Witt Fortenberry
Circuit Clerk
601-847-2474
Fax: 601-847-4011
wfortenberry@co.simpson.ms.us
2020 – Present
Mailing Address – PO Box 307 Mendenhall, MS 39114
DUTIES:
The Circuit Clerk provides a wide variety of services to the Circuit and County Courts, as well as, to the public including voter registration, election information, jury duty, and marriage licenses. The Circuit Clerk’s responsibilities in these roles are:
Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts
- Keeps a general court docket in which all names and parties in each case, plea, indictment, records from inferior courts on appeal, and other papers are entered.
- Keeps orders of the court which are referenced in the minute book.
- Keeps the execution docket
- Enters a full and complete record of the proceedings of the suit
Election Process/ Voter Registration – Administrative Duties
- Serve as a registrar for voters in the county
- Collect a filing fee from candidates pursuing a county office or legislative seat within the county
- Work with the Election Commission to provide election information (Results, candidates, etc.)
- Assist the Election Commission in their duties
Jury Duty
- Notify citizens who have been selected to serve on jury duty
- Prepare a jury list for the attorneys
- Familiarize jurors with the courthouse
- Receive and file all documents during trials
- Issue subpoenas
- Jury instructions given by the judge
- Receive verdicts of jurors and read them in open court
- Issue jurors a county warrant (check) and certificate of service (if needed)
Marriage Licenses
- File a Statistical Record of Marriage with the Office of Vital Records with the State Board of Health
- Issue the marriage license
- Collect, from applicant, a filing fee of $37 per marriage record prepared
