Last month, Jamie Scarbrough had just returned to work the week after her mother passed away, and she was having difficulty keeping her mind clear, so she prayed for God to send work to keep her occupied and focused.

And God answered, as Scarbourgh soon received a call notifying her that the auditors were coming to review the office’s records and another call notifying her that she had been nominated for president of the Alabama Circuit Clerk’s Association.

“Be careful what you pray for,” Scarbrough said, laughing.

The audit has already been completed, a point of pride for Scarbrough as the audit took a mere three weeks – a process that typically takes months.

Of course, the efficiency and modern approach of the office is part of the reason Scarbrough was selected to serve in the state role.

“We work so hard to keep books for this office in order.,” Scarborugh said. “I try to lead by example everywhere I am. I feel honored that they felt like I would make a good president.”

Scarbourgh has served as third and first vice president on the executive board during the past two terms. The president of the association is responsible for assigning clerks from all across the state to committees regarding elections procedures and other processes.

“It is my duty to select clerks to serve on committees that will be beneficial to the entire association,” Scarbrough said.

Another part of her job will be to educate and train clerks, especially new arrivals. As the leader of one of the most modern circuit clerk offices, not just in Alabama, but in the nation, Scarbrough hopes to bring more awareness to other offices of how to streamline paperwork and increase digitization.

“We’re so proud – we’re one of only five or six counties on the electronic warrant system right now,” Scarbrough said. “That really streamlines the entire process. There’s no losing paperwork, no question whether something is an original or a copy – it alleviates a lot of extra work that all of our offices were doing to maintain copies of a warrant.”

Scarbrough has worked in the circuit clerk’s office for the past 24 years, serving as clerk for nine years.

“I just wish my mom was here to see this, she was always so proud of everything I did,” Scarbrough said.