Clerk of the court focuses on improved access
Fairfax County court records are now more accessible than ever, due to innovations implemented by Clerk of the Court Chris Falcon.
“All people deserve the right to access their case information,” Falcon said at a community barbecue he hosted at Mason District Park on Aug. 16.
Until recently, people had to physically go to the courthouse to get information about their case. “We changed that,” he said. Starting last July, people can look up their case information online.
Falcon also started a satellite service, so people don’t have to go to the circuit court on Chain Bridge Road in Fairfax to get copies of their court records and access other services, such as marriage licenses and free notary services. Once a month, court services are offered at a community center in Reston.
Related story: Online access to court cases available
Falcon, a resident of Annandale, plans to launch a museum at the historic courthouse in Fairfax in summer 2026.
“We have George Washington’s will and some of the most important records in Fairfax County,” he said. “People will be able to come and learn about the court system, historic civil rights cases in Fairfax County, and tour the historic records center.”
In 2023, when Falcon campaigned for the clerk of the court job – an elected position with an eight-year term – he sought to educate the public about what the clerk does.
“A lot of people in Fairfax County don’t know anything about this job, which has existed since colonial times,” he said.
The clerk of the court is responsible for land records, name changes, criminal and civil case information, marriage licenses, probating of estates, making sure there’s a background check for every permit application for concealed handguns, and other legal information.
“My campaign was about making those services easier and more accessible to people and doing that with compassion and respect,” he said. At that time, Falcon had already spent nearly 10 years as deputy clerk of court in Arlington.
Related story: Walkinshaw and Whitson clash over DOGE
“For a lot of folks in our community, the day they go to the courthouse is a tough day; it’s a scary day. It can be intimidating,” said Braddock Supervisor and congressional candidate James Walkinshaw at the event in Mason District Park.
“Chris’ leadership has brought a lot of empathy and recognition of the challenges of going to the courthouse. He has made incredible progress to improve that experience,” Walkinshaw said.
Falcon urged residents of the 11th congressional district to vote for Walkinshaw in a special election on Sept. 9.
“My opponent is tied in to the MAGA infrastructure,” Walkinshaw said, noting that the Republican candidate, Stewart Whitson, “works for a pro-Trump think tank and is paid to cut jobs.”
“He wants to go to Congress to make DOGE permanent,” Walkinshaw said. “I want to go to Congress to serve our community.”
The two candidates are facing off tonight at 8 in a virtual forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. It will be livestreamed on YouTube.