Judicial Specialist 2 #00000923-24400, Full-Time, Perm in Albuquerque, NM

About the role

The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court is recruiting for a full-time, permanent Judicial Specialist 2 for the Case Preparation & Records division in Albuquerque, NM.

Essential tasks

• Employee may be required to work weekends and holidays and during other court closures.
• Perform clerical and technical duties involved in case processing, file maintenance, case management and the conduct of the clerical business of the Court.
• Assist the judge in the courtroom.
• Research automated and hard-copy files for case status information and information regarding parties to case.
• Enter case information into an automated case management system.
• Generate court documents for mailing.
• Research defendant wants, warrants and prior conviction history.
• Prepare motor vehicle abstracts, flag drivers' licenses, issue approval to reinstate drivers' licenses.
• Pull case files and court documents.
• Monitor court hearings and proceedings.
• Coordinate completion of court documents and dockets court judgments and sentences.
• Track open cases to ensure actions required by rules, statutes, regulations or judicial orders are taken within required deadlines.
• Enter and access data utilizing the Court docketing and case programs.
• Notify interested parties of case settings, the vacating of settings, or settlement.
• Assist the general public, law enforcement officials and attorneys.
• May perform other duties as assigned to meet the operational needs of the Court.

Duties

• Responsible for using the case management system to open, docket, and close cases based on judgement details.
• Provide customer service information with a high volume of pro se litigants by providing general procedural information without giving legal advice.
• Use the case management system to (1) open cases – determine case type/cause of action and assess and receipt filing fee if required; (2) docket cases – review documents and determine appropriate event codes, enter data, scan documents, and link related scanned images; and (3) close cases – determine and enter closing events, disposition type, and judgement details.
• Assess, receipt, record, and reconcile monies, and prepare bank deposits; follow cash handling procedures.
• Process, maintain, and distribute documents, files, and case materials.
• Use electronic filing to review incoming filings for format, signatures, event code, and filing fees.
• Process and expedite orders of protection.
• Accurately disburse bond payments, and prepare and maintain bond reports.
• Reconcile billing and invoices from contracted vendors provided for Specialty Court Programs.
• Prepare, proofread, edit and mail out documents such as notices and final orders.
• Execute on case hearings, which may include: orders to show cause, bench warrants, recusals, excusals, pleadings, and rule extensions.
• Maintain cash till and ensure court fees are accurately assessed, paid, receipted, and correctly recorded in the case management system.
• Provide public case information to parties, attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and other outside agencies.
• Order, review, sort, and organize jury summons.
• Prepare alpha list, random list, voir dire sheet, and seating chart for jury trials.
• Organize case files for microfilming, archiving, and destruction.
• Prepare exhibits and hard copy case files.
• Research automated, hard copy, and microfiche files for case status data.
• Certify and prepare court records, tapes, logs, and exhibits for cases on appeal to higher courts.
• Ensure the office, courtrooms, and equipment are operational.
• Ensure judicial calendars and schedules are maintained.
• Serve as a court monitor.
• Under general supervision will perform clerical and technical duties involved in case processing, file maintenance, jury management and the conduct of the clerical business of the court.
• Manage jury trial calendar request for judges to schedule upcoming jury trials.
• Advise internal staff of the jury procedures, when jurors are reporting, and updates on specific trials.
• May serve as a courtroom clerk, produce Instant J&Ss, and obtain signatures from the parties/counsel of record, assigned judge, file, and distribute.
• Provide support to other magistrate or district courts within the judicial district.
• Daily routine includes working with prospective jurors, instructing them on how to complete their information online and/or providing appropriate forms when necessary.
• Answer phone calls, address incoming and outgoing correspondence, maintain office supplies, etc.
• Coordinate program participation with Specialty Programs within the Court.
• Accept, maintain, and file court exhibits, which may include hazardous and/or dangerous items.
• Gather, deliver, and file recordings, receipts for log and exhibits to provide accurate record keeping procedures.
• Troubleshoot recording equipment, run updates, and maintain technical logs.
• Responsible for retention of case material and marks for identification logs, files, and safeguards evidence as a public, sequestered or sealed exhibit.
• Act as a liaison between court personnel, litigants, or attorney to advance court proceedings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education: A high school diploma or GED. No education substitution.

Experience: Two (2) years of experience in court case processing, a legal secretarial or related field such as advanced customer service, data processing, and/or banking/financial experience. Additional post-secondary education in a related field may substitute for up to one (1) year of experience. Thirty (30) semester hours equals one (1) year of experience.

Typing Certification: A typing certification from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (www.dws.state.nm.us) or similar may be required. If certification is required, a typing proficiency score of at least 35 net words per minute is mandatory. The New Mexico Workforce Connection Certification must have been issued within five (5) years of application.

Certification: May be requested to complete the NM Court Monitor Certification Examination.

Competencies

The successful applicant should demonstrate knowledge of legal terminology and phrases; basic knowledge of jury service; filing methods; case processing; knowledge of Specialty Court Programs; research methodology; project management techniques; court fee accounting practices; court monitoring procedures; Court Clerk's Procedures Manual and Code of Ethics; court's and States Language Access Policies, access to the Certified Language International Interpreting Line; and general organizational structure of the judiciary.

Work environment

Work is performed in an office or court setting. A valid driver's license and travel may be required. The assigned work schedule may include overtime. The employee must regularly interact positively with co-workers, clients, the public, judges, and justices.

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision/Rx, Short, and Long Term Disability Insurance Programs, employee assistance program (EAP)
• State paid life insurance, supplemental and dependent life insurance
• Optional flexible spending accounts for medical, day-care, and travel expenses
• Paid vacation and sick leave up to eight (8) weeks
• Eleven (11) 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, Rx, and lab work at the facility (Stay Well Health Center) in Santa Fe, NM
• Bilingual compensation*
• Training and career development opportunities
• Higher education opportunities, educational leave, and tuition reimbursement
• May qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• May receive overtime holiday or shift differential pay*
• May receive physical fitness leave*

*These benefits vary by job classification or need.