Court Specialist (County Funded)

Court Specialist

Salary is Non-Negotiable. The successful candidate will be hired at the minimum salary. This job posting is for a rolling vacancy with applications added to a general candidate pool and considered on an as-needed basis. This is specialized public contact, administrative, and court related work in the handling of official judicial proceedings, including contacting appropriate authorities in response to security related matters. An individual in this position is responsible for a variety of duties in connection with official proceedings in courtrooms and chambers and in assisting judges, jurors, witnesses, and attorneys prior to, during, or upon the conclusion of court sessions. Work is performed under the immediate direction of a judge who reviews work through conferences, observations, and results obtained.

Responsibilities:

• Ensures courtrooms, chambers, and jury rooms are ready for use, including verifying that judge's equipment is functioning properly for digital court reporting purposes, when needed, as well as ensuring courtrooms and jury rooms are cleared of items left behind by court users and are locked after use.
• Confirms all parties and support personnel are in attendance.
• Acts as the virtual court coordinator during virtual court proceedings pursuant to Florida Supreme Court Order AOSC20-106, In Re: Electronic Court Proceeding Standards, (November 20, 2020). This includes managing the virtual waiting room to control attendance and ensure proper decorum, screening waiting room attendees to identify them by name and role in the case, admitting authorized attendees, removing unruly attendees and ensuring security features are enabled such that unruly attendees do not have access to screensharing, chat features, or re-entry, and permitting access to private conversation rooms to allow attorneys and their clients to discuss privileged matters, sequester witnesses, or hold sidebar discussions.
• Provides information, answering questions, and resolving issues that arise from judges, attorneys, court officials, jurors, court partners, and the public.
• Calls jury pool to have panels brought to court; contacting jury pool for additional jurors as needed; escorting jurors to jury room during recesses and ensuring juror presence following such recesses.
• Remains with impaneled juries outside the jury room and escorting them to lunch or dinner as needed, making arrangements for juror meals and/or hotel accommodations as needed during deliberations.
• Escorts jurors to the type of transportation being used during evening hours or when travelling outside the courtroom is necessary for any reason during trials.
• Announces judge and calling court to order.
• Calls witnesses into court for testimony, monitoring witnesses to assure they remain outside the courtroom during proceedings and excluding witnesses when rule of sequestration is invoked.
• Maintains order both during court sessions and in judicial chambers and public areas of the courthouse. Remains alert to possible disturbances during court sessions, escorts persons out of court upon judge's directive or contacts appropriate authorities to restrain and/or arrest, when needed.
• Orders files/materials needed for proceedings and organizing same, obtains files for ensuing the daily calendar, collects/compiles photostats, correspondence, and other documents in evidence, and cancels court proceedings as necessary.
• Assists the assigned judge and judicial assistant with various administrative functions, including answering and making telephone calls, calendaring hearings, opening mail or maintaining case records or forms, and case management.
• Contacts attorneys to provide time to report for hearing, trial, and in judges' chambers.
• Research inquiries on the computer to obtain docket information.
• Assists in emergency preparedness and coordination.
• Performs related work as required.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Experience working with the public.
• Experience in a clerical role, specifically dealing with video conferencing and the Microsoft Office suite of software and applications.
• Experience as a peace officer, bailiff, security officer, in military service, or working with the public.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

• Thorough knowledge of court procedures, legal documents, laws and legal factors pertaining to the court and as they relate to Court Specialist operations and assignments.
• Knowledge of the organization, functions, responsibilities and procedures of the courts.
• Knowledge of established procedures to conduct judicial proceedings in courtrooms and chambers.
• Knowledge of established procedures in the flow of official documents between the Office of the Clerk of the Courts and courtrooms.
• Knowledge of the use of legal instruments and records pertaining to the court of assignment.
• Knowledge of modern office practices, procedures, equipment, and systems.
• Knowledge of personal computer applications, which includes, but not limited to software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Zoom.
• Ability to establish rapport with judges, personal staff, court administration, Office of the Clerk of the Courts, law enforcement personnel, and the public.
• Ability to deal with jurors, witnesses, attorneys and the general public with necessary tact and courtesy.
• Ability to organize work, establish priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to use independent judgment and discretion concerning confidential information.
• Ability to remain alert and observant with attention to necessary details during court sessions.
• Ability to maintain composure in the event of courtroom disturbances.
• Ability to react quickly in following judge's directives in emergencies which arise during court sessions.
• Ability to follow all established procedures prior to, during, and following the conclusion of court sessions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Ability to perform tasks with little or no supervision.
• Ability to work extended hours as the occasion demands.
• Ability to follow policies and procedures as a representative of the court system.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands/Licenses Certifications:

Working Conditions:

• Moderate noise; business office setting.

Physical Demands:

• Work involves a significant amount of standing, walking, sitting, talking, listening, and reaching with hands and arms; must be able to transfer up to 10 pounds.

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave. We also offer hybrid remote/onsite work schedules for certain positions throughout the Court. To determine if the job you wish to apply for is eligible for a partial remote work schedule, please review the job announcement for that position. Part-time employees and those hired into "Other Personal Services" (OPS) positions may also be eligible for certain benefits depending upon the number of hours worked per week.