Clerk of the Circuit Court 2026 Elections

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Washington County, Maryland, is a very old and critical constitutional office that serves as the administrative and financial hub of the county’s court system, and a key provider of vital public services.

🏛️ Duties of the Clerk of the Circuit Court

The Clerk is a locally elected State official whose responsibilities are established by the Maryland Constitution and State law. The office performs an extremely wide array of duties for the judicial system, the legal community, and the general public:

1. Judicial Administration (The Court Recorder)

The Clerk’s office is the official record-keeper for the Circuit Court, which handles all jury trials, major civil and criminal cases, juvenile matters, and family law.

• Case Management: Filing, processing, docketing, and maintaining all legal records for civil, criminal, family, and juvenile actions.
• Jury Management: Summonsing, checking in, and compensating both Trial Jurors and Grand Jurors.
• Courtroom Support: Clerk’s staff work in the courtrooms, administering oaths to witnesses and jurors, and assisting the judge with procedures.
• Public Access: Providing public access to court records and documents unless prohibited by law.

2. Land and Financial Records (The County Archivist)

The Clerk’s office manages the official land records for Washington County.

• Real Estate Records: Recording and maintaining crucial real estate documents, including land deeds, mortgages, plats, and conveyances. These records are often maintained digitally and physically.
• Revenue Collection: Collecting and distributing various fees, commissions, and taxes related to court actions and real estate transactions on behalf of the state, county, and local municipalities.
• Trust Funds: Maintaining custody of certain court-related trust funds.

3. Licensing and Legal Services (The Service Provider)

The office provides several essential services directly to the public:

• Licenses: Issuing business licenses and marriage licenses.
• Ceremonies: The Clerk of Court or a Deputy Clerk is authorized to perform civil marriage ceremonies.
• Oaths and Commissions: Administering oaths of office to new judges, county officials, Notaries Public, and gubernatorial appointees.

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🗳️ Election Process

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is an independently elected official with a history dating back to the earliest settlements in Maryland.

Feature	Details
Term Length	The Clerk is elected to a four-year term.
Electoral Method	The election is held at large by the voters of the entire Washington County.
Election Cycle	The election occurs during the general election in the gubernatorial election years (e.g., 2026, 2030, etc.).
Qualifications	The candidate must meet State requirements, which typically include being a resident and an eligible voter of Washington County. (Unlike the State’s Attorney, the Clerk is generally not required to be an attorney).

The Clerk’s office is essential because it sits at the intersection of the county’s judicial, legal, and major record-keeping functions.

Current Candidates

Kevin R. Tucker – Incumbent Republican Jurisdiction Washington County Status Active Filed Regular -02/25/2025 Email kevin.tucker@myactv.net Committee Name Citizens for Kevin Tucker

Contact Information 10961 Big Pool Rd Big Pool, MD 21711-

Last Updated 11/7/2025

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