STAUNTON – Augusta County Clerk of Circuit Court R. Steven Landes today announced that the members of the Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Advisory Committee have been selected. Retired Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk John B. Davis has agreed to serve as Chairman, and 11 members, and two alternate members have agreed to serve.

            “The Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office will greatly benefit from the those in our community who have agreed to serve on the Clerk’s Advisory Committee,” Landes said. The formation of this Advisory Committee will also full fill an important promise and commitment I made to the people of Augusta County during the election last year.”

            The Mission of the Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Advisory Committee is to provide advice when requested to the August County Circuit Court Clerk on aspects of the operations of the Clerk’s Office to better serve the citizens of Augusta County. The Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Advisory Committee will be comprised of the Chairman, who will be selected by the Clerk of Circuit Court, and 11 Committee Members, who were asked to serve by the Clerk of Circuit Court.

            The membership will include one representative each from the Augusta County Bar Association, Augusta County Genealogical Society, Augusta County Historical Society, Staunton-Augusta County African American Research Society, and Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce. An alternative representative may be selected from each group as well. In addition, there will be at least one member from the Augusta County Board of Supervisors, and one member from the Augusta County School Board. The remaining five members will be at-large citizens of Augusta County.

            The Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is in downtown Staunton at the Augusta County Courthouse. The Clerk serves as the recorder of deeds and probate judge, issues marriage licenses and is the official court administrator for all civil and criminal cases. The Clerk creates and maintains all court files and records, prepares court orders and jury lists, contacts jurors and issues summons and court processes. More information about the services of the Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office can be found online at https://www.co.augusta.va.us/government/circuit-court-clerk.

Mission Statement:

          The Mission of the Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Advisory Committee is to provide advice when requested to the August County Circuit Court Clerk on aspects of the operations of the Clerk’s Office to better serve the citizens of Augusta County.

Advisory Committee Membership:

            The Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Advisory Committee will be comprised of the Chairman, who will be selected by the Clerk of Circuit Court, and 12 Committee Members, who will be asked to serve by the Clerk of Circuit Court. The membership will include one representative each from the Augusta County Bar Association, Augusta County Genealogical Society, Augusta County Historical Society, Staunton-Augusta County African American Research Society, and Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce. An alternative representative may be selected from each group as well. In addition, there will be at least one member from the Augusta County Board of Supervisors, and one member from the Augusta County School Board. The remaining five members will be at-large citizens of Augusta County.

Potential Advisory Committee Projects:

1. Assist the Clerk of Circuit Court in developing a Short-Term and Long-Term Plan on the Preservation of the Historically Significant Augusta County Records housed in the Augusta County Courthouse. This can include the future possible display and exhibiting of certain records and documents.
2. Assist the Clerk of Circuit Court in developing a plan to work with the Augusta County Public Schools to provide educational opportunities for elementary through high school students related to the Circuit Court, Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, and Augusta County History.
3. Assist the Clerk of Circuit Court by providing input on updating information on the Clerk of Circuit Court webpage on the Augusta County Website.
4. Assist the Clerk of Circuit Court by providing input into investigating the possibility of offering United States Passports, and Concealed Handgun Permits to be issued in a plastic card version.

Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Advisory Committee Membership

• The Honorable John B. Davis, Retired Clerk (Chairman)
  • Augusta County Circuit Court and Augusta County Resident
• Allison Bagley, Board Member (Designee Member)
  • Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Miles C. Bobbitt, Executive Director (At-Large Member)
  • Valley Alcohol Safety Action Program and Augusta County Resident
• The Honorable Pam Carter, Vice Chairwoman (Designee Member)
  • Augusta County Board of Supervisors
• Cynthia Easterling (Designee Member)
  • Staunton-Augusta County African American Research Society
• Stephen Garber, President (Designee Member)
  • Augusta County Genealogical Society
• K. Wayne Glass, Attorney (Designee Member)
  • Augusta County Bar Association
• Peggy Sheets, Chairwoman (At-Large Member)
  • Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia and Augusta County Resident
• Debbie Shickel (At-Large Member)
  • Augusta County Realtor and Augusta County Resident
• Nancy Sorrells, President (Designee Member)
  • Augusta County Historical Society
• William (Bill) M. Thomas (At-Large Member)
  • Augusta County Businessman and Augusta County Resident
• The Honorable Donna Wells (Designee Member)
  • Augusta County School Board
• Katherine Brown, Past President (Alternate Member)
  • Augusta County Historical Society
• Leslie S. Hall, Secretary (Alternate Member)
  • Augusta County Genealogical Society