PORT ANGELES — Retiring Clallam County Superior Court Administrator Lindy Clevenger was recognized last week for more than 42 years of service to the county.
She received a framed etching of the historic Clallam County Courthouse in a Tuesday ceremony at the commissioners meeting.
“Forty-two years is a very impressive record of service to Clallam County,” Commissioner Mark Ozias said.
Clevenger received a standing ovation from dozens of current and former county employees and attorneys who work in Superior Court.
“I just want to tell everybody thank you and how pleased I am you’re all here,” Clevenger said.
Current Court Administrator Assistant Lacey Fors will become the court administrator Monday.
Retired Clallam County Superior Court Judge Ken Williams, now a part-time court commissioner, described his longtime colleague as the “public face of our court.”
“Despite huge egos and frustrated people and frustrated defendants and participants, she was that nice lady who helped them all out,” Williams said.
In days of scheduling court proceedings on a paper notebook, Clevenger worked late nights developing a computerized court scheduling system that would eventually become a model.
“On her own, she decided that we were going to go into a new era,” Williams said.
“She devised a computer calendar system that is so good that the [state] Administrative Office of the Courts came up to see what she had done so they could try and copy it for the rest of the courts in the state.”
Williams said Clevenger helped make the work enjoyable and allowed judges to do their jobs.
“One of the problems in the court is that you have to keep track of when trials are going and what cases are settled and who’s here and who’s there,” Williams said.
“It’s an extremely difficult job, in addition to all the other jobs that come with the administrative functions.”
Williams added: “The county can be proud to have her serve for so long as the court administrator and before that as one of the clerks.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
