Judicial Operations Assistant

Snohomish County•Everett, WA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Judicial Operations Assistant (JOA), also known as a Courtroom Clerk, is responsible for attending all trials and hearings in court to capture the overall outcome and the parties in attendance. The JOA plays a vital part in the judicial system by taking minutes and receiving documents or exhibits for filing during hearings, calendars, and trials in all Superior Court matters. This role offers opportunities to learn and grow while working closely with Judges, attorneys, law clerks, and the general public in a professional courtroom setting. The position requires attention to detail and a passion for learning about the judicial system. There is one (1) full-time position available.

Requirements

Associate's degree in criminal justice or paralegal studies or completion of an accredited legal assistant program.
One (1) year of experience in legal clerical work, legal document/record processing work, or legal customer service experience.
Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities.
Must pass job-related tests.
Typing of forty-five (45) wpm required.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of state and local databases and Clerk's CMS.
Knowledge of computer software applications including Microsoft Office Suite.
Knowledge of employee training methods, practices, and techniques.
Ability to learn, understand and execute complex and technical court operations policies and procedures.
Ability to learn, research and provide answers to public regarding court operations questions.
Ability to learn and teach trainees the distinction between offering legal advice and providing excellent customer service and applying this knowledge in the workplace.
Ability to work independently and effectively under pressure.
Ability to work with minimum supervision and make consequential work decisions in accordance with state laws, court rules and Court and Clerk policies and procedures.
Ability to communicate effectively with customers including a culturally diverse population, or angry or distraught customers in a courteous and professional manner.
Ability to operate in a lead capacity when assigned.
Ability to train and provide support to other staff.
Ability to exercise good judgment under stressful circumstances.
Ability to analyze and solve work related problems.
Ability to acquire knowledge of specialized procedures and subject matter encountered in work assignments.

Responsibilities

Prepares complex and detailed contemporaneous minutes and exhibit indices for high-volume court hearing calendars and trials in Criminal, Civil, Domestic, Probate/Guardianship, Adoption/Parentage, Involuntary Treatment, and Juvenile cases.
Maintains and controls all court documents, exhibits, and depositions received and used during a trial, including identifying, numbering, categorizing, and securing exhibits such as weapons, drugs, money, and bio-hazardous materials.
Administers jury oaths, maintains records of jurors, creates a record of witnesses called and sworn, provides jurors with admitted exhibits for deliberation, reads jury verdicts, and polls jurors for verification.
Receives and records all legal documents, exhibits, and depositions filed in open court, obtains necessary signatures, reviews documents for accuracy and compliance with laws and rules, and enters, retrieves, and updates information on statewide databases and the Clerk Case Management System (CMS).
Assists the general public, attorneys, legal staff, court employees, Judges, Commissioners, and government agencies in person, by telephone, or in writing by providing technical assistance and information, explaining procedures, locating information from court records, and diffusing sensitive situations.
Acts as a liaison on behalf of the Clerk's Office to Judges, Commissioners, law clerks, the legal community, and the public.
Researches, sorts, and routes court documents, including confidential and sealed documents.
Performs all functions of Jury Management, including answering telephones, data entry, processing mail, preparing payroll, printing and mailing jury summons, collecting and recording statistics, and providing technical assistance to jury system users and jurors.
Prepares professionally written responses to public inquiries regarding jury management.
Utilizes voice mail and email for electronically scheduling, confirming, continuing, and striking hearings to prepare daily motions calendars, and maintains the Clerk's Office confirmation website and electronic displays of calendars.
Performs related duties of a bailiff in their absence, including coordinating schedule changes, opening and closing court, and acting as a liaison between the court, attorneys, public, and jurors.
Trains and/or reviews the work of Judicial Operations Assistant trainees and supports staff, discusses training status with trainees, and prepares progress reports for management.
Recommends and assists in writing and updating procedures.
Collects, analyzes, and reports division productivity data.
Designs and recommends new forms, information systems, and reports.
Performs select duties of the Judicial Operations Assistant Lead as assigned.
Provides back-up and peak workload coverage for co-workers and other divisions in the Clerk's Office.
Performs Judicial Process Assistant and Judicial Accounting Assistant duties as assigned.
Testifies in court cases as a subject matter expert regarding Clerk's Office policies and procedures and statutory responsibilities.
Serves on a variety of teams and committees as needed.
May perform other related duties as assigned.