Re-Election Campaign · New Hanover County, NC
Jan Kennedy
Clerk of Superior Court
Born and raised in Wilmington. Thirty-two years serving New Hanover County, including sixteen as your elected Clerk. She doesn’t serve this community because it’s her job. She serves it because it’s home.
About Jan
Wilmington Born.
Courthouse Proven.
Jan Kennedy is not a newcomer to New Hanover County. She is not new to this work, either. She graduated from Hoggard High School and earned her degree from UNCW. Jan has spent her entire career serving this community. She is married with one daughter and one grandson. Almost all of her large family still calls Wilmington home.
Jan started in the Clerk’s Office in 1993 as a Deputy Clerk. She was promoted to Assistant Clerk in 2007. Then, in 2010, the voters of New Hanover County elected her as Clerk of Superior Court. She has served faithfully ever since. She led the office through hurricanes, a pandemic, and the largest court system overhaul in state history.
Anyone who knows me knows my love for the Courthouse and how much I enjoy helping people and the community that we serve.”
Why It Matters
The Courthouse Is the Hub of Everything
Behind every adoption, every protective order, every inheritance, every small business dispute: a family. A survivor. A person needing clarity and protection. They don’t walk into the Clerk’s Office by choice. They arrive because the law requires it. Because they’re vulnerable. Because they’re counting on someone who knows what they’re doing. This is not a back-office administrative role. It is the center of the entire court system. The place where people meet the justice system when it matters most.
For 32 years, Jan has worked alongside judges, attorneys, law enforcement, court reporters, and advocates for domestic violence survivors and children. She knows this courthouse and this community deeply. That kind of knowledge cannot be taught in a month or a year. It takes decades.
Career Timeline
Thirty-Two Years. One Community.
Jan didn’t arrive in Wilmington with a résumé looking for a job. She built her career here. Step by step and year by year, she served her neighbors.
1993
1993 — Where It Began
Deputy Clerk, New Hanover County Clerk’s Office
Jan joined the Clerk’s Office as a Deputy Clerk. She learned every part of the office from the inside. She worked in criminal, civil, estates, and juvenile courts. She didn’t just watch the court system. She became part of it.
2007
2007 — Earned, Not Appointed
Assistant Clerk of Superior Court
After 14 years of hard work, Jan was promoted to Assistant Clerk. This change showed her deep knowledge and her leadership. She had built trust in every corner of the courthouse.
2010
2010 – Present — Elected by You
Clerk of Superior Court, New Hanover County
Voters first elected Jan as Clerk in 2010. They have trusted her ever since. For over 16 years, Jan has led a team of 65 people. She guided the office through two major system changes and a global pandemic. She also moved the courthouse into the digital age. Every time a challenge arose, she was ready.
2025
2025 — Still Leading
eCourts Launch & Domestic Violence Safe Filing
New Hanover County moved to a new paperless court system on February 3, 2025. It was one of the largest updates in our courthouse’s history. At the same time, Jan worked with local groups to help survivors of domestic violence. She built a new, secure way for them to file for protective orders. She even changed how the courtroom is set up to make it safer and faster for everyone. The work continues.
What the Clerk Does
More Than an Office. A Lifeline.
The Clerk’s Office touches every corner of the court system. Here’s what that means in practice:
Family & Civil Matters
- Adoptions: Helping families through the adoption process.
- Estates: Managing the affairs of those who have passed away.
- Support: Handling child support cases and enforcement.
- Safety: Helping survivors file for domestic violence protection.
- Guardianship: Caring for the legal needs of minors and the elderly.
- Name Changes: Helping people through the legal name change process.
- Claims: Managing small claims and local civil court cases.
Criminal & Judicial
- Courts: Managing District and Superior criminal courts.
- Papers: Issuing all official court documents and processes.
- Juvenile: Handling cases for minors in the court system.
- Jury: Managing the local jury pool system.
- Oaths: Swearing in our local officials.
- Leadership: Choosing and appointing our local magistrates.
