(Internal) Court Services Lead

Skagit County; Mount Vernon (WA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Skagit County is seeking a supervisor for Mount Vernon Municipal Court to assist in administering non-judicial activities and to oversee daily operations. You will help develop policies, reassign clerical duties as workloads change, and supervise staff to ensure accurate docketing and document processing.

The role requires strong leadership, knowledge of court procedures, and the ability to communicate with the public while handling sensitive information.

Qualifications

• Must possess supervisory experience in a related setting.
• Experience aligning court operations with policy changes.
• Familiarity with district/municipal court procedures.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily court operations and assist in policy implementation.
• Supervise and train subordinate staff and address disciplinary issues.
• Process and docket legal documents and issue warrants, summons, and commitments.
• Provide information to the public and handle inquiries, including escalations.
• Prepare reports, maintain records, and assist in goal setting for the court.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Court operations

Policy development

Communication skills

Legal terminology

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration and management

High school diploma or G.E.D

Tools

Microsoft Windows

Word processing

Judicial Information System

Advanced accounting/ch_ bookkeeping

Job description

NOTE: This is an internal promotional opportunity for current Skagit County employees. Assists the court administrator/assistant administrator in administering all of the non-judicial activities of the Mount Vernon Municipal Court. Assists in overseeing the daily court operations, helping in the development and implementation of policies and procedures, formulating and recommending procedural changes and reassignments of clerical duties as workloads change to the administrator.

• Salary upon hire is in accordance with Skagit County promotion policy.
• Progressive increases are based upon years of service with Skagit County, up to step 8 total steps (top step $37.25/hr.). This position is range 12 of the Teamsters DC, CH, Parks salary schedule.

Supervises, coordinates, and assists in evaluating the subordinate level employees as necessary and provides for their training. May participate in the selection and hiring of subordinate employees. Reports disciplinary issues of subordinate level employees to the court administrator/assistant administrator.

Implements procedural changes required by changes in the law or court as instructed by court administrator/assistant administrator.

Supervises the processing and docketing of legal documents and files in the court, and the issuance of documents for arrest warrants, summons, and commitments.

Supervises the providing of written and verbal technical information to the public. Personally, answers unique questions which subordinates cannot answer. Receives, investigates, and forwards the public’s complaints and problems to court administrator/assistant administrator.

Participates in the preparation of District Court goals and objectives.

Reports confidential departmental information, and/or personnel and payroll information to court administrator/assistant administrator.

Maintains necessary records, compiles statistics, and prepares reports as assigned or required.

Acts as in-court criminal clerk and processes criminal cases after court case is completed.

SUPERVISORY:

This position has supervisory responsibilities over employees assigned to the Mount Vernon Municipal Court in the absence of the administrator or assistant administrator.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:

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 G.E.D
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration and management
• 2 years’ experience in professional supervisory position within the criminal justice system is preferred.

REQUIRES KNOWLEDGE OF:

• The field of assignment sufficient to perform completely and accurately the full scope of responsibility as illustrated by example in this position description, in addition to those essential functions of a CSA III.
• The principles and practices of management.
• State laws governing the operation of district/municipal court procedures and document processing.
• District court rules and procedures.
• Local court rules, legal procedures, and terminology as well as keeping up-to-date with legislative changes affecting District/Municipal court.
• Microsoft windows and word processing.
• Advanced accounting skills or bookkeeping, which must meet state auditor requirements.
• The Judicial Information System.

REQUIRES THE ABILITY TO:

• Plan, coordinate, supervise, and assist in evaluating the work of subordinate employees.
• Read, interpret, and apply laws, rules, codes, and procedures governing case processing and/or courtroom procedures. Identify procedural problems and recommend solutions.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with superiors, peers, associates, subordinates, and the general public.
• Maintain necessary records and prepare required reports.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with people regardless of age, sex, social, economic, or cultural background including persons with social or behavioral problems.
• Communicate with litigants in both supportive and confrontive modes.
• Work with minimal supervision.
• Cope with stressful or emergency situations calmly and effectively.
• Make decisions under pressure.
• Prioritize critical tasks in a high workload environment with potential legal/liability consequences.
• Multitask.
• Deal with negative, disgruntled, and irate customers.
• Work with constant interruptions which require an immediate decision while completing regular day to day tasks.
• Be analytical and conceptual.
• Be logical and intuitive.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Work is performed primarily in an office or courtroom environment. Extended periods of sitting at the computer requiring repetitive keystroking. Also requires standing, bending, reaching, twisting, kneeling, walking, and lifting up to 50 pounds.

HAZARDS:

Those present in a normal office environment. A physical hazard may occur from agitated defendants awaiting trial, or during trials or hearings, as well as from the general public with threats either verbal, physical or with weapons and exposure to germs from dealing with the public.

SELECTION PROCESS:

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. American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Notice: Individuals, who need an ADA accommodation to complete the application, test or interview process, please call: [phone].

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.