WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, ALCircuit Clerk admits to sharing password

Circuit Clerk admits to sharing password

Posted: Updated:
Jane C. Smith Jane C. Smith
HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -

Federal authorities have released the details of a plea agreement with Madison County Circuit Clerk Jane Smith.

Smith pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges resulting from allowing someone without authorization to access a protected computer in the court's data system.

According to the plea agreement, Smith asked her assistant to provide a consultant with her password to Alabama Administrative Office of the Courts' State Judicial Information System, a protected computer system.

[Click here to read plea agreement (PDF)]

A Circuit Court Clerk, Smith has "level four" access to SJIS, the highest non-administrator level of access offered.

Smith said the charges stem from her sharing her password with a consultant who was hired to do work for the county.

The password issue was brought to Smith's attention two years ago as part of an investigation of the outside contractor and his access to the state court computers. The contractor in question is the retired IT director and deputy administrative director for the courts, a person Smith has worked with for more than 30 years.

He was hired as a consultant to help integrate the courthouse computer system. When he requested to use Smith's password to work on the project, Smith said she never questioned his motives.

But federal authorities say sharing the password violated a federal statute.

"The fact she pled guilty to misdemeanor and not being charged with felonies indicates she did not have a sinister intent to let somebody utilize her username," said WAFF 48's Legal Analyst, Mark McDaniel.

The plea agreement involves only misdemeanor charges and therefore will not affect Jane's ability to continue serving as Circuit Court Clerk for Madison County or her ability to seek re-election in the upcoming Republican Primary on March 13th.

According to the agreement, Smith could face 0-6 months on each count. Following her term in prison, she will be placed on supervised release and pay a fine.

Related Story:

Copyright 2012 WAFF. All rights reserved.