Court Clerk

Seattle Municipal Court; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation days

Health benefits

Dental & vision insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

Seattle Municipal Court seeks a Court Clerk for a short-term assignment in downtown Seattle. You will record judicial actions, prepare and file forms, review documents, and coordinate court operations.

Requires about one year of related experience and proficiency with Outlook, Word, Excel, and database software. You will work in a fast-paced environment, serving judges, attorneys, and the public on-site with full-time hours.

This role supports the court's mission and RSJI initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum of one year of experience in a court clerk or related role.
• Ability to record and manage case files and documents accurately.
• Experience handling confidential information and interacting with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Listens to, summarizes and records judicial actions or directives and ensures forms are filed.
• Before hearings, accounts for all case files and assembles documents like police reports and records.
• Operate and host remote hearings.
• Responds to questions from court departments, defendants, attorneys and witnesses.
• Summarizes proceedings and coordinates transportation and custody-related documents.
• Notifies agencies of judicial orders and prepares outgoing information.
• Prepare, process, and explain documents for defendants regarding sentences.
• Maintain custody and care of jurors.
• Assist and cross-train other court clerks in procedures.

Skills

Active listening

Communication skills

Multitasking

Tools

Outlook

Word

Excel

Database software

Job description

Position Description

Seattle Municipal Court's mission is to provide a forum for individuals to resolve alleged violations of the law in a respectful, independent, and impartial manner. The Court is dedicated to advancing social justice issues by supporting personal, structural, and systemic change in our community, and building a diverse workforce. Candidates with the ability to effectively work with multi-cultural communities are encouraged to apply.

The Clerk's Office is recruiting to fill one Short-Term Temporary Court Clerk vacancy. The Clerk's Office service area is part of the Court’s Operations Division, supporting courtrooms, records management, and jury services. Court Clerks primarily work in criminal and formal courtrooms, where they prepare the official record of proceedings using SMC’s case management system and audio-recording software, review dispositional documents with individuals, and coordinate transportation for people in custody. They act as a liaison between the judges, magistrates, defense attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, interpreters, and other criminal justice partners.

This assignment is expected to last at least 6 months and up to August 2027.

You will be successful in this role if you have a commitment for:

• Public service and being apart of the justice system
• Working in a fast-paced collaborative work environment
• Providing excellent customer service
• Learning new systems

Your effectiveness in this role will depend on your ability to:

• Be an active listener and utilize good communication skills.
• Learn and adapt to frequent changes in law, policy, work assignments, technology, processes, and procedures.
• Exercise discretion, maintain confidentiality, and interact tactfully and impartiality when assisting individuals in courtroom settings-particularly those experiencing heightened emotions or distress and who may benefit from de-escalation strategies.
• Multi-task accurately and independently while paying careful attention to the details.
• Maintain flexibility and professionalism while working in all aspects of the job.
• Navigate frequent change with a positive attitude.
• Remain calm, positive, and have a sense of humor while working in a tense environment.

You Will Feel Prepared If You Have Experience

• Working inside or in support of a courtroom.
• Using Outlook, Word, Excel, and database computer programs with intermediate proficiency.

Job Responsibilities

• Listens to, summarizes and records judicial actions or directives, including rulings, findings, pleas, and sentences. Ensure that all forms, motions, and briefs are properly prepared and filed.
• Prior to court hearing, accounts for all case files and ensures that all necessary documents, such as police reports, citations, violation history, arrest records, probation files, etc. are available and correctly assembled.
• Operate and host remote hearings.
• Responds to questions or inquiries from other court departments, agencies, defendants, attorneys, witnesses, and victims as requested by the Judge.
• Summarizes court proceedings for other court departments and City departments. Including coordinating transportation and court supervision of in-custody defendants by independently preparing and processing all documents required for jail commitments and releases.
• Determines which agencies need to be notified of judicial order or actions and prepares and sends out information.
• Prepare, process, and explain documents for defendants regarding their sentence.
• Maintain custody and care of jurors.
• Assists and cross trains other court clerks in courtroom procedures.
• Performs other related duties of a comparable level/type as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Equivalent of one year of experience in a court clerk or other similarly related experience, or a combination of education, training, and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position.

Examples of related experience may include: accurately record and maintain database entries, manage large and complex calendars, transcription (transcribing meeting minutes, faculty lectures or medical information), handle sensitive/confidential information, work with executives and the public providing guidance around rules, policies, procedures and/or laws.

Additional Information

Who may apply

This position is open to all individuals whose experience; skills and abilities are aligned with the qualifications as presented above. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy. The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences.

Why Work at the City

The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services. If you share these values and meet the qualifications for this position, we invite you to apply.

Hiring Process

In addition to completing your online application, the following attachments are required for your application to be considered complete:

• Resume
• Cover Letter describing how your skills and experience align with stated job responsibilities and qualifications and how you would apply them to advance and support the court’s RSJI mission.

Salary

The full salary range for this role is $37.73 - $43.93 per hour. New employees begin at Step 1 of the pay progression, which is $37.73 hourly.

Court Clerks are required to work onsite everyday downtown Seattle at the Municipal Court. Telework, and hybrid schedules are not possible for this role. Selected candidates must be able to work any shift Monday through Saturday and holidays, and maintain regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.

Benefits

• The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. Additional information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits

Additional Information

• Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
• A job offer is contingent upon successfully passing the court's background check. The background check includes a criminal history background review, fingerprinting, and reference checks.
• This is a full-time position, working 40-hours per week.
• For more information, visit www.seattle.gov/courts.
• Applicants from this recruitment process may be considered for future Court Clerk vacancies within 6 months of this advertisement closing.

If you have any questions, please contact Pharez Freeland at [e-mail]