District Court Commissioner

Skagit County•Mount Vernon, WA

1d•$16,957•Hybrid

About The Position

The successful applicant shall have such power, authority, and jurisdiction in criminal and civil matters as the appointing judges possess, except that when serving as a commissioner, the commissioner does not have authority to preside over trials in criminal matters, or jury trials in civil matters unless agreed to on the record by all parties. The judges and commissioners of Skagit County District Court perform judicial duties at Anacortes, Burlington and Mount Vernon municipal courts and are on call for search warrant applications every eighth week. Salary upon hire is $16,957.20/mo. Compensation for the District Court Commissioner is set in Resolution#20160348 and is listed under the Elected Official salary schedule.

Requirements

Applicant shall be a registered voter of Skagit County and shall hold office at the pleasure of appointing judges.
Applicant must be admitted to the practice of law in the State of Washington.
Knowledge of legal principles and precedents and their application.
Knowledge of statutory and constitutional law of the State of Washington, particularly the District Court Rules, and Local Court Rules of Skagit County District Court.
Knowledge of principles related to civil and criminal law.
Ability to present statements of fact and law and communicate clearly and logically in written and oral form.
Ability to define and analyze issues, perform legal research, evaluate alternatives, and make appropriate findings and/or rulings.
Ability to prepare clear and concise decisions.
Ability to effectively represent the court in contacts with the public, attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and other government entities.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
Ability to accept work assignments and impromptu scheduling.
Ability to maintain appropriate demeanor and courtroom decorum under a variety of courtroom settings.
Willingness to conform with and adapt to a variety of court procedures and judicial styles.
Valid Washington State Driver’s License.
Licensed attorney in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association.

Responsibilities

Presides over criminal and civil matters as permitted by law, which may include trials in criminal matters and jury trials in civil matters if agreed to on the record by all parties.
Performs judicial duties at Anacortes, Burlington, and Mount Vernon municipal courts.
Reviews and rules on ex parte matters.
Is available on-call for search warrant applications as scheduled.
Preside over therapeutic court calendars as directed.
Performs weekend probable cause review for arrest determination at the Skagit County Jail as scheduled.
Conducts hearings on virtual platforms such as Zoom, GoToMeeting, and Teams, sometimes simultaneously with in person hearings.
Demonstrates skill on computer applications such as LaserFiche, JIS, JABS, and has the ability to learn new applications as necessary.
May be tasked with performing related duties as assigned by the Presiding Judge.
Must take state judicial training as required.