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Court Clerk of the Year

By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//November 12, 2010//

Court Clerk of the Year

By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//November 12, 2010//

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Court Clerk of the Year

Claire Stelloh
Court Clerk, St. Francis Municipal Court

“As with most court clerks, Claire works quietly but efficiently behind the scenes. She has been Clerk for the 17+ years of my tenure and for 10 years prior to that. She has managed to keep up to date with her work while toiling with a balky software system. She is always well prepared for court sessions and is able to answer questions immediately regarding status of cases, etc., all while working on a part-time basis … She is an excellent candidate for this honor and certainly well-deserving.”  - St. Francis Municipal Judge Peter Hemmer
“As with most court clerks, Claire works quietly but efficiently behind the scenes. She has been Clerk for the 17+ years of my tenure and for 10 years prior to that. She has managed to keep up to date with her work while toiling with a balky software system. She is always well prepared for court sessions and is able to answer questions immediately regarding status of cases, etc., all while working on a part-time basis … She is an excellent candidate for this honor and certainly well-deserving.” - St. Francis Municipal Judge Peter Hemmer

The St. Francis Municipal Court convenes twice a month. But there are cases being processed constantly, and somebody has to handle them.

That somebody is Claire Stelloh, the Court’s clerk for almost 30 years. And her efficient handling of processing cases, answering phone calls from angry defendants, and all the other day-to-day tasks to keep the court running makes her an ideal choice as an Unsung Hero, St. Francis Municipal Judge Peter Hemmer said.

“She’s done a wonderful job for many, many years,” Hemmer said. “She keeps a very even keel.”

As opposed to, say, a circuit court clerk, Stelloh — and other municipal court clerks — also spends a lot of time dealing with the city government at all levels. And her ability to navigate the bureaucracy helps the court run like clockwork.

“She can multitask with the best of them,” Hemmer said. “I wouldn’t trade her for anybody.”

Nathan Bayer, an attorney for Crivello Carlson who serves as the St. Francis municipal prosecutor, also nominated Stelloh, saying that she “treats people with respect and courtesy.” Beyond that, he said that her ability to keep the court organized and running efficiently helps make what could be the drudgery of night court twice a month much more bearable.

In his nomination, Bayer wrote:

“Claire gets the brunt of the phone calls, often from defendants not pleased with the citations they have received, and has to deal with that on top of the usual paperwork, parking citations, monitor hold opens, and all the other million little details that come with being a court clerk. Claire not only does it remarkably well:

The paperwork is always in order and as it should be, she treats people with respect and courtesy, and has a great attitude.”

And her efficiency is much appreciated by Hemmer, as well. Asked to describe how she makes his job easier, he had a very simple response:

“She makes me look great.”

Court Clerk Honorees

Sue Grignon
Administrative Specialist, Milwaukee County Circuit Court

“Sue has been working for the Milwaukee County Clerk of Circuit Court since 1999. The Clerk of Circuit Court implemented two new collaborative projects over the course of the past year, the Milwaukee Justice Center and the Milwaukee Foreclosure Mediation Program. Sue’s dedication and willingness to apply her skills and give extra effort to these projects have been instrumental in their success. Her effort allows the MJC to analyze client demographics and thereby improve services. She is a friendly first impression of the program and provides a valuable service to our program and its participants that would not otherwise exist.”

Dawn Caldart, Milwaukee Justice Center

Paula Pfeuffer
Judicial Clerk, Kenosha County Circuit Court

“Paula has been instrumental in starting a new branch of court in Kenosha County. From the first day the new branch began hearing cases in August of 2009, Paula has had the new branch running efficiently and with the utmost professionalism. She always has a pleasant smile on her face, and all attorneys, judges, and courthouse staff enjoy working with her.”
Chad Kerkman, Circuit Court Judge,

Kenosha County Circuit Court

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