Superior Court Judicial Assistant

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Job Summary:

Job Description:

The following documents are required to be submitted with your application. Applications that do not include all required documents may not be considered:
• Resume
• Cover Letter

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Under general supervision, provides complex paralegal, legal secretarial, and office administrative assistance for Superior Court Judges; and performs related work as assigned.
• Coordinates court proceedings and court participants, including Defendants, Attorneys, Judges, Clerks, Jurors, witnesses, interpreters, law enforcement, and Jail Transport.
•  Manages and coordinates cases on the Individual Court Calendar (IC), Unlawful Detainer, Therapeutic Court, Juvenile, Family Law and Chief Criminal dockets.
• Coordinates, plans and manages complex and varied database applications and programs for the calendaring and case flow functions for the Court Department. 
• Serves as primary liaison between the Superior Court, government agencies, attorneys, litigants, jurors, law enforcement, victims and members of the public regarding matters assigned to Court Department. Independently reviews, analyzes, prioritizes and responds to requests for Court assistance.
• Provides information to attorneys and pro-se litigants regarding case status and disposition. 
• Reviews incoming case material for potential conflicts of interest, exparte communications and other confidential matters.
• Prepares, proofs and edits legal documents, court orders, correspondence and jury instructions for the Judicial officer as appropriate. 
• Researches, interprets and comprehends policies, procedures, state and local court rules, statutes.
• Manages, tracks and maintains information regarding pending caseload and prepares tracking reports. Evaluates case status, recommends and/or implements appropriate action.
• Reviews assigned cases to assist the Judge in determining priority for trial, and coordinates with the Superior Court Administration regarding brokering overflow matters. 
• Reviews case files for accuracy, compliance with court rules and completeness. Ensures compliance with and manages pretrial and trial requirements. 
• Modifies status of cases on case management system based on information received from parties.
• Oversees security and administrative issues within the Department, coordinating with the Superior Court Administrator’s Office, law enforcement and Jury Management to best facilitate the overall use of court time, personnel and jurors.
• Responsible for caseload follow up to ensure timely completion and resolution of assigned cases. 
• Serves as liaison with the media and the public on any matters that are of media interest. 
• Directs activities to ensure compliance with media protocol issued by the court.  
• Supervises the jury with full responsibility for assuring the comfort and deportment of jurors assigned to the judicial department. Directs and assists jurors during trials while complying with and applying appropriate statutes, court rules, policies and procedures. This includes, but is not limited to issues of communication, security, illness, reasonable accommodation, emergency matters, meals, sequestering, and personal concerns that could affect the parties right to a fair trial. Acts as liaison between the judge and jurors during and following active juror service.
• Oversees, administers, and controls electronic systems for official court proceedings.
• Maintains confidentiality of all sensitive reports, correspondence, conversations, special inquiries, closed proceedings or other confidential matters. 
• Assesses and coordinates the need for security measures and transport of in-custody defendants with Courthouse Security, the Court Administrator’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department and/or the Department of Corrections.
• Coordinates with facilities and maintenance for the repair and tracking of County equipment, as needed.
• Regularly utilizes a variety of technology platforms and equipment (e.g. Zoom, Webex, audio visual equipment, etc.)   
• Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college, AND
• One (1) year of experience as a legal secretary, paralegal, executive secretary or confidential administrative assistant. 
• An equivalent combination of related education and/or experience providing the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered. 
• Incumbents are required to enter into a confidentiality agreement at the time of hire and maintain compliance throughout employment.
• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Driver’s License if required by the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of the practices, procedures and policies of calendaring, case flow management and jury management.
• Knowledge of related legal terminology, laws, codes, and court rules governing pertinent functions of the judicial system.
• Working knowledge of the local and state court rules, administrative policies and court procedures. Ability to implement changing laws, rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of computer applications and utilization in a court environment.
• Knowledge of Video equipment and utilization in a court environment.
• Skilled in communicating effectively both orally and in writing, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.
• Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective work relationships with judges, attorneys, agencies, the media, other County employees and the public. 
• Ability to interpret and implement court policy and apply it to the daily operation of the Court.
• Ability to discern between those instances where court intervention is necessary in responding to daily inquiries and those that can be handled independently by the Judicial Assistant.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters and situations; maintain a high degree of confidentiality. Upholding confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Ability to receive, prioritize and fulfill directions from the court and be entirely responsible for completion of assigned tasks in a reliable, accurate and timely fashion.
• Ability to perform a variety of independent research and analysis activities.
• Ability to exercise initiative and judgment and work independently with little or no direction.
• Ability to establish and maintain a close working relationship with the judge to whom they are assigned.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively under stressful circumstances.
• Ability to operate office equipment including copy machine, recording equipment, computer equipment and related software programs as needed in the court environment.
• Ability to accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously.

BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS

All County employees are responsible for contributing to a safe and positive work environment, actively demonstrating the County values in their daily work and interactions:

• Respect:   Appreciating and valuing customers, other County employees and County leadership by showing courtesy, friendliness and fairness.  Communicating in a productive and professional manner.   
• Accountability:   Honoring and delivering on commitments by taking responsibility for personal actions and results; being a responsible steward of public resources and the trust County residents have placed in each of us.
• Integrity:   Modelling transparent and ethical behavior and demonstrating it with honest and trustworthy behaviors and actions; leading by example and performing work to the highest standards.
• Innovation:   Striving for excellence by actively pursuing opportunities for new and improved methods, procedures or technologies; fostering an environment of engagement and empowerment and embracing continuous improvement.

WORKING CONDITIONS  

• The work environment is primarily inside, where the noise and temperature levels are moderate.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. As every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may reasonably be considered incidental in the performing of their duties as though they were included in this job description.

Total Compensation:

Total compensation is an estimate based upon base compensation, median retirement fund contributions, and current employer-paid health and related benefit contribution rates (including medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability, and leave). The actual total will vary depending upon each employee's enrollment choices.

Please select the link below to view Spokane County Benefits:

• Benefits | Spokane County, WA