Trial Team Secretary

Midland County, TX•Midland, TX

66d•Onsite

About The Position

Please ensure that you fill out this DPS criminal background check permission form (you must open this in internet explorer to digitally sign). All that is needed is your name, signature, and the date. You will need to attach this to your application. CRIMINAL CHECKS CAN NOT BE RUN WITHOUT THIS FORM AND YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE. Handles all aspects of trial team Grand Juries, including orientation of jurors, drafting of indictments/information and subpoenas, performing bailiff duties, and routing paperwork to and from District Clerk/County Clerk and District Attorney office; drafts dismissals, judgments, jury charges, and various motions; inform victims pertaining to upcoming court dates, schedule victim/witness appearance, make travel arrangements, forward paper work to District Clerk for witness book; Coordinates all writs, ad prosequendum, and ad testificandum for District Attorney including preparing and sending paper to state and federal institution; completes and processes criminal history reporting forms.

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
High school graduate, or equivalent, plus at least five years of experience; or any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Certification with the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications Service (TLETS) and Notary Public.
Legal terminology and practices; computers; the criminal justice system; standard office policies and procedures; supervisory management and personnel practices and procedures.
Read, analyze, and interpret data and office policies; effectively manage people; prioritize tasks to be completed; perform basic legal research, such as finding case law; read and understand basic legal procedures; draft legal correspondence; perform basic mathematical functions; operate office equipment, such as copy machine and facsimile machine; communicate effectively, both in person and over the phone; and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers.

Responsibilities

Performs all duties assigned by the District Attorney, First Assistants District Attorney, Chief Administrative Assistant and works at the daily direction of the Trial Team Chiefs.
Updates data pertaining to defendants, victims, and witnesses.
Opens correspondence with victims as needed as back up to the victim assistance coordinator.
Informs victims pertaining to upcoming court dates.
Coordinates Grand Jury, including orientation of jurors, subpoenas, bailiff duties, routing paperwork from attorneys to the Grand Jury, routing paperwork from the District Clerk and District Attorneys office, and coordinating with the appropriate court.
Drafts, dismissals, judgments, jury charges, witness lists and 404b notices, and miscellaneous motions and orders for attorneys.
Coordinates all writs ad prosequendum and ad testificandum for the District Attorney, including preparing and sending detailed paperwork to various state and federal institutions, and coordinating court dates with prison and jail schedules.
Coordinates witnesses for pretrial interviews and preparation.
Prepares necessary paperwork for any destruction of evidence any law enforcement agency deems necessary.
Opens and maintains records of Judgment Nisi, both judgments and dismissals on all cases as they may occur.
Completes criminal history reporting forms and disperses to appropriate agencies.
Handles incoming calls from the public, other offices and law enforcement agencies.
Coordinates plea schedule with District/County Court Coordinator.
Assists with preparation of trial exhibits, court filings, determination of restitution amounts, tracking records, and trial notebooks.
Aids attorneys with jury selection including taking notes during voir dire, running criminal histories, and making challenges.
Performs the duties of witness coordinator for attorneys in the court. This includes ensuring all witnesses are present and near the courtroom when required; remaining in the courtroom if necessary during witness testimony; maintaining decorum of the witnesses; seeing to the witnesses comfort and security.
Prepares and files paperwork for transfer of cases to and from felony/misdemeanor case load
Performs duties of receptionist and file clerk as needed.
Assists Chief Administrative Assistant with any duties or special projects as needed.
Performs as a Notary public.
Preforms intake and closing out of cases in the case management system when necessary;
Coordinates with United States Marshal's Office and Texas Department of Criminal Justice locator.
Backs up hot check when necessary.
Prepares and processes offender pen packets for the Clerk's Office;
Requests certified judgments from other counties and out of state when necessary;
Backs up other trial team secretaries, receptionist, and file clerk when necessary.
Receives and answers calls from the public, law enforcement and other department within Midland County.

Benefits

HEALTH / DENTAL INSURANCE- Regular full-time employees are provided general medical, hospitalization, and dental insurance coverage. This is free to the employee if they take a yearly HRA and have negative Cotinine test yearly. Employees may obtain coverage under the group plan for family members at their own expense. All benefits have a waiting period of the first of the month following 30 days of hire. Prices for other insurance are listed here.
LONG TERM DISABILITY- Regular full-time employees working over 30 hours per week are eligible for long-term disability benefits. This benefit becomes effective on the 1st day of the month following six months of continuous employment with the county.
CAFETERIA PLAN- All regular full-time employees are eligible to enroll in the supplemental insurance portion of the county cafeteria plan on the 91st day of employment, or annually during an enrollment period for the following plan year of January 1 through December 31. They will not be eligible for enrollment in the Flexible Spending Accounts for medical reimbursement and/or dependent care until the first annual enrollment for the plan year beginning after 1 full year of employment.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS- Midland County offers five deferred compensation plans. Enrollment in one of these plans can be done at any time after the 91st day of employment.
RETIREMENT PLAN- The county is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS). Regular employees are required to become members of TCDRS and are eligible for this benefit immediately upon employment. Employees automatically deposit 7% of their salary. Temporary employees are not eligible to become members of TCDRS. The county matches employee deposits by 200% and interest at retirement. An employee is vested after 8 years of service. An employee may retire with full benefits after 8 years of service and attainment of age 60, or after 30 years of service, or at the time the employee qualifies under the "Rule of 75". The "Rule of 75" is defined as when the employee's age combined with years of service (rounded down to whole years) equal to 75 or more.
DEATH BENEFIT PLANS- There are two (2) types of death benefit plans provided by Midland County to all employees who participate in the Texas County and District Retirement System.
SUPPLEMENTAL DEATH BENEFITS FUND-If an employee dies, his or her beneficiary will receive a lump sum payment equal to one year's compensation, based on the employee's most recent regular rate of pay for the employee's regular position.
SURVIVOR ANNUITY DEATH BENEFIT -To be eligible for this death benefit, the employee must be a participant in T.C.D.R.S. and must have completed at least four (4) years of service with Midland County
SOCIAL SECURITY- All employees of the county are covered by social security. The county also contributes to the social security system on behalf of each employee.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION-All employees of the county are covered by the workers' compensation insurance program, and the county pays the premium. This coverage provides medical and salary continuation payments to employees who receive bona fide, on-the-job, work-related injuries.
LEAVE TIME- Regular full-time county employees are eligible for holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, and other types of released time under certain circumstances.
FREE WELLNESS CLINIC- for anyone over the age 3 covered by Midland County's insurance.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
LONGEVITY PAY
YEARLY-Upon completion of one (1) year of service, each employee receives longevity pay. Longevity pay is paid at a rate of sixty dollars ($60.00) per year of service to the county. This longevity pay is pro-rated and paid on a pay period basis.
TELADOC SERVICES-as of 1/1/19 This service gives you access to a medical professional via the internet at no charge to the employee. To use this service you must be covered under the County medical plan and register with Teladoc.