Upload
mike-morris
View
218
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 1/18
District Clerk Chris DanielDistrict Clerk Chris Daniel
SemiSemi--Annual ReportAnnual Report
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 2/18
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 3/18
During the first half of 2011, our office began anumber of initiatives to better serve the publicwhile saving taxpayers money. Thank you forreading this report, which highlights ourinitiatives and gives a glimpse at our goals forconsistent and continuous improvement for thefuture of the District Clerk’s Office.
Happy employees perform their best work,which results in better customer service for thepublic. I explored new ways to boost employeemorale to help make the office a positive workingenvironment so that we efficiently assist ourcustomers.
We faced a 10 percent budget cut, but we foundways to save our office money without
implementing pay cuts or mandatory furloughs.
We explored methods to reach out to the community, whether throughour Special Events Committee or through our FREEfax demonstrations.
My predecessors began many worthwhile projects, and I will continuemoving forward by implementing improvements with our Web site,historic document preservation and e-courts.
I hope you will gain a fresh perspective on what the District Clerk’sOffice has already achieved and will continue to accomplish in thefuture.
3
A message
from Chris
District Clerk Chris Daniel
District Clerk Chris Daniel
swears into office at mid-night on Jan. 1, 2011.
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 4/18
1212
Semi-Annual Report
4
Contents
55
Internal Initiatives
To stay within our budget while making countygovernment effective for all
To increase employee morale To find better ways to serve our community
External Initiatives
Publicize electronic filing methods Advance electronic courts Increase overall office efficiency
Photos
A look back on Chris Daniel’s days in office during thefirst half of 2011
Future Initiatives
The future of the District Clerk’s Office
Events
A list of internal and externalDistrict Clerk’s Office events
66
88
1111
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 5/18
Internal Initiatives
5
Goal: To find better waysGoal: To find better ways
to serve our communityto serve our community
Action: Redesigned the SEC so that proceeds go to the charitiesselected by DCO employees
Action: Put the Historical Records Preservation Committee back ontrack
Action: Created a District Clerk’s Office Facebook page
Action: Developing a jury outreach program that will emphasize toschools the importance of jury service
Goal: To increase employee moraleGoal: To increase employee morale
Action: Brought back the “Employee of the Month” program
Action: Brought water coolers back to all departments of the DCO
Action: Hosted District Clerk’s Health Fair for employees
Action: Developed a program to acknowledge improved performance
in employees with disciplinary issues
Goal: To stay within our budget whileGoal: To stay within our budget while
making county government effective for allmaking county government effective for all
Action: Presented budget that met mandated 10% reduction and avoided furloughs
Action: Recycled old District Clerk letterhead and jury summonses to save money on paper
Action: Reactivated the Inventory Control Group to streamline and reduce the expense of consumables
Action: Developed and implemented a system for tracking fixed assets
Action: Eliminated Wednesday afternoon jury call, saving approximately $16,000 a year
Action: Saved other Harris County government agencies $180,000 this year with FREEfax
Action: Started family e-courts, which, when implemented, will save an estimated $1.2 million/year
Special Events Committee member
Kelly Olivier Davis flips pancakes at
the SEC pancake sale on March 11.
Cecily Hurd and Meshanda
Phillips stand in line to buy
baked potatoes at the SEC’s
St. Patrick’s Day event.
First half of 2011
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 6/18
6
Goal: Publicize electronic filing methodsGoal: Publicize electronic filing methods
Action: Improved FREEfax capabilities to populate information from seizure and forfeitures andprotective orders to instruments
Action: All Civil Courts now allow the use of FREEfaxAction: Offered FREEfax presentations to attorneys and legal professionals
Action: Sharing FREEfax information with other counties and government entities
Action: Researching methods to automate and interface E-Filing to TAMES
Action: Working with Tarrant County and JCIT to create criminal e-filing system
Goal: Advance electronic courtsGoal: Advance electronic courts
Action: Began scanning documents in County Criminal Courts
Action: Exploring Electronic Docketing for County Criminal Courts
Action: Researching Electronic Service Documents Action: Working with District Criminal Courts to develop docket entry screens for judges
Action: Launched Family e-Court project -- the first Family Court (310th) came online June 1
Action: Assigned to the Criminal E-Filing Subcommittee from JCIT
Since the start of 2011, the number of FREEfax filings has more than tripled.
Average daily FREEfax filings
External Initiatives
First half of 2011
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 7/18
Capt. Debra Schmidt, Judge John Clinton, Major Fred Brown, District Clerk Chris Daniel, Jim Leitner of
the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and Criminal Bureau Director Margaret Wolfe attend a court
hearing during the emergency preparedness trial run on May 20.
Goal: Increase overall office efficiencyGoal: Increase overall office efficiency
Action: Reconstituted the jury wheel to include all currently eligible Harris County citizens
Action: Began an evaluation of expunction procedures to add statistical reporting withoutevidence of the expunged records
Action: Addressing the issue of contesting Pauper’s Oaths
Action: Testified twice before the legislature on matters germane to the DCO
Action: Began sharing disaster recovery duties with DA to save county dollars
Action: Began exploring the possibility of a bail bondsmen notification that will reduce jail population on a daily basis
Action: Researching ways to improve revenue collection of fines and fees
Action: Implemented new methods for reducing delinquent collection accounts
Action: The House has passed a bill that we drafted that allows the District Clerk’s Office todiscontinue mailing copies of divorce decrees for an estimated savings of $90,000 ayear. We will work to ensure the passage of the bill in the Senate
Action: Working with Justice of Peace Offices to implement electronic service of documentswith an estimated savings of $60,000 to Harris County
7
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 8/18
Congratulating Mary Callier on being
named Employee of the Month are,
from left, Director Darlene Johnson,
Distribution Supervisor Lura Barley,
Mary, District Clerk Chris Daniel and
Chief Deputy Kevin Mauzy. District
Clerk Chris Daniel brought back em-
ployee recognition awards. Mary was
the first Employee of the Month.
8
District Clerk Chris Daniel and members of the SEC deliver a $500 check to the American Red Cross for
the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief fund. Susy Smith, Chief Development Officer for Ameri-
can Red Cross Greater Houston Area Chapter, accepted the check on behalf of the organization. The Dis-
trict Clerk's Office Special Events Committee raised the money through baked potato sales on St. Patrick's
Day.
Special Events Committee member
Mike Perez delivers chocolate roses to
Racheal Lucio on Valentine’s Day.
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 9/18
Members of the Special Events Committee deliver coats collected in the January coat drive to Houston CAN
Academy on Jan. 21.
Sheriff Adrian Garcia and District Clerk Chris Daniel
lock up a copy of the list of names on the new jury
wheel.
Tracy Hopper and
Jay Morgan
answer questionsat a FREEfax
presentation.
Jon Gegenheimer, Jefferson Parish Clerk
of Court, visited the District Clerk’s Office on Jan.
6 to see the Historic Documents Room and learn
about features on www.hcdistrictclerk.com.
9
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 10/18
District Clerk Chris Daniel, Chief Deputy Kevin Mauzy, DCO Bureau Directors and SEC officers gave an
appreciation breakfast for call center employees on May 11. Call Center employees gathered afterward to
thank directors and SEC members who assisted with the breakfast .
10
Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel and members of the Special Events Committee present a check to
Ryan Marsh, President of Layla Grace Children's Cancer Research Foundation.
Irene Fabian assists a prospective juror at the new
Jury Plaza on July 5.
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 11/18
We look forward to promoting good government while continuously finding ways to savetaxpayers money. Some of our future initiatives include:
Continue historic document preservation and seek further funding opportunities
Establish jury outreach program-This will allow more diverse jury pools. A five percentincrease in participation would save Harris County$100,000 in related costs
Create a mobile web page that would allow attorneys and the public to more easily accessinformation from www.hcdistrictclerk.com from a variety of technical devices
Investigate technological upgrades to our case management system that will allow personnelthe ability to better service and support the system
Offer opportunities for continuing education
Develop a cross-training program that will help the office run more efficiently-Employees who are trained in more than one department can easily take over for absentemployees or step in when a position becomes available
Develop a program to acknowledge improved performance in employees withdisciplinary issues
Develop electronic service of process and citations for the Harris County Constables and
become paperless
Continue to move forward with electronic courts by completing Family and moving on toJuvenile and Criminal
Future Initiatives
District Clerk Chris Daniel welcomes prospec-
tive jurors on Jan. 5.
11
The historic document pres-
ervation process encapsu-
lates documents in books
for protection from air and
moisture.
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 12/18
Jan. 1 Chris meets with Jon A. Gegenheimer, Clerk of Court, Jefferson Parish,Louisiana, who toured the DCO
Jan. 10–13 Chris and Chief Deputy Kevin Mauzy attend 39th Annual District and
County Clerks Continuing Education Conference in College Station
Jan. 14 Chris meets with attorney Bill Kroger of Baker Botts to provide information for TexasSupreme Court Task Force report and documentthe DCO historical court archives
Jan. 14 Chris attends MLK 15th Annual OratoryCompetition, gives brief address
Jan. 18 Chris attends Annual “C” Club
Elected Officials Reception
Jan. 20 Chris meets with County Treasurer to attemptresolution of credit card issues
Jan. 22 Chris speaks at the LULACDistrict Council 4967 Chorizo andMenudo Breakfast
Jan. 25 Chris meets with Christopher Prine and M.Karinne McCullough to establish procedures
regarding retention and destruction of completedappeals files
Jan. 29 Chris attends the 2011 India Fair atNew Stafford Center
Feb. 1 Chris attends Asian AmericanHealth Coalition
Feb. 3 Chris speaks at North Shore Rotary
Feb. 4 Chris attends Houston Community Reception
Feb. 5 Chris speaks at Rotary Club of Highlands 36thAnnual Chili Cook-off
Feb. 5 Chris attends 15th Annual Asian Lunar New Year Festival and the Lunar NewYear Festival Annual Celebration at the Chinese Community Center
Feb. 8 Chris gives FREEfax presentation at Fulbright and Jaworski
12
District Clerk Chris Daniel speaks to students at
Raul Yzaguirre School for Success at a memorial
vice as part of the Shattered Dreams Assembly. Stered Dreams is a program designed to help educ
students on the impact of drinking and driving.
District Clerk Chris Daniel and representatives f
the office participated in the Grand Entry for the
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 12
District Clerk Chris Daniel redeputizes District COffice employees on Jan. 3.
Community Events
First half of 2011
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 13/18
13
Feb. 9 Chris attends Galleria Chamber of Commerce Breakfast
Feb. 9 Chris gives FREEfax presentation at King andSpaulding
Feb. 10 Chris attends Asian Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
Feb. 10 Chris attends Jury Facilities Workshop (Internal)
Feb. 11 Chris attends HRBC Reception for Elected Officials
Feb. 11 Chris speaks at Harris County Black HistoryCelebration
Feb. 12 Chris attends Lunar New Year Celebration
Feb. 18 Chris speaks at FREEfax training for legalcommunity
March 2 Chris gives FREEfax presentation at JacksonWalker
March 4 Chris attends the Greater Houston PartnershipEvent: State of the County Address
March 7 Chris participates in the Shattered DreamsCrash Day filming at the Tejano Center andRaul Yzaguirre School for Success
March 8 Chris speaks at the Shattered Dreams Project Memorial Service
March 8 Chris attends the GHP- Business of the Rodeo at Reliant Park
March 10 Chris attends Asian Chamber Luncheon
March 10 Chris attends Clifton Middle School College and Career Night
March 11 Chris gives FREEfax presentation for Houston Association of Law Librarians
March 13 Chris participates in the 33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade benefiting
Cypress-Creek EMS
March 14 Chris gives FREEfax presentation to MABAHChris gives Website presentation to Humble Area Genealogical Society
March 15 Chris speaks at Downtown Lions Club
March 22 Chris gives FREEfax and brief Website presentation to Looper, Reed and McGraw
District Clerk Chris Daniel speaks
to attorneys and law firm represen-
tatives about the benefits of FREE-
fax at a presentation on March 3.
District Clerk Chris Daniel educates members
of LULAC about the functions of the District
Clerk’s Office on Jan. 22 at Doneraki’s.
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 14/18
March 22 Chris meets with JP Morgan Chase to discuss records storage project
March 22 Chris meets with Jake Stine and representatives from tex.gov
March 24 Chris gives FREEfax and website presentation to Beck, Redden and Sechrest
March 25 Chris attends the League of Women Voters 2011 Repast Honoring Beverly Kaufman andSue Schechter
March 25 Chris attends reception at India House
March 26 Chris speaks at the 12th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Parade Celebration in Hidalgo Park
March 28 Chris tours Transtar as part of emergency management preparedness
March 28 Chris meets with assistant attorneys general regarding child support
March 28 District Clerk’s Office sends press release for jury wheel reconstitution
March 29 Chris gives FREEfax presentation at Baker McKenzie
March 29 Chris speaks to government class at North Harris College
March 31 District Clerk’s Office hosts Health Fair
April 4 Chris makes electronic service proposal to Constable Abercia
April 5 Chris attends CenterPoint Energy Supplier Diversity Recognition
Breakfast
April 5 Attends Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Luncheon and
Business Expo
April 7 Chris attends CDCAT Region VII Spring Conference in Beaumont
April 8 Chris speaks to Lone Star College Political Science Club
April 8 Chris presents certificates of appreciation to students at Heritage Elementary for loaning
their rodeo art to the SEC’s Go Texan Day event
April 9 Chris participates in the OCA-GH Walk for C.H.A.N.G.E.
April 13 Chris presents check from Special Events Committee function to the American Red Cross
April 15 Chris speaks to the Willowbrook Rotary Club
April 18 Chris speaks to the LaPorte Lions Club
April 19 Chris attends the TIGAAR luncheon meeting
April 20 Chris speaks to the Rotary Club of Galena Park/Jacinto City
District Clerk Chris
Daniel presents an his-
toric court case at the
Harris County BlackHistory Month Com-
memoration.
