(a)

(1) The judge of any district court may appoint a clerk for the court, who shall be designated and known as the district court clerk.

(2) The district court clerk employed by a city or county is governed by the employee handbook and policies of the city or county.

(3) If a district court clerk is employed by more than one (1) city or county, then the employing cities or counties, or both, shall determine by written agreement the apportionment of expenses and the applicable employee handbook and policies.

(4) The district court judge shall ensure compliance with the applicable employee handbook, policies, procedures, practices, ordinances, and resolutions of the city or county, or both, consistent with Canon 2 of the Arkansas Code of Judicial Conduct.

(b)

(1) The city council of the city in which the court is located shall fix the salary of the district court clerk at a reasonable sum, the salary to be computed on an annual basis.

(2) However, where the county in which the court is located is to pay any portion of the clerk's salary, the salary must also be approved by the quorum court of that county. Further, if the expenses and salaries of any district court are paid entirely by the county in which the court is located, the salary of the clerk shall be fixed by the quorum court of the county and not by the city council.

(c) The district court clerk shall keep a fair record of all the acts done and proceedings had in the court and shall enter all judgments of the court, under the direction of the judge.

(d) The district court clerk shall:

(1) Administer oaths, including special judges of district court under § 16-17-210;

(2) Take affidavits required or permitted in the progress of the action;

(3) Keep a complete docket of all proceedings to the extent and in the manner directed by the judge;

(4) Record the judgments, rules, orders, and other civil or criminal proceedings of the court and keep an alphabetical index thereof;

(5) Keep such other dockets, books, and indices as may be required by law or by the judge; and

(6) Issue and attest all process.

(e) Where the duties of the office of district court clerk do not require a full-time employee, the city council may require that the duties of the clerk be performed by any other officer of the city, except a member of the police department or marshal's office.