KINGWOOD — There have been a few changes at the circuit clerk’s office since Betsy Castle came to work there 39 years ago.
She remembers the old courthouse bell that was rung at 9 a.m. and noon. Castle said the rope for the bell hung just inside the circuit clerk’s office, next to the door. The bell was recently found in the courthouse basement and was dedicated yesterday during the Preston County bicentennial celebration.
“I was looking for a job and I almost accepted one with the DHHR WIC program. I had a young daughter and the job required me to travel. My mom called me and told me [Circuit Clerk] Richard Smith was hiring a deputy circuit clerk. I applied for the position and he hired me,” Castle said.
Castle said every case that comes in, whether civil or family court, comes through her office. New legislation and court rules constantly change the procedures.
“We issue summonses for every case but domestic battery,” Castle said. “Those cases start in magistrate court. If bond is posted in a civil, criminal, guardianship or adoption case we make sure the property offered covers the cost of the bond. I consider we are dealing with people’s lives so we want to do everything right.”
The circuit clerk is also responsible for finding people to serve on a jury. A computer randomly chooses names of potential jurors from the voter registration and driver’s license lists. About 275 questionnaires are sent out to the people selected.
“Out of these we end up with about 80 names from the pack,” she said. Another form is sent out that contains an excuse calendar on the back. This allows jurors to mark off days they might have doctor appointments, vacation scheduled or other obligations.
Castle said the first change she made when she took office was changing the process orders information. She said the information had to be retyped in an order book then proofed and the judge had to sign them. Castle said the information is now scanned in and placed in a book. This eliminates possible typing errors and frees up workers to do other jobs.
She said a lot of people come into the office. When they do Castle and her staff provide procedures. They are not allowed to provide legal advice.
Prior to her job as a deputy circuit clerk she worked for the State Police for nine and a half years. “I was 22 when I accepted the job at the court house,” she said.
She has served four years with the West Virginia Association of Circuit Clerks and was recently given an award for her service. Castle also co-chairs the group’s legislative committee. “We’ve had several bills passed and we have introduced quite a few that have made a big difference in the job we do,” she said.
“I will have been here for 40 years in March,” Castle said. “I am thankful to the citizens of the county who elected me to do this job. I have a good staff to serve them.”
