Supreme Court clerk Renk stumps in Havre

The clerk of the Montana Supreme Court is not an office that most people think about, but it is an office of crucial importance, Democratic candidate Rex Renk said Tuesday in Havre.

"Montanans have a constitutional right to know and to observe how the state's government works," Renk said, "while also having the constitutional right to individual privacy."

Renk, who faces Libertarian Roger Roots of Livingtson and Republican Bowen Greenwood of Helena in November's general election, held a meet-and-greet Tuesday at the Hill County Democratic Headquarters, speaking to people about the importance of the clerk of court office.

Renk said that the clerk has the responsibility of protecting those rights of public information and privacy rights and of maintaining the court records.

If the public can access the work of the court in a more efficient manner, Renk said, they will have more trust in the court and governmental institutions.

Renk has served as the deputy clerk for the Montana Supreme Court for 23 years, first appointed to the position in 1991 by Ed Smith, current clerk of court, he said. He added that since he has been in office he has led a "dramatic modernization of the office."

He said he established the court's first-ever case management system and the digitization of all court pleadings and the court docket. All of these, he added, have made public access easier and more efficient, making the clerk of court the most modern position in the state.

The clerk of court also has the responsibilities of licensing Montana's attorneys, ensuring compliance with the appellate rules and admitting new attorneys to the Montana Bar exam, he said.  

Renk said that, although he is a committed Democrat, the office should be nonpartisan, adding that people appreciate being able to speak with a neutral third party. Although the people in the office cannot provide legal advice, the service they provide is crucial, he said.

He added that the office is not about politics but transparency and protecting the individual's rights.

The clerk of court has been an important statewide office since Montana received statehood in 1889. The position of clerk acts as a check and balance for the judiciary branch, Renk said, adding that the independent clerk does not work for the court itself, but the public that elected him.

He said the clerk is the face of the court; by directly serving and assisting the public, the clerk communicates with the public in a way the justices can't.

Renk said he believes in directly serving the men and women in Montana, and it is important to him to serve and assist people, earning the public's trust and faith in the judiciary branch.

"I truly believe Montana's working families want qualified officials who simply do their job to the best of their ability," Renk said. "People want to have officials that are happy to do the jobs that they are elected to do."

Renk said he has a steering committee made up of people from both sides of the aisle, Democrats and Republicans, in addition to having seven retired Supreme Court justices endorse him in the race.

Renk has also picked up an endorsement from retired U.S. Supreme Court Clerk William Suter.