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The office of the Clerk of the Court of Common
Pleas traces its origin to the medieval cleric. They
maintain the records, were responsible for correspondence
and had various powers to issue writs or other processes
ordered by the Court. The cleric was generally one of the
few educated persons in the community.
In creating a state judical system, the 1802 Ohio Constitution
provided for the appointment of a Clerk of Courts for each
county. The judges of the Common Pleas Court made the
appointments 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 official title is Clerk of Common Pleas, but most often
the office holder is referred to as the Clerk of Courts.
Many prominent Ohioans have served as Clerk of Common
Pleas. For example, William Henry Harrison, ninth
President of the United Sates, was a Clerk of Courts when
he was elected President in 1840.
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