Court Clerk - Justice of the Peace #2

SUMMARY: The purpose of this position is to assist the public by processing criminal, civil and traffic cases; maintain court docket(s); collect fees and provide clerical support to the Justice of the Peace Office. This is accomplished by providing customer service in person and over phone, processing citations and performing data entry related to case management, court information and collecting fees.

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provides clerical support and customer service in person and on the telephone; types/creates correspondence and forms; posts weekly dockets; notarizes documents; witnesses signatures; performs10-key calculations; files, copies and faxes documents; assists the public with navigating the website; clears court licensing holds; communicates with Judge regarding daily operations.
• Provides court support by preparing the court room before trials; ensures doors are open and seats are available for plaintiffs and defendants; for district attorney and judge, organizes cases in order to be heard; enters dispositions; makes copies; provides customer service to attendees at trial.
• Processes citations from Rockwall Sheriff's Office and Department of Public Safety, constable and sometimes game warden; processes civil suits, evictions, small claims, debt claims, and magistrations; emergency protective orders, inquests, mental commitments, interlock, bench warrants, criminal and traffic warrants; maintains and stores all criminal and traffic case records and all other related paperwork such as receipts and open records requests.
• Prepares cases for hearings; pretrial; attorney docket; bond hearings; show cause hearings; prepares for jury trials and trials by court; prepares court docket by setting cases for hearings and summoning defendants, attorneys and bonding agencies; sends notices for pretrial, bond, jury trial, trial by court, attorney docket, minor court and show cause hearings.
• Processes payments for citations and civil suits by phone, electronically and in person; requires data entry of citations, pleas, deferred applications, and emergency protective orders.
• Issues warrants for cases; generates reports of past due cases and cases in warrant status to send to collections and the Texas Department of Public Safety Failure to Appear Program; sends out warrant notifications on past due cases.
• Intakes, processes and tracks Juvenile pre-trial diversion cases as required by law.
• Prepares cases for warrant; prints warrants; copies warrants and citations for the Sheriff's office; clears warrants after receipt of bond or payment; recalls warrants from the Sheriff's office as requested.
• Provides proper notifications regarding emergency protective orders to victims; schools and police agencies and the Texas Protective Order Registry.
• Processes bi-weekly deposits by balancing checks and money; prepares 10-key tapes and deposit slips for the treasurer's office and picks up checks requested by the court for bond refunds.
• Acts as truancy clerk by entering complaints into the software system; prepares the citation for the constable to serve to the student and the parent; provides court date notifications; prepares file for scheduled court date; assists Judge in court room during hearings.
• Attends annual training to maintain knowledge of rules and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

 

SUPERVISORY/BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position has no supervisory or budget responsibility.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the legal and justice court processes and procedures.
• Knowledge of content and purpose of various documents processed in the court.
• Ability to maintain clerical records and provide reporting for such records.
• Ability to provide customer service with tact, courtesy and discretion with disruptive customers.
• Ability to use computer for data entry and accounting purposes.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft office products such as Excel, Word and Outlook; knowledge of computer software such as Odyssey Enterprise Justice and JMS.
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.
• Ability to make decisions in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Ability to effectively interact with staff and other departments.
• Ability to operate a 10-key calculator.
• Ability to obtain court certification.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School diploma or equivalent experience.
• Job related experience.
• Experience with personal computer, Microsoft Word and other office equipment.
• Bi-lingual preferred but not required.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Position is located in an office environment with little or no exposure to environmental conditions. Health and safety hazards are minimal. No protective equipment is required. Fine dexterity, hearing, talking and vision are constantly required. Frequently sitting, reaching, handling, pushing and pulling are required. Occasional standing, walking, lifting, carrying, kneeling, and bending are required.

 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screen.
• Must successfully complete a background investigation.
• Additional background and fingerprinting may be required.