Clerk Of Court

Julie J. Armstrong was first elected in 1992 to the office of Charleston County Clerk of Court. The S.C. Constitution provides that the Clerk of Court is a constitutional officer elected for a term of four years. By statute, Armstrong has charge of the courthouse but her authority was extended to the entire Judicial Complex by Charleston County Council. As the Clerk of Court, Armstrong is the record keeper for Common Pleas, General Sessions and Family Courts while being charged with docket management and fiduciary responsibilities. She oversees a staff of 82 employees who docket over 35,000 cases and collects and processes approximately $36 million annually in county and state revenue and court ordered support. Prior to being elected as the Clerk of Court, Armstrong worked for the Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office in the capacity of Office Administrator. Along with her years working for the Solicitor, she has served the citizens of Charleston County for over 30 years.

Armstrong was raised in a strong military family and proudly claims deep roots in the Charleston community. Growing up on James Island, she married her high school sweetheart, Jim Armstrong, and they were blessed with three children. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from The College of Charleston.

In her capacity as Clerk of Court, Armstrong has been recognized as the most technology-based Clerk's office in the state. Under her direction, Charleston County became the first office in the State to offer images of Common Pleas cases, and docket management information for both Circuit and Family Courts through the web. Similarly, she has overseen the institution of online docket meetings, an integrated voice response system along with web access for child support and alimony payers and recipients, online juror summons response form, and courtplus.org which is a web application enhanced to allow access to court records using mobile devices. Her innovativeness was on display for the world to see as her office live streamed high profile trials which allowed the public and media greater access to the court while also allowing the other cases in the court to proceed uninterrupted.

During Armstrong's tenure, the Charleston County Historic Courthouse was renovated and the Judicial Center was constructed. With the ability to hold up to sixteen court proceedings simultaneously, the Judicial Complex not only serves the needs of the citizens of Charleston County but also has the ability to serve the needs of the South Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals as well.

As Charleston County Clerk of Court, Armstrong is a member of the South Carolina Association of Clerks of Court and Registers of Deeds. Through the years she has served the Association in a variety of offices including Treasurer, Vice President and multiple terms as President. In 2016-17 Armstrong served as President of the South Carolina Association of Counties and currently serves on the Board of Directors while also remaining active in the National Association of Counties (NACo). Extending her involvement to the community, she is a member of and serves on a number of various civic and political organizations and boards.

In 2017, Armstrong was recognized by a variety of groups for the contributions her office continues to make in Charleston County and the State of South Carolina. The list of accolades included being named the 2017 Clerk of Court of the Year in South Carolina; being recognized for her unprecedented dedication, contribution, and service to Charleston County by the Charleston County Bar; and having Charleston City Council proclaim March 14th as "Julie Armstrong Day" in recognition of her outstanding public service.