By james art Forsyth County Clerk of Superior Court Denise Hines registered the 464 potential jurors who arrived at the Forsyth County Courthouse Monday, days after her office refused to screen jurors, leaving them to wander around the courthouse.
Hines, a Democrat who has held the office since 2020, has said in the past two weeks that her office does not have enough clerks to manage county residents who are subpoenaed for jurors. She also says her office is not required by law to process potential jurors, even though two local judges have said in an order that her office is required by law to do so.
On Monday, two bailiffs escorted a group of jurors to the Forsyth Superior courtroom. Another bailiff escorted a second group of jurors to the grand jury room on the fifth floor of the courthouse.
The issue came to public attention on October 8, when 100 potential jurors were seen wandering around the interior of the courthouse. There was no official to manage these people.
Hines told the Journal on Friday that she arrived late that day and did not see the potential jurors at the courthouse.
Forsyth Superior Court Judge David Hall later spoke with the potential jurors and sent them home, Hines said.
Hines, who has a law degree from UNC Chapel Hill, said she is understaffed to handle the jury poll, saying her 106 clerks in her office are assigned to keep records.
The Registry is tasked with keeping all administrative and clerical records for the district and high courts.
Hines said she sent emails Sept. 6 to district court and superior court judges saying she was no longer comfortable with the administrative responsibilities of jurors as the demands on her office increased.
Judge Todd Burke, Senior Local Superior Court Judge, and Judge Victoria Roemer, Chief District Court Judge, issued an administrative order on Oct. 10 regarding jury management.
Burke and Roemer rejected Hines’ request to move jury management and jury administration responsibilities from Hines’ office to the high court.
The clerk’s office is required by law to fulfill those duties, the justices said. For 50 years, the office has been responsible for performing the administrative duties of the jurors, according to the administrative order.
Hines believes state law does not require her office to provide clerks.
State jury law has no specific provision requiring superior court clerks to manage jury pools in courtrooms.
The UNC School of Government has released the NC Clerk of Superior Court Manual Series. According to the manual, “the Clerk-elect usually orients the jury, but an assistant, deputy, or trial court administrator may do so.”
“The Office of the Clerk of Courts has always had staff and equipment to facilitate jury management, and neither the Supreme Court nor the District Court has ever had staff and equipment to facilitate said services,” according to the administrative order.
The clerk’s office is facing new challenges that increase the responsibilities of her staff, Hines said.
Because Hines is elected, she does not have a direct supervisor, Forsyth County Manager Shontel Robinson said.
District Attorney Jim O’Neill could not be reached for comment Monday.