Judicial Specialist 2 #00028090-24400, Full-Time, Perm in Albuquerque, NM

Business Unit: Administrative Office of the Courts
Full-Time, Permanent position in Albuquerque, NM

About the role

The Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court is recruiting for a Judicial Specialist 2 in the Customer Services Division. This role involves managing court cases in a court of limited original jurisdiction, handling financial transactions, and providing customer service to the public, legal community, and law enforcement.

Responsibilities

• Manage court cases, including filing documents and receiving fines, fees, and bond payments.
• Balance and reconcile daily cash receipts; prepare and make daily bank deposits.
• Respond to inquiries from the legal community, law enforcement, and the public.
• Research automated and hard copy files for case status and party information.
• Enter case information into an automated case management system; create and maintain hard copy case files.
• Arrange for service and mail to parties of a case; research defendant warrants and prior conviction history.
• Flag drivers’ licenses; pull case files and coordinate completion of court documents.
• Monitor and track sentence deferment and probation compliance records; review files for sentence deferments.
• Use the case management system to open, docket, and close cases based on judgment details.
• Provide customer service to a high volume of pro se litigants, offering general procedural information without legal advice.
• Assess, receipt, record, and reconcile monies; prepare bank deposits following cash handling procedures.
• Process, maintain, and distribute documents, files, and case materials.
• Review incoming electronic filings for format, signatures, event codes, and filing fees.
• Process and expedite orders of protection; disburse bond payments and prepare bond reports.
• Reconcile billing and invoices from contracted vendors for Specialty Court Programs.
• Prepare, proofread, edit, and mail documents such as notices and final orders.
• Execute case hearings, including 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 recorded.
• Provide public case information to parties, attorneys, law enforcement, and other 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 appeals to higher courts.
• Ensure the office, courtrooms, and equipment are operational; maintain judicial calendars and schedules.
• Serve as a court monitor; perform clerical and technical duties involved in case processing, file maintenance, and jury management.
• Manage jury trial calendar requests for judges; advise internal staff on jury procedures.
• Serve as a courtroom clerk; produce Instant J&Ss and obtain signatures from parties, counsel, and judges.
• Provide support to other magistrate or district courts within the judicial district.
• Work with prospective jurors, instructing them on completing information online or providing forms.
• Answer phone calls, address incoming and outgoing correspondence, and maintain office supplies.
• Coordinate program participation with Specialty Programs within the Court.
• Accept, maintain, and file court exhibits, including hazardous or dangerous items.
• Gather, deliver, and file recordings, receipts, and exhibits for accurate record-keeping.
• Troubleshoot recording equipment, run updates, and maintain technical logs.
• Retain case material, mark logs for identification, and safeguard evidence as public, sequestered, or sealed exhibits.
• Act as a liaison between court personnel, litigants, or attorneys to advance court proceedings.
• Other duties as assigned to meet operational needs.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Two (2) years of experience in court case processing, legal secretarial work, or a 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 (30 semester hours equals one year).
• Typing certification from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions or similar may be required, with a proficiency of at least 35 net words per minute (certification must be issued within five years of application).
• May be requested to complete the NM Court Monitor Certification Examination.

Skills

• Knowledge of legal terminology and phrases; basic knowledge of jury service and filing methods.
• Proficiency in case processing, research methodology, and project management techniques.
• Understanding of court fee accounting practices, court monitoring procedures, and the Court Clerk’s Procedures Manual and Code of Ethics.
• Familiarity with the court’s and state’s Language Access Policies and access to the Certified Language International Interpreting Line.
• General knowledge of the organizational structure of the judiciary.
• Ability to meet deadlines under pressure, maintain accuracy, and be attentive to detail.
• Strong skills in gathering information, report writing, and utilizing computers for word processing, databases, spreadsheets, and other software.
• Ability to use a calculator and other office equipment; read and balance cash management reports.
• Must be able to work well with others and under stress.

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 overtime.
• Regular interaction with co-workers, clients, the public, judges, and justices.

Pay

$22.750 per hour or $47,320 annually.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance programs.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance; employee assistance program (EAP).
• State-paid life insurance; supplemental and dependent life insurance options.
• 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.
• Free healthcare, prescriptions, and lab work at the Stay Well Health Center in Santa Fe, NM.
• Bilingual compensation (varies by job classification).
• 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; physical fitness leave (varies by job classification).