Judicial Assistant with Judge D. Andrew Gaona

Arizona Court of Appeals•Phoenix, AZ

6d•$66,307 - $66,307

About The Position

The Honorable D. Andrew Gaona is currently accepting applications for a Judicial Assistant with the Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One. The targeted start date for this position is March 16, 2026, or sooner. It is anticipated that the Judicial Assistant position will eventually become a Shared position with another judicial chambers. The first review date will be Friday, February 27, 2026 ; however, interviews may be conducted as applications are received. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to submit their application and materials as soon as possible. The Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One, Judicial Assistant position is an exempt salaried position that provides organizational support for a court of appeals judge in office management and the processing of appellate cases. The position is responsible for administrative, secretarial, and clerical assignments and requires knowledge of court rules and procedures. The position requires limited supervisory skills of judicial law clerks. The position, as a liaison for the judge, works well and cooperates with other court departments to fulfill the functions of the court as a whole. The position works independently under limited supervision.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED and 2 years of experience within the court system. A combination of education and experience may be considered on a year for year basis in substitution for the minimum requirements.
Ability to work with professionalism in a busy environment.
Ability to organize and manage multiple projects simultaneously and changes in responsibilities, duties, and procedures through cross training.
High ethical standards: Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding pending court cases and business processes.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Show initiative and sound judgement in decision making.
Close attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
Excellent interpersonal skills in a variety of situations.
Knowledge of legal research tools (Westlaw, Lexis Nexis, etc.).
Knowledge of citation formatting.

Nice To Haves

Prior legal experience, including work as a lawyer, extern, or intern, is a plus.
Other professional experience, particularly involving research and writing is preferred.

Responsibilities

Prepare and update case assignment calendars and maintain Judges calendar.
Prepare case pending lists and monitor efficient case flow, workflow, and clerk's office files in and out of the office.
Set up office files and track cases to conclusion.
Screen telephone calls and visitors to the office and take messages.
Provide information to personnel or other departments.
Schedule meetings, conferences, and telephone calls.
Prepare agendas for meetings.
Prepare or draft orders for various legal documentation, memoranda, and correspondence.
Proofread and edit memorandum decisions and opinions for proper format, grammar, and Bluebook citation accuracy, check and compare facts of memorandum decisions and opinions with superior court records and finalize documents.
Prepare time and attendance reports and COJET reports for chambers staff.
Coordinate travel arrangements for the judge; prepare travel claims for the judge.
Train and assist judicial law clerks and externs with knowledge of chambers and court office policies, procedures, and specific guidelines that pertain to the judge.
Assist the judge with the law clerk and extern hiring process by screening applications and assisting with the interview process.
May be called upon to train other newly hired judicial assistants, prepare and update court manuals, serve on committees, and be called upon to participate and coordinate specialized court programs.
Judicial Assistants are bound by the ethical standards established by the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.