Special Judge - City

City of Oklahoma City • Oklahoma City, OK

8d

About The Position

This position is located in the Judicial Division of the Department of Court Administration within the City of Oklahoma City and is under the general direction of the Presiding Municipal Judge. Special Municipal Judges are called to act as a Municipal Judge during the absence of a full-time Municipal Judge and are responsible for independently adjudicating cases involving alleged violations of the Municipal Code. This classification requires a thorough knowledge of municipal ordinances, criminal law, criminal procedure, as well as prior experience as a practicing attorney or judge in a court of record in the State of Oklahoma. Special Municipal Judges must be able to work cooperatively and productively with other Municipal Judges and court personnel, as well as the Judiciary Committee, Court Administrator, etc. They are also required to participate in judicial and continuing legal education programs designed to increase professional competence and ensure optimal public service. Essential job functions include: promoting public trust and confidence in the administration of justice at the municipal level; ensuring efficient, fair, and impartial adjudication of cases arising from alleged violations of municipal ordinances; issuing warrants and subpoenas; keeping and preserving the records of the Court, certifying transcripts; imposing sentences; administering oaths; enforcing due obedience to all orders, rules, and judgments made by the Court; reviewing defendants' probation files prior to sentencing to ensure that the terms and conditions of probation are met; conducting out-of-court reviews of various dockets prior to court appearances ; conducting conferences with defense attorneys and/or representatives of the Municipal Counselor's office as necessary to review Jury Division cases; being on call afterhours, weekends and holidays to handle emergencies at the jail and probable cause affidavits; attending judicial conferences as needed to discuss problems or procedural changes affecting court operations; and performing related duties as required to execute the ordinances and resolutions of the City Council, the Charter, and the Oklahoma Statutes. The appointee functions primarily independently, with work methods reviewed by the Presiding Municipal Judge or the Judiciary Committee for overall success in realizing the desired levels and the achievement of efficient and effective Judicial Division operations.

Requirements

• License to practice law in Oklahoma.
• Minimum of four (4) years’ experience as a practicing attorney or as a judge of a court of record, or combination thereof.
• Be a registered voter and actual resident of The City of Oklahoma City for at least six (6) months prior to the first day of service.
• A minimum of two (2) years’ experience as a practicing attorney in criminal law.
• Three (3) letters of reference from at least one (1) Judge of the District Court (Federal or State) and at least one (1) member of opposing counsel in a criminal law proceeding.
• Be of good moral and ethical standing, legally and financially.
• Minimum of four (4) years' experience as a licensed, practicing attorney or judge in a court of record in the State of Oklahoma at the time of appointment.
• Possession of a valid Oklahoma license to practice law.
• Knowledge of and skill in interpreting and applying municipal ordinances and state and federal laws.
• Knowledge of the structure and function of the City organization.
• Skill in drafting and revising legal and/or other documents on a personal computer.
• Skill in interpreting and relating laws and ordinances to specific court cases.
• Skill in rendering fair and impartial judicial verdicts based on the facts and merit of individual court cases.
• Skill in verbal and written communication.
• Ability and willingness to read and analyze large quantities of legal and case-history information.
• Ability to analyze complex legal issues and present findings in a clear, logical, and concise manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people from various socio-economic backgrounds.
• Willingness to assume responsibility for work performed and decisions made.

Responsibilities

• promoting public trust and confidence in the administration of justice at the municipal level
• ensuring efficient, fair, and impartial adjudication of cases arising from alleged violations of municipal ordinances
• issuing warrants and subpoenas
• keeping and preserving the records of the Court, certifying transcripts
• imposing sentences
• administering oaths
• enforcing due obedience to all orders, rules, and judgments made by the Court
• reviewing defendants' probation files prior to sentencing to ensure that the terms and conditions of probation are met
• conducting out-of-court reviews of various dockets prior to court appearances
• conducting conferences with defense attorneys and/or representatives of the Municipal Counselor's office as necessary to review Jury Division cases
• being on call afterhours, weekends and holidays to handle emergencies at the jail and probable cause affidavits
• attending judicial conferences as needed to discuss problems or procedural changes affecting court operations
• performing related duties as required to execute the ordinances and resolutions of the City Council, the Charter, and the Oklahoma Statutes

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed