Clerk of Court earns District 8’s highest judicial honor

Her name is on every deed, docket, oath, and order filed in Emanuel County today. Now, her name is also on a statewide award.

Kristin Hall was named the 2024 Clerk of the Year for Judicial District 8 by the Superior Court Clerks Association of Georgia during its recent spring conference on Jekyll Island.

District 8 is the largest judicial district in the state, encompassing 27 counties and spanning five circuits: the Oconee, Ocmulgee, Dublin, Cordele, and Middle Judicial Circuits (of which Emanuel County is part).

Georgia’s other nine districts give out the same award, recognizing at least second-term clerks who exemplify leadership, professionalism, and service.

Hall was also a strong contender for the prestigious Stetson F. Bennett Clerk of the Year Award. It was established in 1985 to celebrate superior court clerks across Georgia who demonstrate integrity, professionalism, and outstanding service to the public. She was one of three finalists for this award, joining Dodge County and fellow District 8 clerk Rhett Walker and winner Grant Walraven from Gordon County in District 7.

Both honors are peer-nominated and peer-selected with district clerks voting on their respective regional winners and the association as a whole selecting the statewide recipient. The awards were presented during a banquet at the association’s 3-day spring conference attend-ed by Hall and all her colleagues.

Jones County Clerk of Court Pamela Dixon serves as the chair for District 8. She says Hall exemplifies everything the award stands for.

“Kristin is the first to volunteer for anything that helps any court in our district,” Dixon said. “She is a wealth of knowledge and a true go-between when it comes to bridging the needs of court management and the work we clerks do every day, especially when it comes to the changing demands specific to juvenile case records. The requirements we have to adhere to for those cases alone are steadily growing these days, and Kristin has been instrumental in making sure everybody in District 8 knows what’s expected of us and how to execute to the judges’ expectations. We were proud to recognize her as this year’s District 8 recipient and, even more so, to have her in the running with Rhett to make our district doubly represented for contention for the Stetson Bennett Award.”

Elected in 2012, Hall is now in her fourth term and 12th year of service to Emanuel County. As clerk of court, she oversees all superior, state, magistrate, and juvenile court records, man-ages the local jury process, and serves as the official custodian of deeds, liens, and court orders.

But to Hall, the job has always been about more than just the paperwork.

“To be recognized by my peers in this way is incredibly humbling. This is more than a job to me. It’s a calling. I truly love serving the people of Emanuel County,” she commented. “I give all the glory to God for the path that brought me here, and I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to be part of a system that matters so much to the community that built me.”

A lifelong Emanuel County resident and graduate of Swainsboro High School, Hall earned her degree from the University of Georgia and briefly settled in Clarke County before return-ing home in 2008 with her husband, Mitch, to begin their life as local business owners. She transitioned into public service in 2013 after the retirement of longtime clerk Jay Lawson.

April Lumley has worked in the clerk’s office for 29 years. She says she has seen meaningful change in the way the office functions under Hall’s leadership.

“When Mr. Jay retired, he left behind a well-run office and a high standard of service,” Lum-ley recalled, “Since Kristin was elected, she has honored that legacy while also bringing the clerk’s office into the 21st Century. She’s led the charge on technology, which has been a great improvement for our court system, while making sure the overall level of service the clerk’s office has always provided not only continued but grew. Kristin has helped streamline processes, set clear expectations, and made sure we feel supported every step of the way. She expects a lot from herself and from us, but she’s also the first to support and encourage, and through it all, she’s never lost sight of the people behind the paper. That’s what makes working for her such a pleasure.”

Hall is also widely praised by those who intersect with the court system for her responsive-ness, reliability, and ability to keep complicated processes running smoothly for both profes-sionals and the public.

“A good clerk can keep things moving. A great one does it without anyone ever needing to ask,” said Kendall Gross, a practicing attorney based in Metter whose work regularly brings him to the Emanuel County Courthouse. “As both an attorney and as someone who has filled in as a judge in Emanuel County from time to time, Kristin’s office is as good an office I’ve dealt with. She absolutely knows what she’s doing, and she has seen to it that her deputies do, too. Kristin is the kind of professional who sets the bar. When you get a file from her, it’s organized. You’re not left waiting on anything, and when you file something with her office, she and her staff are quick to do their part to keep the system moving. The dockets are coordinated and communicated to an expert level. Kristin is a pleasure to work with, and she is most certainly deserving of this award.”

Though the clerk of court is part of the judicial system as opposed to general government, Chairman Jim Sherrod says Hall’s approach to public service aligns perfectly with the values of Emanuel County leadership.

“Our jobs are very different. Mine is legislative; hers is judicial,” Chairman Sherrod said. “But we’re both elected to serve the people of Emanuel County, and I see Kristin live that out every day. She brings professionalism, integrity, and grace to everything she does. This recognition is well deserved, and I’m proud to serve alongside her not just as an elected official but as a very dear friend as well.”

The award came as a surprise to Hall. She had spent the week attending classes, swapping insights with fellow clerks, and keeping pace with the latest legal changes, so when the ban-quet began, she expected another night of networking, not recognition. Upon its conclusion, she was seated front and center in the group photo, courtesy of Whitfield County’s Babs Bailey (District 7 Clerk of the Year) and the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners.

The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners governs Emanuel County, focusing on legislative and administrative responsibilities. Comprised of representatives from five districts, the board oversees policies and programs that impact local development, budgeting, and public services. Commissioners work collectively to ensure fiscal responsibility and address community needs, collaborating with other county departments and agencies. They are committed to supporting economic growth, public safety, and community well-being across Emanuel County.

For more information about the commissioners and for the latest from the county government, visit 124 North Main Street in Swainsboro; call 478-237-3881; follow us on Facebook; or visit www.emanuelco-ga.gov.