14
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 15/18
15
April 20 Chris attends Asian American Bar Association solo and small firm networking
April 21 Chris speaks to the Bellaire Southwest Houston Rotary Club
April 21 Chris speaks to Phi Alpha Delta
April 26 Chris and the District Clerk’s Office host a Free Fax Seminar
April 26 Chris speaks to the Houston Skyline RotaryClub
April 27-29 Chris attends CDCAT conference inRound Rock
May 2 Chris distributes pocket constitutions at juryservice for Law Day
May 3 Chris attends Alief Quarterly networkingbreakfast
May 3 Chris meets with LaPorte Rotary Club
May 4 Chris speaks to seniorparalegal studentsat Westwood College
May 5 Chris speaks to theDowntown Optimist Club
May 7 Chris attends LULAC’s
Cinco de Mayo Parade
May 10 Chris speaks to KleinLions Club
May 11 Chris gives appreciationbreakfast for the DCOCall Center
May 11 Chris speaks to HeightsRotary Club of Houston
May 12 Chris speaks to P.R.O.W.group
May 12 41st Annual Banquet of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
May 13 Chris speaks to the Tomball Lions Club
District Clerk Chris Daniel, Judge Halbach and
Houston Bar Association President Mark Kellydistribute miniature copies of the constitution to
jurors on May 2 in honor of Law Day.
District Clerk Chris Daniel served as guest speaker at the Downto
Optimist Club of Houston Respect for Law Day luncheon on May
News 2 Houston Anchor Bill Balleza served as emcee. Chris presen
awards to six area law enforcement officers nominated by their re
spective departments. Award recipients included Adam Sweaney,
Trooper II, Texas DPS; Sergeant John W. Nickell, Houston Police
Department; Deputy United States Marshal Max Pinon; Deputy D
ald Hess, Harris County Sheriff’s Office; Special Agent Marguerit
Hackney, FBI; and Special Agent Shaun Cannon, United States Se
Service.
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 16/18
16
May 17 Chris speaks to Rotary Club of Sharpstown
May 18 Chris meets with Conference of Urban Counties to discuss Harris CountyOnline Fax Filing System
May 19 Chris speaks to the Rotary Club of Katy
May 24 Chris speaks to the Highlands Rotary Club
May 25 Chris speaks to Baytown Rotary Club
May 26 Chris gives a Free Faxpresentation to Ft. Bend BarAssociation
May 26 Chris speaks to KingwoodRotary Club
May 31 Chris greets, gives tourto summer interns
June 1 Chris speaks to the HumbleInternational Rotary Club
June 2 Chris speaks to PasadenaKiwanis Club
June 3 Chris speaks to KingwoodKiwanis Club
June 4 Chris speaks at the BAC
Donor Conference
June 6 Chris attends the HCRPTown Hall meeting
June 9 Chris speaks to the North Harris Bar Association
June 10 Chris speaks to the Pasadena Rotary Club
June 12-16 Chris attends the 116th Annual CDCAT State Conference in Lewisville, Texas
June 21 Chris speaks to Greater Houston Pachyderm
June 21 Chris participates in the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Harris County Jury Plaza
June 23 Chris gives FREEfax filing presentation at Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott LLP
June 23 Chris speaks to the Pasadena Kiwanis Club
Wayne Landin of the Pasadena Rotary Club greets
District Clerk Chris Daniel. Chris spoke to the club
on June 10.
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 17/18
Cutting the ribbon at the Harris County Jury Plaza Open House on June 21 are, from left, Rev. Rudy Ras-
mus, St. John’s United Methodist Church; Benny Agosto Jr., Houston Bar Association; Hon. Al Bennett,
61st District Court; Hon. Joseph J. “Tad” Halbach Jr., Local Administrative Judge; Hon. El Franco Lee,
Commissioner, Pct. 1; Hon. Mark Kent Ellis, 351st District Court, Hon. Chris Daniel, Harris County District
Clerk and Jeff Bricker, Senior Vice President, Page Southerland Page. “We hope this new facility will make
your right to serve easier,” Harris County District Clerk Chris Daniel said.
June 23 Chris attends the STAR Harris County Drug Court Foundation Graduation
June 24 Chris and members of the Special Events Committee present a check of proceeds froman SEC fundraiser to Ryan Marsh of the Layla Grace Children’s Cancer ResearchFoundation
June 28 Texas.gov visits the District Clerk’s Office for a review of new processes
June 29 Chris meets with summer interns from Houston Bar Association and CIS (Communities
in Schools)
July 5 The Harris County Jury Plaza opens to the public
17
8/4/2019 District Clerk Semi-Annual Report
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/district-clerk-semi-annual-report 18/18
The Harris County Jury Plaza opened to the public on July 5.