FRANKFORT, Ky., June 5, 2026 – Residents of Garrard and Pendleton counties who are planning to run in the special election for circuit court clerk in November have until noon EDT Thursday, July 2, to register for the required exam. Hopefuls for the office must pass the Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks Examination to be on the ballot.

The Administrative Office of the Courts will administer the exam Wednesday, July 8, at the AOC in Frankfort.

Voters will elect circuit court clerks in the two counties to fulfill the unexpired terms of clerks who are retiring this year. The elected clerks will be voted in to serve until the end of 2030, when the regular election 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).

Registration and exam materials are available at https://kcoj.info/clerkexam.

The deadline to file with the Secretary of State’s Office to be on the ballot is Aug. 11.

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. As the fiscal agent for the state court system, the AOC executes the Judicial Branch budget.

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