Courtroom Clerk (Rotation Referee Clerk)

State of Oregon; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 57,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance premiums paid

Bilingual skills allowance

Annual salary increase

Paid holidays

Job summary

State of Oregon, Judicial Department, seeks a Rotating Referee Clerk to support hearings and manage court documents in Multnomah County. You will swear witnesses, track exhibits, and maintain logs and records in the case management system.

The role involves coordinating with juries, attorneys, and staff, with a focus on accuracy and service to the public. The position offers a full-time schedule, location in Portland/Salem area, and competitive benefits.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience performing clerical or administrative duties with deadlines.
• Strong data entry and recordkeeping skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public and attorneys.

Responsibilities

• Support hearings referee and swear in witnesses, process exhibits, and log events.
• Prepare orders, judgments, and court documents; check pleadings for accuracy.
• Update records in the electronic case management system and verify warrants status.
• Supervise juries, manage the jury room, arrange meals and transportation, and liaise with attorneys.
• Assist attorneys, litigants, and the public with court policies and procedures.

Skills

Clerical experience

Customer service

Data entry

Multitasking

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Initial Posting Date

10/28/2026

Application Deadline

11/03/2026

Agency

Judicial Department

Salary Range

$4,765 - $7,392

Position Type

Employee

Position Title

Courtroom Clerk (Rotation Referee Clerk)

Job Description

Interviews: Generally, interviews will be scheduled within two weeks after the application deadline. Interview scheduling may take longer, depending on the number of applications.

Who We Are

Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) serves the public, and the people we serve may be facing challenging life circumstances, high levels of stress, or confusion about their next steps. The work you will do in this role affects members of our community who come to the court to have their cases resolved. We need people who want to impact their communities, value OJD’s efforts to remove barriers to access justice services, and welcome interacting with the public.

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We consider relevant work experience, education, and any transferable skills and abilities that may meet our qualifications or the skills and attributes we need for this position. We welcome all candidates who are inspired by our work and mission.

Benefits To You

• We pay 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums for full‑time employees, including mental health coverage.
• The hourly equivalent for this position is $27.49 – $42.65, and the annual salary for this position is $57,183 – $88,708.
• 10 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, 3 personal business days, separate sick and vacation paid leaves (prorated for part‑time employees), and other employee benefits such as optional insurances and flexible spending plans.
• OJD will pay you a 5% allowance for bilingual skills (includes ASL) if you can pass a skills test and are assigned to use those skills on the job!
• In this job profile, we offer candidates new to OJD up to the fourth step of the salary range, depending on experience. You are potentially eligible for a 5% annual increase.

Location Highlights

Portland, Oregon, was founded in 1845 (incorporated in 1851). It is the state’s largest city and the county seat for Multnomah County. It is named for Portland, Maine. It is situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Recreational activities include numerous museums (including OMSI), parks (including Forest Park, largest wilderness park in city limits in the nation), hiking (including in‑city hiking trails), restaurants (including Food Carts), Mt. Hood (about 50 miles east), and much more. Portland is home to four major sports teams: Trail Blazers (NBA), Fire (WNBA), Timbers (MLS), and Thorns (NWSL).

Position Highlights

The Multnomah County Circuit Court is hiring a Rotating Referee Clerk (Courtroom Clerk).

In this role, you will support the hearings referee. You will swear in witnesses, process exhibits, record the proceedings, and keep logs of names and events. You will prepare orders, judgments, and other court documents. You will check pleadings for accuracy and completeness. You will update records in the electronic case management system. You will verify the status of warrants. You will swear in and supervise juries, prepare the jury room, provide security, arrange for meals and transportation, and liaise between jurors, the court, and attorneys.

In chambers, you will manage the referee’s docket, schedule hearings and trial dates, and certify court orders for attorneys.

Additionally, you will help attorneys, litigants, and the public use the court system by providing information about court policies and procedures, the status of cases, and the court calendar. The support you provide will be in person, over the phone, and in writing.

You will spend part of your time helping train and mentor new clerks. You will also make sure the courtroom is stocked with supplies and will check and troubleshoot the AV system and recording equipment.

Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs.

The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. PT on the date listed above.

Minimum Qualifications

The qualified candidate must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

AND

At least three (3) or more years of responsible experience in a moderately complex office or business setting involving the processing of financial, administrative, or legal documents.

OR

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to three (3) years of experience that typically supports the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position.

Special Qualifications

None.

Requested Skills And Attributes

• Experience performing a variety of clerical or administrative support tasks with strict, and often competing, deadlines in a fast-paced business or professional setting.
• Experience maintaining accuracy despite frequent interruptions or distracting surroundings.
• Experience using a computer and different applications to accomplish a variety of tasks that involve data entry, looking up accounts or cases, scheduling events in electronic calendars, and updating information.
• Experience multitasking by listening and typing at the same time and logging events in real time.
• Experience providing customer service to a variety of individuals in challenging circumstances.

Working Conditions

• This is a full‑time position, and the work schedule currently is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This position is eligible for overtime compensation for hours worked in excess of 40 per workweek.
• Occasional after-hours or overtime work may be required.
• Possible travel daily between 17 floors of the courthouse, which can be done via elevator or stairs.
• Depending on staffing needs, the courtroom clerk may temporarily be required to work at one of our other facilities, including the Juvenile Justice Center at 1401 NE 68th Ave. (5 miles from the courthouse) or the East County Courthouse at 18480 SE Stark St. (14 miles from the courthouse).
• Courtroom clerks often work under statutory or policy deadlines and occasionally work in very high‑volume, fast‑paced environments.
• Frequent phone and in‑person contact with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Frequent phone and in‑person contact with people who may be facing challenging life circumstances, highly stressful situations, or trauma.
• Long periods of sitting or standing.
• Regular use of the following equipment: electronic recording equipment, AV equipment, telephone, OJD‑assigned computer with multiple monitors, copy machine, fax machine, and scanner.

Additional Information

Parking

Multnomah County Circuit Court does not provide parking for the central courthouse or justice center staff. Daily parking is available across SW 1st St. from the central courthouse (monthly parking is limited). Another option is the Douglas Garage at 1835 S River Dr., Portland, OR 97204. Parking cost is $165/month and is a half mile from the courthouse and justice center.

Criminal Background Check

You will be subject to a criminal background check if you are a finalist. Adverse results are evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis and may result in disqualification if the circumstances are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Reference Checks

By submitting your application to OJD, you consent to reference checks about your qualifications, your workplace performance, and your work product.

United States Employment Eligibility

OJD does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. OJD will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.

Age-Based Discrimination

OJD does not request or require your age, date of birth, or attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.

Veterans’ or Oregon National Guard Preference

Eligible veterans and current or former servicemembers with the Oregon National Guard who meet the qualifications will be given preference in the recruitment process. To receive preference, veterans and current or former servicemembers with the Oregon National Guard must attach the appropriate documentation after they receive an email in their Workday inbox requesting the information to verify eligibility. The action item, asking for documentation, will arrive after they have submitted their initial application materials. Visit the Oregon job opportunities Veterans, Disabled Veterans & State Servicemembers web page for additional details, information, and resources.

Conduct Expectations

Because of OJD's role in providing justice and upholding the rule of law, employees of the department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and also to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the department. As an employee, you will be expected to preserve the confidentiality of information received in the course of