Marilyn Burgess

Marilyn Burgess is your Harris County District Clerk. She is a seasoned businesswoman with vast leadership skills and administrative experience. In 1975, she graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) with an Accounting Degree and practiced as a CPA for more than 25 years.

Ms. Burgess is passionate about women’s rights, education, and protecting our children and communities from gun violence. She is a sustaining member of the Harris County Democratic Party and is also active in many local Democratic Clubs.

District Clerk Burgess developed her belief in hard work and public service from her parents Oda and Glover Rockett. Both of them held elected office in her hometown of Spearsville, LA. Marilyn was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha social sorority at LSU and served in leadership roles as an alumni.

From 1999 to 2001, Marilyn led the Texas Parent Teachers Association (TPTA) as Executive Director. It was during her tenure at the TPTA that she found her calling to advocate for causes that improve the lives of working and middle-class families, single mothers, and teachers.

For the past two decades, District Clerk Burgess has contributed to her community by serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in Travis County; member of the Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast Finance Committee; and board member of Jane’s Due Process, in Houston.

In 2002, Ms. Burgess moved to Houston and served as President of the North Houston-Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce until 2006.

In 2018, Marilyn ran for Harris County District Clerk on a platform focused on modernizing the jury system by launching online registration for prospective jurors, increasing the diversity of juries, and ensuring a living wage for the hardworking professionals that staff the District Clerk’s Office (DCO). As District Clerk, Marilyn oversees a budget of $40 million and a staff of more than 500 people.

At the beginning of her administration, District Clerk Burgess conducted an internal audit that identified over $85 million in unbilled civil court fees going back over 20 years. As of August 2022, the DCO has collected over $5.5 million of these stale fees and instituted monthly billings. Additionally, for the first time ever, the DCO now accepts credit cards for criminal fines and payment plans. Recently, District Clerk Burgess obtained funding from the Harris County Commissioners Court to give much-needed raises to productive employees.

In December 2021, District Clerk Burgess received the prestigious G. Thomas Munsterman Award for Jury Innovation bestowed by the National Center for State Courts. Factors contributing to this award include implementation of e-Juror, an electronic summoning system fully developed by the DCO’s IT team, as well as providing free parking and coffee to Harris County jurors.

Under District Clerk Burgess’ leadership, the DCO is becoming a much more efficient department that prioritizes exemplary customer service, internal productivity, and transparency.