Court Clerk I

Job Summary

This position performs complex clerical, secretarial, administrative, and office support duties following established guidelines and procedures to expedite and maintain the caseload and special processes and procedures of the District and/or Magistrate Court as assigned. The work is performed under the general supervision of the Director of Court Operations and direct supervision of the Court Operations Manager and Area Supervisor. Certain levels in the series may assist in training and may provide direction to other court clerks, the principal duties of this position are performed in a general office and courtroom environment.

Key Responsibilities:

· Clerk I

o Training and entry-level position. Receives and examines legal documents for accuracy, completeness, and conformity to requirements; returns unacceptable documents, affixes seals and stamps to endorse, certify, and file documents.

o Prepares and maintains documents and exhibits, files legal documents and related case materials; retrieves and delivers files and documents to court or appropriate parties, maintains court records and files.

o Prepares documents in conformance with court orders, issues legal documents such as warrants, writs, subpoenas, abstracts, and other official documents on behalf of the court in accordance with policies and procedures recall warrants, exonerates bail, prepares judgments and dismisses or seals cases in accordance with established code and court procedures.

o Advises attorneys, agencies, and the public on the status of cases in a professional and courteous manner, provides procedural information, answers inquiries, and explains filing processes, explains and accepts fees and fines, maintains and updates financial records.

· Clerk II

o Journey level position performs all duties required for the Clerk I position as well as maintains court records and files, such as records of court-appointed counsel and experts, receipts, marks, and takes custody of evidence.

o Attends Court sessions, takes minutes of actions and proceedings, requests clarification of instructions and orders of action to properly note the official court record; impanels and polls jurors, records challenges, administers oath or affirmations to witnesses and jurors, and records jury service and compensation due to jurors.

o Prepares a variety of documents related to court operations and coordinates the flow of documents necessary for court assignments; arranges for interpreters, pro-term judges, and assigned judges.

o Performs difficult and complex duties related to reviewing legal documents and examining them for accuracy, completeness, and conformity to requirements; may provide procedural assistance to self-represented litigants at the Legal Assistance Center.

· Clerk III

o Advanced journey level position performs all duties required for the Clerk II position; may perform special projects; may be assigned to train and mentor other court clerks in various court procedures.

· Clerk IV

o Highest advanced journey level “lead worker” position performs all duties required for the Clerk III position and performs the duties of the Area Supervisor in his/her absence.

· Other Duties

o Performs all work duties and activities following County policies, procedures, and safety practices.

o All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Skills and Abilities

· Perform basic cash handling, bookkeeping, and accounting functions.

· Perform multiple tasks simultaneously, including handling interruptions, and return to and complete tasks in a timely manner.

· Work well under pressure and maintain a calm and professional demeanor, under stressful or adversarial conditions.

· Court and judicial system operations, processes, procedures, protocols, terminology and policies

· Work cooperatively and constructively with fellow workers and members of the public to provide public service of the highest quality and quantity.

· Prepare court and legal documents, following a prescribed format to ensure accuracy and compliance with legal requirements and standards.

Special Qualifications

· Must be bondable.

· Must successfully complete a background investigation.

Education and Experience

· High school diploma or GED equivalency required.

· At least one (1) years’ experience in customer service for Clerk I, two (2) years’ experience as a Court Clerk for Clerk II, three (3) years’ experience as a Court Clerk II for Clerk III, five (5) years’ experience as a Court Clerk for Clerk IV preferred or

· Any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge and alibies necessary to perform the work.

Essential Physical Abilities

· Clear speech with or without an accommodation, to effectively convey detailed or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly and/or quickly

· Sufficient clarity of hearing with or without reasonable accommodation to enable the employee to hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary information

· Visual acuity, with or without an accommodation, to read instructions, review and organize documents

· Requires sufficient personal mobility and physical reflexes, which permits the employee to function in a general office environment to accomplish tasks

· Ability to lift 25 lbs.

Disclaimer:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the primary job responsibilities satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being assigned to this job. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of individuals on the job. This job description is not an employment agreement and/or an expressed or implied employment contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

Canyon County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions related to recruitment and selection are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.