As of January 5, 2026, Jeff Haynes’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Budget

Outside of law enforcement, Haynes has served as chair of the board of directors for both United Way of Haywood County and Haywood Pathways Center, and has held board positions with Mountain Projects, the Community Foundation of WNC, Folkmoot USA, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Haywood County.

New Haywood clerk of court appointed

Jeff Haynes has served as chair of the boards of directors for United Way of Haywood County and Haywood Pathways Center, and has held board positions with Mountain Projects, the Community Foundation of WNC, Folkmoot USA, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Haywood County.

New Haywood Clerk of Court appointed | News | themountaineer.com

He began in February 1991 at the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, spending 14 years in the role and leaving as a lieutenant in the office. This time allowed him to work intimately with the criminal justice system and learn many of its nuances. He then went to Haywood Community College, serving as the school’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Director and running 11 academies there. He left that role at the college to work for the Waynesville Police Department for four years. He then spent the last 10 years of his career on the streets as the chief deputy in the sheriff’s office under Greg Christopher.

Jeff Haynes most recently served as chief deputy at the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office. He previously served as a lieutenant in the sheriff’s office, as Basic Law Enforcement Training Director at Haywood Community College, and with the Waynesville Police Department.

Haynes was appointed to the role by Superior Court Judge Roy Wijewickrama. The Clerk of Court is an elected position and will be on the ballot in Haywood County in 2026. The race is partisan, meaning there will be a primary election in March to narrow the field to one candidate from each party, who will then advance to the November election.

Jeff currently serves as Haywood County Clerk of Superior Court after Superior Court Judge Roy Wijewickrama appointed him to the role.

Jeff currently serves as Haywood County Clerk of Superior Court. 

2026 North Carolina General Election

Served for 14 years at the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, leaving as a lieutenant after working with the criminal justice system.

Worked for the Waynesville Police Department for four years after leaving Haywood Community College.

Served as chief deputy in the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office for the last 10 years of his law-enforcement career.

- Served for 14 years at the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, leaving as a lieutenant after working with the criminal justice system.
- Worked for the Waynesville Police Department for four years after leaving Haywood Community College.
- Served as chief deputy in the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office for the last 10 years of his law-enforcement career.

Legal Experience

“One of the three legal responsibilities under general statute for the office of the sheriff is the court system and civil process. We worked hand in hand for three decades with the clerks of court office,” Haynes said. “In order for the court system to run efficiently and effectively, there has to be a good process from start to finish.”

Haynes steps in to fill the role for the next 14 months. He also plans on running as a Democrat for the seat in next year’s election. “I think the clerk’s responsibility is to take that ball, move it forward in the criminal justice system, and to make sure that it’s facilitated for the judiciary to make sure that we seek justice in whatever form that is for the people that we represent,” Haynes said. “At the end of the day, it’s about the people that are served through the Office of the Clerk and Superior Court and helping find justice for those people.”

At the end of the day, however, Haynes has one focus — ensuring his office makes the headache of going through the legal system a little bit easier on folks. “I think it’s our responsibility to help facilitate that and to make sure that people walk away and feel like they have been treated fairly, they have been served adequately, and that people are empathetic to the situations they are in, because at any point we could be faced with that ourselves.” Haynes said.

Prioritizes efficient end-to-end court processes.

Said clerks should facilitate the judiciary's work and help people served by the office find justice.

Wants court users to be treated fairly, adequately served, and treated with empathy.

- Prioritizes efficient end-to-end court processes.
- Said clerks should facilitate the judiciary's work and help people served by the office find justice.
- Wants court users to be treated fairly, adequately served, and treated with empathy.

Judicial Administration

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Jeff Haynes

Haynes has spent the last 35 years in the ranks of Haywood County’s law enforcement. He began in February 1991 at the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, spending 14 years in the role and leaving as a lieutenant in the office. [...] He then went to Haywood Community College, serving as the school’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Director and running 11 academies there. [...] He left that role at the college to work for the Waynesville Police Department for four years. He then spent the last 10 years of his career on the streets as the chief deputy in the sheriff’s office under Greg Christopher. [...] “I made it four whole months until Haywood Community College called me, and I became their director of public safety.”

Jeff Haynes most recently worked as director of public safety at Haywood Community College. He previously served as chief deputy at the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, worked for the Waynesville Police Department, served as the college's Basic Law Enforcement Training Director, and left the sheriff's office as a lieutenant.

NEW ROLE — Jeff Haynes was appointed by Superior Court Judge Roy Wijecwickrama to serve as Clerk of Superior Court.

Just a couple of weeks after the current Clerk of Superior Court, Hunter Plemmons, announced his pending resignation, the courts appointed someone new to serve in the role. It’s a name that those in and around the law enforcement community in Haywood County know very well — Jeff Haynes.

Haynes steps in to fill the role for the next 14 months. He also plans on running as a Democrat for the seat in next year’s election.

Jeff currently serves as Haywood County Clerk of Superior Court. He was appointed by Superior Court Judge Roy Wijecwickrama to serve in the role.

Served 14 years with the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, leaving as a lieutenant.

Worked for the Waynesville Police Department for four years.

Served 10 years as chief deputy in the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office.

Says the clerk should facilitate the judiciary’s work and help people seek justice through the office.

Believes efficient court operations require a sound process from start to finish.

New Haywood Clerk of Court appointed

Jeff Haynes has served as board chair for United Way of Haywood County and Haywood Pathways Center, and held board positions with Mountain Projects, the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, Folkmoot USA, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Haywood County.

He began in February 1991 at the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, spending 14 years in the role and leaving as a lieutenant in the office. This time allowed him to work intimately with the criminal justice system and learn many of its nuances.

He then went to Haywood Community College, serving as the school’s Basic Law Enforcement Training Director and running 11 academies there. It was just another part of the diverse range of roles that Haynes has held in his time as a public servant, something that Haynes will have to lean on in his new position.

He left that role at the college to work for the Waynesville Police Department for four years. He then spent the last 10 years of his career on the streets as the chief deputy in the sheriff’s office under Greg Christopher.

When he left that position, he thought he might have a chance to take a break, but that didn’t last long.

“No matter how far you try to stray away from what you’re called to do, the more times you’re pulled back,” Haynes said. “I made it four whole months until Haywood Community College called me, and I became their director of public safety.”

In addition to teaching at the college, he’s also served as an instructor for the US Department of Justice for a number of years, teaching about children exposed to violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and financial crimes against elders.

Jeff worked as director of public safety at Haywood Community College. He previously served as chief deputy in the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, worked for the Waynesville Police Department, served as Basic Law Enforcement Training Director at Haywood Community College, and left the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office as a lieutenant. He also served as an instructor for the U.S. Department of Justice.

NEW ROLE — Jeff Haynes was appointed by Superior Court Judge Roy Wijecwickrama to serve as Clerk of Superior Court.

Just a couple of weeks after the current Clerk of Superior Court, Hunter Plemmons, announced his pending resignation, the courts appointed someone new to serve in the role.

The Haywood County Clerk of Court is Jeff Haynes.

Their office is located at the Justice Center, 285 N Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786.

Clerk of Court | Haywood County, NC

Jeff currently serves as Haywood County Clerk of Court after being appointed by Superior Court Judge Roy Wijecwickrama.

Worked four years for the Waynesville Police Department and later served 10 years as chief deputy in the sheriff’s office.

Served as director of public safety at Haywood Community College.

Worked as a detective with the Waynesville Police Department.

Said the clerk should facilitate the judiciary's pursuit of justice through effective processes from start to finish.

Jeff previously served as the director of public safety at Haywood Community College. He has also worked as a law enforcement officer for Haywood County for over 30 years.

Jeff Haynes appointed as Haywood County's next Clerk of Superior ...

Cooper taps Wijewickrama for superior court seat

Jeff is currently the Haywood County Clerk of Superior Court. He was appointed to this position in November 2025. Before his appointment, he served as the chief deputy of the Haywood County Sheriff's Office.

As a clerk of court, Haynes emphasized the importance of competitive salaries for officer retention, attributing improvements in retention rates to fiscal responsibility and investment in employees.

Pavel Tantchev

Buket Urgen

The Clerk of Superior Court is elected in each county through a partisan election for a four-year term. The Clerk has five main responsibilities:
- Probate Judge: Handles 46 types of actions, including managing estates, guardianship proceedings, and appointing personal representatives.
- Court Administrator: Oversees the administration of the court.
- Record Keeper: Files, processes, and maintains all cases and documents submitted to the court.
- Financial Manager: Manages the collection, investment, and distribution of money from court fees and traffic citations.
- Employee Manager: Supervises a team ranging from 5 to over 200 employees.


Oversees the county's probate court, judicial administration, records, and finances.