(Lawrenceville, Ga., Nov. 30, 2018) – The Superior Court Clerks’ Association of Georgia has awarded its prestigious ÉCLAT Award for 2018 to Gwinnett Clerk of Superior, State and Magistrate Courts Richard T. Alexander Jr.

In bestowing the Exceptional Commitment, Leadership, Accomplishment and Teamwork Award, the clerks association cited Alexander’s professionalism, dedication and leadership among his staff and other clerks statewide.

Alexander said he was humbled by the award from his peers.

“I’m grateful and honored to receive this recognition, especially from my colleagues,” Alexander said. “I am fortunate to have a great team who help make this office function at a very high level. Court clerks provide an essential service and we all strive to provide accurate and efficient service for the public and the courts.”

The citation accompanying the award quoted co-workers and colleagues as describing Alexander as “treasured colleague,” “highly qualified professional,” “fun guy” and “selfless.” The citation mentioned his openness in sharing all aspects of the award-winning Gwinnett County Clerk of Courts website, and his efforts to help other clerks find answers to thorny and complicated questions.

“Richard is truly a leader and mentor, not just a boss,” said Theresa Cox, Gwinnett’s chief deputy clerk. “He leads by example and wants all of his employees to succeed and reach their potential. He always makes time to discuss suggestions or issues and is never too busy to answer questions whether those questions come from within our clerk’s office, other judicial offices, or from clerks around the state.”

Qualifications for the award include exhibiting exemplary leadership and/or administration that has produced tangible improvements to benefit constituents and other clerks and creating or implementing new ways to benefit other clerks or Georgia’s judicial system.

Alexander served in the Air Force where he worked in air base security. After leaving the military, he joined the Conyers Police Department and then the Gwinnett County Police Department in 1980. In 1985, he graduated from Atlanta Law School and began practicing law, serving an arbitrator and mediator, and then in 2001, as a magistrate judge. From 2001 to 2010, he served on the State of Georgia’s Council of Magistrate Court Judges, including a stint as president.

In 2010, Alexander was appointed chief deputy clerk of the Superior, State, and Magistrate Courts of Gwinnett County. He became clerk of courts in 2011. He has also served as president the Metropolitan Court Clerks Association, regularly teaching classes on leadership to numerous groups and organizations statewide.

Gwinnett Clerk of Clerk of Superior, State and Magistrate Courts Thomas C. Lawler received the ÉCLAT Award in 2009.