Courtroom Clerk

Superior Court of California, County of Napa•Napa, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general direction, provides courtroom support for judicial officers. Pulls and prepares files for daily court calendars; attends court sessions and prepares and records minutes of actions and proceedings; enters court minutes into case management system; participates in court proceedings; explains policies and procedures of the court to attorneys and the general public; and performs related duties as required. This is the entry level in the Courtroom Clerk series, requiring advanced clerical skills to work independently within a courtroom, maintain workflow, and communicate court actions. Positions perform responsible, complex legal clerical work under frequent deadlines, time limitations, and pressure, requiring speed, sustained attention, and a high degree of accuracy. Incumbents are in a training status and receive closer supervision. Upon acquiring skills and satisfactory performance, incumbents are promoted to Sr. Courtroom Clerk without competitive recruitment. The Sr. Courtroom Clerk is the advanced journey level, responsible for more difficult and technical courtroom work in any case type and/or providing technical direction and training to less experienced employees. They perform a full range of advanced clerical skills independently, maintaining courtroom workflow and communicating actions. They perform responsible, complex legal clerical work under frequent deadlines, time limitations, and pressure, requiring speed, sustained attention, and a high degree of accuracy.

Requirements

Modern office practices and procedures
Operation of standard office equipment and personal computers.
English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, punctuation
Basic math and record keeping systems
Operation, procedures and jurisdiction of the Court
Legal forms, documents and terminology relating to civil, criminal, probate, family law, traffic and juvenile cases
Rules of Court and court related sections of various California Codes, ordinances, laws, regulations, provision and policies related to specific court assignments
Basic judicial branch and local justice system organization and procedures
Legal terminology and forms used in a state level trial court
Wide range of court document filing procedures
Applicable laws, codes and rules of court
Forms, records, document processing procedures and legal terminology as applicable to area of assignment
Automated systems used in court information storage and document preparation
Court document preparation, duplication and distribution procedures
Record minutes of Court proceedings
Learn to perform a wide range of legal office work using varied clerical skills and abilities.
Listen carefully to note pertinent information for court records
Administer oaths and affirmation
Understand, explain and apply specific statutes, codes, laws, regulations and procedures
Remain calm in a highly demanding environment
Maintain flexibility
Communicate in a tactful and professional manner orally and in writing
Identify and correct technical inaccuracies
Enter data into a computer
Calculate fees and fines
Maintain confidentiality
Interact in a respectful, cooperative, productive and tactful manner
Work as a team member and follow directions
Independently process court documents related to the assigned area of responsibility
Effectively utilize the court's case management system and other technology systems to perform the assigned duties and responsibilities
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other court staff, justice agency employees, litigants, and attorneys
Prioritize work assignments and consistently meet legally mandated and procedural deadlines

Nice To Haves

Provide technical direction and training to other less experienced employees

Responsibilities

Serves as a clerk to a Judicial Officer in the preparation and execution of daily court calendars and/or pleadings before trial in any area of the court
Attends court to record minutes, administer oaths, and record and file exhibits introduced
Receive, mark, maintain records and assume custody of evidence and exhibits
Maintains records of hearing dates and continuances.
Consults with attorneys and court regarding changes in court calendar dates
Impans jury; records challenges and proceedings during jury selection; documents jury services; computes compensation dues; ensures attorneys have paid court reporter fees
Maintain records of court appointed counsel and medical examiners, expert witnesses, and compensation fees
Prepares notices of in-custody status or terms of release.
Reads charges, indictments or verdicts to defendants
Completes sentencing documents regarding prison, jail, probation, community justice, fee and fine payments
Notifies interpreters, conflict counsel, investigators, psychiatric and other professionals when appointed by court and coordinate scheduling thereof
Determines when a bail bond exoneration or forfeiture is needed and processes as appropriate
Collects and keeps organized records of court reporter fees or change to: Process requests for Interpreter and Court Reporter, verifies their appearances and payment vouchers and instructs them on services needed
Prepares, files, endorses and mails Judgment and Notice of Entry of Judgment
Prepares and submits jury usage sheets
Enters all necessary data entry in case management system
Prepares and maintains a variety of correspondence and reports, including statistical reports and workload reports
Use various other software programs to assist with processing court work including word processing, spreadsheets, electronic mail, calendars, reports and data analysis
Perform related duties as assigned