Jury Administrator

Job Summary:

Responsible for the overall management and oversight of the day-to-day operations of Jury Administration.   Performs a variety of administrative and clerical tasks to ensure jury records are up-to-date.  Summons and empanels jurors and conducts orientation. Responsible for juror check-in, parking validation and seating.  Validates daily attendance. Distributes juror payments, participation certificates and exit questionnaires.  Ensures jurors are comfortable and their needs are met during a jury trial.

The duties and responsibilities in this Job Description are not a comprehensive list and Buchanan County reserves the right to assign, reassign or eliminate the duties and responsibilities of this job either orally or in writing. The scope of the job may be changed at any time due to reasonable accommodations or other reasons deemed appropriate by the County. This Job Description does not constitute an Employment Agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change, according to the business needs of Buchanan County.

Passing of a drug screening required prior to appointment

Passing of a background check prior to appointment

Buchanan County is an

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supervises, schedules and trains part-time jury administrator in all activities associated with jury management.
• Assigns tasks, provides direction, reviews work and ensures work complies with statutes and guidelines.
• Assists participants in the completion of jury questionnaires via Juror Portal
• Responds to requests of prospective jurors to be postponed, excused or disqualified from jury service and processes documentation to validate their request
• Submits requests to the Presiding Judge for review
• Monitors court calendars and dockets to confirm upcoming trials and contacts court clerks to validate trials that have been continued, dismissed or settled
• Communicates professionally and appropriately with judges, attorneys, jurors and the general public
• Pre-screen participants if necessary to avoid impaneling jurors whose employer may be involved in the case
• Updates the jury hotline and www.5thcircuit.net website with the date, time and participant numbers that must report for jury service 
• Summons and impanels jurors for trials in Division 1 – 6
• Provides Available Participant Listing, Bio forms and courtroom seating chart to all parties involved, including attorneys, division clerk and judge
• Responsible for the preparation of orientation materials and supplies
• Conducts orientation to a large group of prospective jurors to prepare them for their service
• Responsible for participant check-in and parking validation
• Provides judge, attorneys, court reporter and court marshal with jury list that coordinates with seating chart
• Escorts jurors to appropriate courtroom for voir dire and seats them according to the seating chart
• Releases remaining jurors by collecting badge holders and providing work verification forms to those excused
• Monitors status of jury trials to ensure panels are properly supplied by replenishing refreshments and ensures jurors’ needs are met each day during a trial
• Validates daily juror attendance of those impaneled
• Distributes juror payments, attendance certificates and juror exit questionnaires
• Maintains accurate jury records and makes corrections as needed 
• Submits receipts and invoices for juror related expenses
• Prepares monthly jury trial report for the Secretary to the Presiding Judge
• Advise of prior and persistent non-compliant jurors so an Order To Show Cause Letter can be filed with the Court and served to the juror who repeatedly failed to appear.   Attends OTSC court hearing and reschedules jurors who failed to appear for jury duty
• Mails postcards to jurors who did not respond to the jury questionnaire
• Processes mail, takes phone calls and returns messages
• Completes data entry in the jury system and updates records
• Scans and uploads documentation into the jury system
• Sends and responds to emails regarding jury trials
• Stocks and replenishes supplies prior to jury trials
• Attends training sessions relating to the jury system and stays well-informed of any changes, making recommendations as necessary
• Maintains responsibility for ensuring that office equipment is in good working order or requests assistance with equipment that needs repair
• Employee adheres to county payroll policies when clocking in and out, using leave and earning compensatory time
• Dresses professionally and appropriately for daily work and jury trials

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Operate office equipment, including but not limited to:  computer, printer, copier, phone, fax, scanner and other standard equipment 
• Perform all other duties as assigned

Education/Experience:

Minimum qualifications include a high school diploma or equivalent with computer and data entry experience preferred.  Must have knowledge of Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point).

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing
• Speak comfortably in front of a large group of people in a professional manner
• Communicate in a professional and effective manner with other employees, court professionals and the public.  Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Deal with conflict in a professional and appropriate manner
• Diligent in following procedures required in jury selection 
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, and spelling
• Adhere to business dress code and be courtroom presentable at all times 
• Skill in handling stressful situations successfully 
• Skill in discretion and maintaining confidentiality of court documents and records
• Ability to work independently and follow instructions
• Ability to learn and apply policies, procedures, and statutes to jury management
• Ability to maintain a high level of accuracy and attention to detail 
• Possess excellent administrative and organizational skills
• Exhibits reliability and commitment to good work ethic

Working Environment/Physical Requirements:

The majority of work is performed in a professional office setting and is generally sedentary. However, the employee must also be able to climb several flights of stairs to escort jurors from the jury assembly room in the basement to the courtrooms on the third floor.  The employee converses verbally with others in person, by telephone and via the internet.  They must be able to read printed materials and a computer screen as well as correspond via email.   

Employee Behavior and Conduct:

County employees shall conduct themselves in a professional manner. Employees should respect their colleagues, and extend courtesy to those with whom they come in contact both internally and externally during the performance of their job duties.  Employees should expect to deal with difficult people at times and prepare to respond in a professional manner.