Ronnie C. Reaves is running for Halifax County Clerk of Court. The following are his answers to questions submitted by rrspin.com:

Occupation: Attorney in general practice in the state of North Carolina and the Commonwealth of Virginia

Education: Bachelor of Science, NC Central University, Juris Doctorate, Howard University

Civic, church, and fraternal organizations: Civic/Church/Fraternal: First Baptist Church, Weldon, North Carolina. Roanoke Rapids Rotary Club, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Prince Hall Masons — Jackson Square Lodge 700

Why have you chosen to run, and why are you qualified for the position? 

When I learned that the former Halifax County Clerk of Court was going to retire, I thought that I might be well suited to serve the public in the capacity of clerk. I have practiced law in Halifax County for over 44 years and I bring a wealth of experience with Halifax County and North Carolina Courts. Specifically, I have experience in the types of matters the Clerk of Court handles; including estates, guardianships, land divisions and partitions, name changes and special proceedings. I also have experience in general civil, domestic, and criminal law. I have practiced law in all of these areas before many county courts and I would be able to start off day one being capable of handling these type matters without having a learning curve or on the job training.

What is the role of a court clerk? Please describe the duties that come with the job. 

The clerk of court is responsible for running the office of the clerk at the county courthouse. 

The clerk’s office is the portal to and backbone of our court system. The clerk’s office accepts filings and pleading in all types of court matters and sets the matters up for disposition. 

Citizens also come to pay court costs and fines for traffic citations and other types of costs. 

The Clerk of Court is responsible for keeping the official records of the court and maintaining and overseeing a staff which has assistant and deputy clerks trained to handle various areas of the law. In addition, the clerk is directly responsible for handling special proceedings such as estates and guardianships. The clerk plays a quasi-judicial role in that many cases are decided by the clerk after a hearing.

What are your biggest concerns about the state of the clerk’s office?

My biggest concern is whether the clerk’s office has the resources to operate in such a manner as to achieve maximum efficiency and to give the citizens of Halifax County confidence that the court system is running smoothly and competently and that citizens have a positive experience when they have to interact with the office. 

Halifax County has a great staff of employees who are dedicated to serving the public. What would help is additional funding for staffing and staff development to ensure that multiple staff members are prepared to handle all potential areas of public concern.

In April, it will be a year since eCourts went live in Halifax County. What has the impact on the clerk’s office been? Has it helped streamline the process? What are its strengths, and what needs to be improved?

Halifax County was one of the last districts to implement eCourts. As with any new system or change of this magnitude, there has been a significant learning curve for staff, attorneys, judges, and the general public to transition to the new way of doing things. Having said that, this transition was inevitable and I embrace it with open arms. The federal courts, appellate courts and other administrative courts have been using eCourts for many years and technology in the long run makes the court more efficient. 

The North Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals were the first in this country to use e filings back in 1999 and I was one of the first attorneys in the state to be trained and help implement that system. 

I was the first attorney in Halifax County to file a case through eCourts in April, 2025. If elected clerk, I will continue to push for the newest technology and additional staff training to ensure that it operates in a manner which best serves the public and the officers of the court.

What is the current backlog of cases and how will you address it?

There is currently a backlog of cases in criminal court in Halifax County but the District Attorney’s Office and the District and Superior Court Judges are the primary players for moving cases through the system.  I would work with those parties and make my staff available as best I could to assist with the handling of this backlog. I also have made and will continue to make suggestions on how to improve the system, such as handling more low-level felony matters in District Court rather than in Superior Court.

What are the biggest needs of the office? 

Like most agencies, the Halifax Clerk’s office would benefit from additional staffing and resources. Additional staff would allow cases to move faster through the system and have more time available for staff members to interact with the public. Further newer and faster equipment would allow staff to complete tasks in a more efficient manner.

Is there any correlation between the job of the clerk and the anticipated construction of a new detention center in the county? Please explain why or why not. 

The new detention center would not have a direct impact on the Clerk of Court’s office or the way it operates. However, we would continue, as the clerk’s office does now, to work with the Detention Center and its employees to make sure the courts are operating in a manner where my staff works with the staff of the detention center and any other agencies to ensure that justice is carried out at the most optimal level possible.