District clerks are called on to assure that the affairs of the district courts are maintained objectively with the full confidence of judicial authorities.

The Texas Government Code states the duties and powers of the clerk of the district court: "The clerk of the District Court has custody of and shall carefully maintain and arrange the records relating to or lawfully deposited in the clerk's office." The district clerk shall:

• Record the acts and proceedings of the district court;

• Enter all judgments of the court under the direction of the judge;

• Record all executions issued and the returns issued on the executions;

• Process passport applications;

• Administer child support payments;

• Administer trust accounts for minors ordered by the courts;

• Keep an index of the parties to all suits filed in the court, and make reference to any judgment made in the case; and

• Keep an account of all funds collected by the office, by way of fines and fees, and the amount due jurors in district court for service.

After serving as Chief Deputy District Clerk, Sandra Featherston was elected District Clerk in 1986. At that time this county had only a Circuit Judge responsible for three counties, Kaufman, Rockwall, and Van Zandt. Today the District Clerk’s office is responsible for and maintains files and records for the 86th and 422nd District Courts, parts of the two County Courts at Law as well as the Child Protective Services and Attorney General Courts.

As official record keepers for the courts the far-ranging duties play a vital role in the day-to-day operation of the justice system. An efficient District Clerk’s office is essential to the smooth operation of the court system. Featherston is a pioneer in the implementation of technology with county records. Documents are imaged and easily retrieved. Files and cases may be accessed on the computer index dating as far back as 1849. The history of the lives of Kaufman County families are found in these records and accessed daily.

Featherston has been a member of the County and District Clerk’s Association of Texas for over twenty years and has served on various committees and panels of instruction for District Clerks throughout the state. To stay updated on laws and procedures affecting her office, she regularly attends schools of instruction at Texas A & M at College Station and the University of Texas at Austin