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Potential circuit court clerk candidates in Johnson, McCracken and Mercer must register for exam by Oct. 31

FRANKFORT, Ky., Sept. 26, 2025 – Residents of Johnson, McCracken and Mercer counties who are planning to run in the special election for circuit court clerk in 2026 have until noon EDT Friday, Oct. 31, to register for the required exam. Hopefuls for the office must pass the Kentucky Circuit Court Clerk Examination to be on the ballot. Exam registration opens Wednesday, Oct. 1.

The Administrative Office of the Courts will administer the exam Thursday, Dec. 4, at the AOC building in Frankfort.

Local voters will elect circuit court clerks in the three counties to fulfill the unexpired terms of clerks who retired this year. The vacancies are currently covered by clerks appointed by local chief circuit judges. The elected clerks will be voted in to serve until the end of 2030, when regular elections for each of Kentucky’s 120 circuit court clerks will take place.     

The exam consists of 150 questions about material in the Circuit Court Clerks Manual, Circuit Court Clerks Accounting Manual, Circuit Court Clerks Code of Conduct and Judicial Branch Personnel Policies. Examinees have three hours to complete the exam and must score at least 70% to run for office, pursuant to SCR 1.060(3). Current circuit court clerks do not have to take the exam.

Obtain exam materials now and register starting Oct. 1 at https://kcoj.info/clerkexam.

Circuit Court Clerks
Circuit court clerks are responsible for managing the records of Kentucky’s Circuit and District courts. Circuit clerks are constitutionally elected officials from all 120 counties and serve six-year terms. They provide professional recordkeeping, receive money due the courts, pay money to required parties and the state, record legal documents, provide legal documents and other legal materials, maintain the jury system, administer oaths and handle affidavits.

 Administrative Office of the Courts
The AOC is the operations arm for the state court system and supports the activities of nearly 3,300 employees and 412 elected justices, judges and circuit court clerks. The AOC executes the Judicial Branch budget.

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