Certified Court Monitor (U) #00000628-23500, Full-Time, At-Will in Carlsbad, NM

Business Unit: Administrative Office of the Courts, Fifth Judicial District Court in Eddy County, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Full-time, at-will position.

About the role

Acting under general supervision, the Certified Court Monitor provides courtroom support and ensures an accurate and audible audio/digital recording of judicial proceedings.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and record judicial proceedings, including multiple hearings, trials, and other court events.
• Provide litigants, attorneys, special commissioners, hearing officers, and judges access to the record for appellate review, trial preparation, and preparation of orders.
• Operate and set up audio recording machines or digital recording systems; ensure equipment is functioning properly.
• Document and time-stamp events by generating accurate logs outlining pertinent events, appearances, and case notes; verify recordings are audible.
• Gather, deliver, and file receipts for logs and exhibits to maintain accurate record-keeping procedures.
• Accept, maintain, and file court exhibits, which may include hazardous and/or dangerous items (e.g., guns, knives, drugs, drug paraphernalia, graphic photos).
• Troubleshoot recording equipment, overhead projectors, ELMO (Electronic Visual Evidence Presenter), run updates, and maintain technical logs.
• Retain all case material, mark logs for identification, file, and safeguard evidence as public, sequestered, or sealed exhibits.
• Act as a liaison between court personnel, litigants, and attorneys to advance court proceedings.
• Review court files, prepare hearings, and retrieve relevant files from judges and clerks.
• Conduct research using computer retrieval systems.
• Train and certify/re-certify other monitors and employees.
• Travel to other locations to record hearings.
• Draft and prepare orders, legal correspondence, and documents for judges; set hearings.
• May act as a Trial Court Administrative Assistant.
• May process appeals for the Court of Appeals.
• Train on courtroom etiquette, FTR (For The Record) software, quick keys, entering exhibits, voir dire, and jury trial processes.
• May perform duties of a Bailiff, including announcing a judge’s entrance and departure and ensuring proper decorum.
• Prepare recordings and burn CDs for out-of-county and out-of-district court proceedings; mail recordings to appropriate courts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Knowledge of diverse types of hearings, including jury trials, domestic relations, domestic violence, child support, children’s court, mental health court, grand jury, out-of-district criminal arraignments, and probation violations.
• Familiarity with legal abbreviations, terminologies, digital recording, and word processing software.
• Understanding of courtroom practices and procedures, including the difference between providing information and legal advice.
• Experience with filing systems and maintaining exhibits during trials.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Work is performed in an office or court setting.
• A valid driver’s license and travel may be required.
• Assigned work schedule may include nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime.
• Regular interaction with co-workers, clients, the public, judges, and justices.
• Ability to sit for long periods while focusing on proceedings with many distractions.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: High school diploma or GED.
• Experience: One (1) year of experience in court case processing, legal secretarial field, or a related field such as administrative assistant, advanced customer service, or data processing.
• Certification: Court Monitor Certification must be obtained within six (6) months of hire.

Pay

Target pay range: $16.490–$25.919 per hour or $34,299.20–$53,911.52 annually.

Schedule

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance programs.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• State-paid life insurance; optional supplemental and dependent life insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts for medical, day-care, and travel expenses.
• Paid vacation and sick leave (up to eight weeks).
• Eleven paid holidays.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Deferred Compensation 457(b) plan.
• Lifetime Defined Benefits Retirement Plan.
• Flexible work schedules and alternative work locations.
• Free health care, prescriptions, and lab work at the Stay Well Health Center in Santa Fe, NM.
• Bilingual compensation (varies by job classification or need).
• Training and career development opportunities.
• Higher education opportunities, educational leave, and tuition reimbursement.
• Eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).
• Overtime, holiday, or shift differential pay (varies by job classification or need).
• Physical fitness leave (varies by job classification or need).