Court Clerk III

Department: Courthouse
Supervisor: Criminal Supervisor/Director
Supervision Exercised: None
Exempt Status: Hourly
Benefits Eligibility Status: Eligible
BOCC Approval: 11/19/2024

SUMMARY

Performs a variety of complex and unique legal clerical services that requires proficient and
responsible application of specialized or technical knowledge and experience. Provides varied,
complex, and often confidential liaison communication and clerical assistance to the Judges;
employs independent judgment in the resolution of problems. Requires considerable judgment
to work independently towards generally defined results, modifying or adapting to procedures
to meet conditions, and makes decisions based on precedent and organizational policies. This
position requires considerable responsibility and confidentiality.

The Court Clerk III is a position that assists in the successful operation of the courthouse. Work
involves a wide diversity of situations where regular independent judgment is required to
determine practices and procedures and contribute to new concepts. Works independently
with limited supervision, under the general direction of the Judges and Criminal Supervisor.
Communicates frequently with others throughout the department, other county and state
departments, and others outside the organizations. Work has a definite impact on the
operations of the courthouse. Work is typically performed in an office environment with
significant intermittent stress due to deadlines. Does not typically involve travel outside the
local area.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following duties and responsibilities
which are not listed in any particular order of priority and may be amended or added to by the
County at any time:

• Prepares complex criminal documents, which include but are not limited to Orders,

Judgments, Notices, Warrants, Summons, correspondence, and other documents at the
direction of the court and/or as required based on processes and procedures.

• Prepares for the successful operation of all court sessions, including but not limited to

preparation of anticipated Orders, Notices, No Contact Orders, and Warrants, and
assuring that all necessary filings have been received in order for the court session to
proceed. Reviews charging documents to assure charging codes match state-approved
code sections. Reviews all submitted court exhibits to determine that they are properly
identified and marked. Communicates with law firms/attorneys if discrepancies are
identified, in order that they may be rectified.

Bonner County

• Performs clerical assistance during court sessions, including, but not limited to

operation of the digital recording system and creating court minutes for the official
record. Administers the oath to witnesses, marks and maintains evidence and exhibits,
prepares documents as directed by the judge, provides judge with future court dates,
assists in maintaining courtroom decorum, and actively participates in the flow of in-
court case matters, in coordination with the judge.

• Reviews the court session, upon completion to assure accuracy of the official record.

Assures all orders and other documentation are timely distributed to all parties and
outside agencies. Prepares any follow-up criminal or civil documents as may be
required due to the outcome of the proceedings.

• Responsible for tracking and scheduling hearings required for the timely progress of all

felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile cases, as required pursuant to State statutes and
rules. Must multi-task and must retain numerous details of processes that regularly
change due to modifications in the law and/or rules.

• Performs a variety of complex technical duties involving interwoven data entry tasks,

entering critical data into the statewide case management system, and attaching
paperwork to files in preparation and response to court hearings, interim and final court
orders, and all manner of paperwork generated to process the caseload for the assigned
resident judge, out-of-county judges, and senior judges.

• Assists in maintaining the official court record. File stamps documents to show an

official date that determines whether matters meet statutory time limits therefore
permitting them to be heard, when they are to be heard, if an appeal will be considered,
etc. Schedules court hearings. Does required data entry for the official record,
including entering Event details as part of the case’s permanent record. Distributes
paperwork to counsel and parties.

• Performs a wide variety of complex and diverse duties in and out of court requiring

independent judgment and a full knowledge and understanding of legal terminology and
court procedures. Processes time sensitive legal matters. Properly routes files to judges
or staff as needed according to the type of file and the type of process needed at that
particular time of case progression for that particular file.

• Assists customers in person, by phone, email, fax, and mail. Liaison with the public,

attorneys, law enforcement, and other departments both within and out of Bonner
County in all court operational matters. Coordinates with other courts on some limited
tasks due to the judges’ out-of-county caseload. This position directly represents the
court so must perform all duties in an honest and ethical manner.

• Answers questions and clarifies procedures for other support staff.
• Communicates with bailiffs, Sheriff’s office, dispatch, jail staff, and the Idaho

Department of Corrections (IDOC), over prisoner transport, security concerns, etc.
Coordinates workload with staff attorneys, court reporters, and extern, if any.

• Provides a respectful environment for the timely administration of justice. Maintains

confidentiality when handling sensitive matters. Acts with appropriate discretion.
Performs other court related tasks as required.

• Routes criminal documents, electronically filed throughout the day, to the appropriate

judge/clerk, paying particular attention to rushed or sensitive filings with deadlines.

• Processes documents received daily from the Sheriff’s office including, bonds, returned

warrants, and other documents of defendants who have posted bond, been arrested, or

Bonner County

released. Prepares and routes probable cause orders to judges on defendants who have
posted bond and prepares and issues Summons or Warrants for those defendants to
appear.

• Backs up Court Clerk IIs to provide customer service at the counter or on the phone,

answering questions, accepting filings, and taking payments. Assist Court Clerk IIs in
processing cash bond payments received over-the-counter.

• