Court Services Assistant III (District Court)

Skagit County; Mount Vernon (WA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Skagit County's District Court and probation offices are seeking a flexible professional to perform technical and complex legal, clerical, secretarial, and accounting duties with high precision and confidentiality.

This role supports court procedures, data entry of criminal and non-criminal cases, calendar management, warrants, subpoenas, and records in statewide databases, while interacting with the public and agencies.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of court procedures, rules, and terminology.
• Strong data entry accuracy and record-keeping abilities.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.

Responsibilities

• Represent the office professionally with the public and agencies.
• Receive and data input criminal and non-criminal cases; attend hearings and record proceedings.
• Maintain records in statewide databases including sentencing, warrants, civil judgments, and no contact orders.
• Prepare daily court calendars and process files; prepare warrants, summonses, and subpoenas.
• Provide information to the public, media, attorneys, and law enforcement; interview for protection/no contact orders.
• Assist probation in monitoring compliance with court orders and manage case indices.

Skills

Court procedures

Data entry

Public interaction

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Windows OS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Performs a wide variety of technical and complex legal, clerical, secretarial, and accounting duties in support of the District Court judicial services and administrative functions of the court office and probation office. Exercises a high level of technical expertise, accuracy, confidentiality, responsibility, and efficiency.

This position requires a substantial knowledge of all court and office procedures, rules, authority, and transacts the general business of the court and office subject to limited supervision.

• Salary upon hire is step 1 through 3 ($27.30/hr. - $29.28/hr.) dependent upon qualifications.

• Progressive increases are based on years of service with Skagit County, up to 8 total steps (top step $34.75/hr.). The Court Services Assistant III is Range 11 of the Teamsters (Courts/Parks) salary schedule.

Represent office in a professional capacity, including frequent interaction with the public, both on the telephone and in person. Assume confidentiality in all matters.

Receive and data input all criminal and non-criminal cases written by law enforcement agencies in Skagit County. Attend and keep accurate recording records of court proceedings held in District Court. Keep accurate records of all exhibits entered as evidence. Maintain accurate records on a statewide database which includes, but is not limited to, sentencing information, warrants of arrest, civil judgments, and no contact orders.

Prepare daily court calendars for scheduled hearings and process files after said hearings, forwarding all documents to appropriate agencies. Prepare warrants of arrest, summons, and subpoenas for Judges’ signature, as necessary.

Provide information to the general public, media, attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and other County offices regarding infractions, criminal traffic, criminal non-traffic, civil and pending felony cases. Interview applicants for protection /no contact orders to verify the requests meet statutory qualifications for issuance from District Court.

Assist the probation office in monitoring defendants’ compliance with court orders which include: alcohol evaluations and treatment; anger management evaluations and treatment; pre-trial supervision, and other general case management. Index and file all case types and maintain a system by which documents and files may be accessed.

Perform mathematical calculations using sentencing information and set up payment agreements. Receipt monies for traffic infractions, court fines, civil filings, appeal fees, and trust account funds. Balance daily receipts. Prepare and assign delinquent fines and fees for collection.

Follow State archive requirements for destruction of files and records.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:

Perform the duties and responsibilities of co-workers in a backup role when necessary.

May be tasked with performing related duties. Related duties as required are duties that may not be specifically listed in the position description, but are within the general occupational series and responsibility level typically associated with the employee’s classification of work.

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical path to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• High school diploma or GED required. Three years of increasingly responsible court services work.
• Three years of increasingly responsible court services work or an equivalent combination of education and experience, which provides the required knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the work.

REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Microsoft windows environment and office applications.
• General mathematical skills.
• Knowledge of local and state court rules, legal proceedings, and terminology.

REQUIRES THE ABILITY TO:

• Operate standard office equipment such as printers, photocopiers, telephones, typewriters, facsimile machines, 10-key adding machines, computers, and courtroom recorders.
• Must have excellent communication skills, both orally and written.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and rapport with a diverse group of co-workers, other county departments and agencies, as well as the general public.
• Work in direct contact with documented hostile, mentally unstable, and potentially dangerous persons.
• Quickly and effectively assess situations and participants level of frustration, emotional state, and volatility.
• Use tact, discretion, courtesy, and professionalism, providing optimum customer service to the general public, defendants, litigants, other county departments, courts, and agencies.
• Understand and implement complex oral and written instructions or regulations.
• Maintain a high standard of accuracy, completeness, and efficiency.
• Work independently and make consequential work decisions in accordance with laws, regulations, and court policies and procedures, often in situations in which there may be little precedent.
• Efficiently analyze, organize, prioritize, coordinate, schedule and follow through on assignments to meet work objection.
• Perform multiple tasks in a high stress environment, with speed and accuracy.
• Maintain confidentiality and follow the judicial code of ethics.

LICENSES and/or CERTIFICATIONS:

None.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Work is performed primarily in an office or courtroom environment. Ability to hear telephone and perform data entry for long periods of time. Ability to see, read, and comprehend written materials. Also requires the lifting/carrying of boxes and other materials weighing up to 50 pounds.

HAZARDS:

Normal hazards found in an office environment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Skagit County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. It is the policy of Skagit County to follow all federal and state laws to ensure non-discrimination in its employment practices.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the essential functions of this position, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload. Changes to the position description may be made at the discretion of the employer.