Halifax County Senior Superior Court Judge Brenda Branch has appointed Lisa M. Turner interim clerk of superior court after Becky Spragins announced her retirement effective December 1.
Turner’s tenure as clerk will be from December 1 through December 31, 2026 as the office is on the ballot in the November election of that year.
Turner has over 23 years of service in the Halifax County Clerk’s Office and currently works for Chief District Court Judge Turner Stephenson, who is retiring. “She has a working knowledge of other stakeholders and court personnel,” Branch said. “She is a native of Halifax County with many community affiliations and currently serves on the Halifax Town Board.”
(rrspin will publish an interview with Spragins on Wednesday)
Branch said Turner not only brings a wealth of experience, but she also has the demeanor to help the county’s legal system move toward the implementation of the e-courts Odyssey system. “Moreover, her ability to communicate and her team-building skills will be a tremendous asset to maintaining the stability of the clerk’s office as we move forward together.”
Branch said Turner was appointed after a process of gathering relevant information which included contacting districts across the state to determine any precedents for the appointment process for elected clerks.
After making inquiry, and due to the late notice and lack of public notice, Branch “began an internal posting to the stakeholders in the legal community as well as other court personnel.”
She requested stakeholder recommendations of candidates as well as factors and characteristics to be considered when making the appointment.
She also met with interested candidates.
Those stakeholders included the chief district court judge, district attorney, public defender, Halifax County sheriff, the probation district manager, attorneys Sammy Webb and Geoffrey Davis for the bar, and deputy and assistant clerks.
“Based on the valuable information received,” Branch said she “determined the county needed someone with actual long-term experience in the clerk’s office as the legal system begins the journey to Odyssey, which is the new on-line filing system for the courts.”
Said Branch: “According to the totality of the information and paramount to Odyssey, is the development of a cohesive, motivated, long-term team in the clerk’s office, as well as a dedicated team member for the court’s stakeholder team.”
