CCS/HCS/SB 186 - Under current law, the Marion County Circuit Court appoints the Circuit Clerk ex officio Recorder of Deeds. If the office is separated into District I Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds, the court continues to appoint the District I Circuit Clerk. This act makes the position of Circuit Clerk ex officio Recorder of Deeds an elected position. The first election of the position will take place at the 2006 general election. The act also clarifies that in counties where the Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Recorder of Deeds have been separated, the office of Recorder of Deeds will be elected at the next general election.

The act requires that the Circuit Clerk in the Sixth and Seventh Judicial circuits must be appointed by a majority of the circuit judges and associate circuit judges of the Circuit Court. The clerk may be removable for cause by a majority of these judges. This portion becomes effective on January 1, 2004. Elected circuit clerks in office at that time will continue to hold their office until the expiration of their elected terms.
CINDY KADLEC