HISTORY OF THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK
In creating a state judicial system the 1802 Ohio State Constitution provided for the appointment of a clerk of courts for each county.  Originally, the clerk of courts was appointed by the judges of the court of common pleas for a seven year term.  Under the 1851 Constitution, the office became elective for a three year term which was extended to four years in 1936.

The clerk of courts maintains the records of the court of common pleas and various courts which have exercised appellate jurisdiction on the county level.  The records of the common pleas court pertain to all civil cases in which the amount or matter in dispute exceeds the statutory jurisdiction of county or municipal courts, and all criminal cases except those misdemeanors which are vested by statute in an lower court.  This court also holds appellate jurisdiction from decisions of the board of county commissioners or inferior courts such as mayor's, county, municipal, or police located within the county.  In addition, the common pleas court exercised jurisdiction in probate and testamentary matters from 1802 until the probate court was re-established in 1951.  The records of the several courts which have exercised appellate jurisdiction on the county level include those of the supreme court (1803-1851), the district court (1852-1883), the circuit court (1883-1912), and the current court of appeals.

The clerk of courts is required by statute to file a complete record of all cases.  In addition, the clerk must maintain an appearance docket, a trial docket and duplicate trial docket, a journal, an execution docket, and indices to these records.  Throughout the history of this office, the clerk has acquired additional filing duties, such as recording notary commissions (1858), trademarks and brands (1911), copies of federal court judgments (1898), special sheriff commissions (1867-1935), certificates of judgment which would be considered as liens (1935), and motor vehicle ownership (1921).

In addition to receiving documents for record, the clerk of courts is responsible for other varied duties.  For example, the clerk issues all orders for the arrest of defendants, arraigns the accused and reads the indictment to him, and administers all oaths and affirmations required or authorized by law.  Following conviction or rendition of judgment, the clerk prepares an itemized bill of the court costs.  From 1856 to 1867, the clerk of courts maintained a list of deaths within the county and transmitted annually to the secretary of state an abstract of the list; from 1864 to 1893, the clerk served as the county supervisor of elections; and currently, the clerk serves as a member of the county records commission; and as a member of the Automated Data Processing Board and Cuyahoga County Investment Advisory Board.