Court Clerk

Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe•Kingston, WA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Court Clerk position is responsible for performing a variety of clerical, recordkeeping, and administrative duties requiring a high level of accuracy and adherence to established policies and procedures. The role includes handling technical and complex tasks related to assigned areas of responsibility within court operations. This position requires a high level of integrity, sound judgment, and personal accountability. The ability to maintain strict confidentiality and appropriately manage sensitive information is essential.

Requirements

Associate degree required
Relevant administrative experience in court-related programs or a comparable setting may be considered in lieu of a degree, with a minimum of four (4) years of progressive experience demonstrating competency in clerical, records management, or legal/court processes.
Washington State Driver’s License.
Basic personal computer skills are required, as well as the ability to learn word-processing, spreadsheet and other software programs.
Ability to learn, understand and support Tribal laws is required
Knowledge of legal terminology and legal documents.
Ability to work in a team as well as independently, knowledge of office equipment and practices.
Ability to communicate effectively with court clients, offenders, families, and all service providers.
Ability to act independently and make sound judgments within casework protocols.
Must pass a criminal background check.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
basic understanding of legal procedures is desired.

Responsibilities

Court Case Initiation & Processing: Intake of petitions, complaints, motions, charging documents, and citations, includes arrest reports and in-custody. tracking warrants, understanding timelines for civil and criminal cases.
Emergency & High-Risk Matters: Process emergency protection orders and warrants, prioritize domestic violence and strangulation cases, and maintain safety and confidentiality protocols.
Docketing & Case Management: Enter filings accurately and timely, maintain chronological and complete docket entries, track hearings, continuances, and deadlines, flag priority cases (in custody, DV, firearms, protection orders), and ensure court files are complete for judicial review.
Public Interaction & Professionalism: Explain court procedures without giving legal advice, maintain neutrality and professionalism, use of trauma-informed communication practices, and the ability to manage high-stress interactions safely.
Motion Practice & Hearings: Tracking motion filing deadlines and responses, preparing files and exhibits for hearings, managing witness lists and subpoenas, recording courtroom minutes and outcomes.
Ethics & Professional Responsibility: Maintain confidentiality and impartiality, avoid ex-parte communications, recognize conflicts of interest and report appropriately.
Victim Rights & Communication: Understand victim rights provisions under Tribal law, maintain confidentiality of victim information and coordination with victim services and advocates.
Trial Preparation & Jury Procedures: Coordinate jury summons and selection procedures, maintain juror confidentiality and records, manage exhibits and evidence logs and prepare verdict forms.
Coordination with Justice Partners: Work effectively with law enforcement, prosecutors, defense counsel, probation, and jail staff. Ensure timely document distribution.
Continuing Education & Skill Development: Annual review of code updates and procedural changes, training on DV dynamics and victim safety, records systems and technology training and cultural competency and community-centered justice practices.