Financial Oversight
- Revenue: Collects over $25 million annually in court fees and fines.
- Investing: Manages and invests millions in county funds.
- Auditing: Checks the accounts of people who manage money for others.
- Small Estates: Handles legal estates under $25,000.
- Fees: Sets fair fees for attorneys in court cases.
- Management: Oversees the full court accounting department.
Property & Legal Hearings
- Property: Managing foreclosures and land sales.
- Land: Resolving land divisions and boundary disputes.
- Hearings: Holding special Clerk hearings and proceedings.
- Claims: Handling attachment and claim delivery cases.
- Access: Resolving cartway and road disputes.
- Safety: Handling involuntary mental health commitments.
Awards & Recognition
Recognized Locally, Respected Statewide
Jan’s service has been recognized at the local, state, and national levels. She led the courthouse through the pandemic. She strengthened training programs for clerks across all 100 North Carolina counties.
2011
President’s Award — NC Clerk of Superior Court Conference
The highest honor given by the NC Clerk of Superior Court Conference. Awarded in her very first year as Elected Clerk for exceptional leadership and service.
2013
Certificate of Appreciation — Administrative Office of the Courts
Recognized for developing the Introduction to Criminal Training Curriculum on a statewide workgroup. Her work strengthened how clerks across North Carolina are trained and prepared for the job.
2020
Boots on the Ground Award
Honored for keeping the New Hanover County Courthouse open and fully operational throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. She protected access to justice when it was needed most.
Military Honor
Certificate of Appreciation — U.S. Army
Honored for outstanding support of the 98th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), the U.S. Special Forces Command, and the U.S. Army.
Ongoing Education
National College of Probate Judges & Crime Prevention Training
Jan has completed courses at Campbell Law University, the Institute of Government, the National College of Probate Judges (2018 and 2023), and National Institute training on domestic violence prevention (2022, 2024, and 2025). She stays current and continuously improves her expertise.
Statewide Leadership
Chair, Clerk of Superior Court Comptroller Committee
Jan currently chairs the Comptroller Committee and serves on four additional statewide committees: Executive, Legislative, Technology, and Finance. She shapes the direction of the Clerk’s office across all of North Carolina.
Technology & Modernization
Keeping New Hanover County’s Courts Moving Forward
Modernizing a courthouse is not glamorous work, but it is essential. Under Jan’s leadership, the Clerk’s Office has moved through every major tech change in our state. She kept the office running without a single break for the people who depend on it.
From Logbooks to VCAP
Jan moved the civil division from handwritten logs to a new online system. This change made the court’s records more accurate. It also made it easier for the public to find the information they need.
Warrant Repository: NCAWARE → eWarrants (2022)
In 2010, New Hanover County began using a new state warrant system. Jan then led the office through a major update in July 2022. This move to the “eWarrants” platform was a success. It kept our local records safe and up to date.
Liberty Court Recording System
Jan replaced old cassette tapes with a new digital audio system. This change protects the court records for every case in the county. It ensures that the record is clear and safe for everyone.
eCourts Go-Live — February 3, 2025
New Hanover County moved from an all-paper court to a fully digital system. This was one of the biggest changes in our courthouse history. Jan led the office through it without missing a beat. The new system is now live and working for everyone.
Safe Filing for DV Survivors
In 2025, Jan saw a problem and fixed it. She worked with local groups to help survivors of domestic violence. Together, they created a safe and easy way to file for protection online. Jan even changed the courtroom layout. This makes the process faster and safer for those in need.
Building NC’s Clerk Workforce
Jan’s work reaches far beyond New Hanover County. She serves on teams that help set the standards for our state. She even helped create the training and rules for court clerks in all 100 counties. Jan is a leader for the entire North Carolina court system.
The Scale of the Work
Real Numbers. Real Neighbors.
Vote to Re-Elect Jan Kennedy
New Hanover County deserves a Clerk who truly knows this courthouse. You deserve someone who knows this community and the people in it. Jan Kennedy is that person.