 6th, 2021
June 7th, 2021  
NO July trial  
Jurors Handbook Jurors_Handbook.pdf
Jury Trial Weeks List 2022
NO January trial August 1st, 2022
February 7th, 2022 September 5th, 2022
March 7th, 2022 October 3rd, 2022
NO April trial NO November trial
May 2nd, 2022 December 5th, 2022
June 6th, 2022  
NO July trial  
Jurors Handbook Jurors_Handbook.pdf

Common Jury Inquiries When Receiving Juror Questionnaire

 

Do I need to return the Questionnaire if I no longer live in Clay County?

If you no longer live in Clay County, fill in your name and current address at the top of the enclosed questionnaire, indicate “no longer live in Clay County” on the questionnaire, and return the questionnaire in the enclosed self-addressed envelope.  You will then be excused from jury duty.  (If the questionnaire was mailed to a family member, who does not live with you in Clay County anymore, please fill in their name, present city they live in, and sign questionnaire, indicating your relation to that person.)

 

I received this questionnaire on behalf of my mother, father, spouse, etc. and he/she is no longer living.

In the event you receive a jury notification for a person who is deceased, please write their name on the top of the questionnaire, indicate “deceased” and return the same in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope.

 

I received this questionnaire on behalf of my mother, father, spouse, etc., and he/she is presently residing in a nursing home or health care facility.

In the event you receive a jury notification for a person who is a resident of a nursing home or health care facility, please write their name on the top of the questionnaire, indicate where he/she is a resident and return the same in the enclosed self-addressed stamped envelope.  He/she will be excused from jury duty.

 

I cannot hear …. I cannot sit for a long period of time… I have a heart condition…

If you have a medical condition that would prohibit you from being a juror, a note from your attending physician indicating your inability to serve as a juror is necessary.  We cannot excuse jurors who do not supply us with the requested medical excuse.

 

I have a medical condition that requires that I eat at a certain time, or stretch my legs when necessary.

We try to accommodate people with certain medical conditions.  Please indicate on your questionnaire if you require any special attention and we will do our best to accommodate you during your jury service.

 

I just served for jury service 6 months ago.

By state statute, if you have served within a year of your last jury service, you can request not to serve when called again in the 12-month period.  If you have been called within the year of your last service, please indicate what month/year you last served on your questionnaire.  If you do not wish to serve again, please indicate so on the questionnaire and you will be excused from this jury service term; otherwise, you will be added to our jury pool.

 

I have vacation plans that fall during the jury term / I am scheduled to have surgery during the jury term / my employer is mandating that I attend a conference during the jury term / I am a farmer and will be busy in the field / I will be living in Florida during the term of this jury service / I have a doctor’s appointment on one of the days that I am scheduled to serve for jury duty.

You must complete the enclosed questionnaire and indicate on the questionnaire your situation with the time parameters that you have a conflict.  Once we have received your questionnaire, you will likely be deferred to another jury term (of your choice) when you will no longer have a conflict or we will accommodate your appointment for that day, and you may be required to serve the rest of the jury term.

 

My employer can’t do without me.

We require something in writing by your employer or supervisor on your employer’s letterhead indicating the conflict your employer will have if you are called for jury duty, and requesting that your jury service be deferred to a less demanding jury term.  You will still need to fill the enclosed questionnaire and return it with your employer letter to my office.  We will notify you and your employer whether you have been deferred from jury service.

 

My name has changed due to marriage or divorce.

Please fill in the name field as it was addressed to you on the envelope and then show name change and reason why it was changed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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