Background

Connley Litton grew up in the small town of Wellsville, Kansas (population ~1,500), where he learned the lasting value of family and community. An active member of 4-H, he earned awards in areas ranging from horsemanship to public speaking and leadership. In his final year, he won the Midwest Public Speaking Award. Connley was also a lector at Ascension Catholic Church and graduated as salutatorian of his high school class. Athletically, he played varsity basketball and baseball, with both teams winning state championships during his junior year.

Connley went on to attend Baker University, where he played baseball and earned Bachelor’s degrees in Speech Communication, Business Administration, and Business Management. He was endorsed to teach business, computer science, history, and mathematics at the junior high and high school levels. It was also at Baker where he met his wife, Melanie.

Following graduation, Connley built a career spanning accounting, education, and ultimately information technology. He spent more than 25 years in IT, including work in banking, investments, and later with Garmin International, the global GPS company.

Connley eventually relocated to Waco, Texas, to be with Melanie. Over the past 14 years, he has become deeply rooted in the community. For the last six years, he has served as Chief Deputy Clerk in the McLennan County District Clerk’s Office.

Building Experience

Connley’s first role in Waco was working with his wife’s private practice, where he gained valuable insight into the workings of the judicial system. During this time, he developed professional relationships with the District Attorney’s Office, court staff, District and County Court Judges, and the District Clerk’s Office. Experiencing the system from the perspective of a client also gave him a deep appreciation for the importance of providing quality, responsive service to the public.

In addition to learning the legal side of operations, Connley applied his technical expertise to help modernize the practice. He researched and implemented a case management system, transitioned the office to paperless operations, networked all systems to run seamlessly together, and configured both internal and external phone networks. He also installed and maintained a secure server, enabling remote access to files from virtually anywhere.

These experiences not only strengthened his knowledge of the courts but also sharpened his ability to streamline operations and integrate technology to improve efficiency—skills that would later prove invaluable in his role as Chief Deputy District Clerk.

Chief Deputy District Clerk Achievements

Over the past six years, Connley has helped modernize the District Clerk’s Office and make it more efficient, saving both time and money while improving service to the public.

Efficiencies

  • Made required forms automatic so they’re created as part of everyday work—saving staff time and reducing errors.

  • Simplified how appeals and post-conviction cases are handled, helping ensure cases move forward more quickly and accurately.

  • Built easy-to-use reports that automatically gather and organize the data the office must send to the state.

  • Eliminated repetitive data entry by working with the case management provider to allow information to be uploaded directly to the state system.

Innovations

  • Launched an online document portal so the public can easily access records, while freeing staff from routine requests.

  • Automated the flow of electronic filings, making sure documents go straight to the right court instead of being hand-delivered.

  • Introduced a modern jury system that lets jurors check in online, reduces the need for staff to type in information by hand, and allows the county to release unneeded jurors ahead of time—saving hundreds of dollars each jury day.

Leadership

  • Lead a team of 12 clerks within an office of 25, providing daily guidance and support.

  • Built the current team from the ground up by hiring each of its members.

  • Support staff needs by working closely with Human Resources.

  • Oversee financial matters in partnership with the Auditor’s Department to manage budget requirements.

  • Coordinate with Purchasing to ensure the office has the resources it needs.

  • Collaborate with IT to help staff resolve hardware and software issues quickly.

  • Created a comprehensive training manual for all positions that serves as a quick reference for any process, ensuring consistency and efficiency across the team.

  • Encourage innovation by fostering an environment where staff feel comfortable sharing ideas for improving team performance and department operations.

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