Athens Reporter

The current Chief Deputy Clerk is not a resident of Athens-Clarke County and is therefore not qualified to hold the position of Clerk of Superior and State Courts of Clarke County in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 15-6-50. As a result, the upcoming vacancy created a need for Probate Court Judge Susan Schaffer to appoint an interim Clerk of Superior and State Courts. Schaffer accepted applications for the position until May 22, 2023.

“After very careful consideration of a number of excellent applicants,” said Schaffer, “I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Elisa Zarate as the interim Clerk of Superior and State Courts of Clarke County until a special election can be held.”

Zarate has accepted the appointment effective June 1, 2023. Zarate has served as the Court Administrator for Athens-Clarke County for the past three years and was previously the coordinator for the county’s mental health court for over seven years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Georgia College and State University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia. Zarate resides in Athens with her husband and son.

“I am very grateful to Judge Schaffer for providing me with the opportunity to serve as Interim Clerk of Superior and State Courts,” said Zarate, “I believe that my decade of experience with the Athens-Clarke County court system and the excellent staff in the Clerk’s Office will help ensure a smooth transition. I look forward to continuing to serve the community in this new role.“

The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections will approve a date for the special election.

Original source can be found here.