Court Commissioner

• Acts as a temporary judge pursuant to stipulation of counsel or the parties;
• Conducts a daily court calendar; presides over criminal and traffic proceedings, including court and jury trials; hears, reviews, and rules on a variety of petitions, motions, and other actions; takes evidence from witnesses; makes or recommends appropriate findings, judgments, and orders; monitors and determines defendant compliance with court orders and payment schedules; issues bench warrants or driver's license or vehicle registration holds with the Department of Motor Vehicles; evaluates restitution claims;
• Prepares court documents, decisions, reports, correspondence, and other written materials pertaining to case findings and orders;
• Arraigns defendants, sets bail, accepts pleas, imposes sentence, and issues bench warrants; sets cases for hearings and trials; and conducts court and jury trials;
• Reviews court files, documents and related materials to assess cases prior to and following hearings;
• Determines eligibility or degree of financial contribution for indigent defense services and waivers of civil filing fees; eligibility for modified payment plans; eligibility for jail or community service in lieu of fines;
• Presides over proceedings in civil and small claim matters; monitors and determines litigants' compliance with court orders;
• Performs the functions of Referee of the Juvenile Court, which includes juvenile traffic matters and juvenile delinquency hearings as prescribed by the Welfare and Institution Code Sections 247, 248 and 553.
• Conducts judicial hearings in family support cases involving Title IV- D of the Social Security Act, and cases filed by the State Family Child Support Division to establish paternity and other child support- related matters. May act as a judge pro-tem in such matters, or as a commissioner making findings and recommendations subject to review by a judge of the court;
• Performs one or more of the functions of a probate commissioner, including review of pleadings and accounting in probate, guardianship, conservatorship and related matters, approves creditors' claims, ex-parte requests and other probate actions; and presides over probate proceedings as assigned;
• Presides over proceedings involving specialty courts as approved by the court, including but not limited to, Domestic Violence Court, Mental Health Court, DUI Court, Juvenile or Adult Drug Court, and Community Outreach-related Court Programs;
• Acts as a Riese Hearing Officer to hear, conduct and decide all capacity hearings requested by any persons subject to detention pursuant to Sections 5150, 5250, or 5270.15 of the California Welfare and Institution Code;
• Performs duties of rotating on-call judicial officer to include reviewing requests for pre-arraignment release, issuance of emergency protective orders, bail reviews, and any other on-call, after-hours functions required within the scope of a commissioner’s authority;
• Serves on various Court Committees as assigned by the Bench; 
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Presiding Judge.
   

• This position requires active membership in good standing in the California bar for a period of at least ten (10) years, unless inactive membership was due to previously holding the position of judge, referee, or commissioner.  
• Citizenship in the United States of America, and residency in California;
• Demonstration of relevant legal experience as deemed sufficient by the Superior Court Judges;
• Comprehensive knowledge of all applicable local, state, and federal law, including court rules and procedures;
• The ability to establish good working relationships with the Superior Court bench, members of the bar, and various governmental agencies;
• Appropriate judicial temperament and demeanor, including the ability to respond in a calm and rational manner when under pressure in difficult and unexpected situations;
• Able to travel to and from any Court assignment and be ready to promptly handle assigned calendars.

Please apply online at: http://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/info/jobs.

All questions must be answered completely; incomplete applications will not receive consideration.  

Applicants may submit additional information they wish considered in the review phase of the selection procedure as an attachment to their application, e.g. profiles printed in the Daily Journal or other legal newspapers. 

The Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma is committed to creating a diverse environment and an open, inclusive culture free from bias. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.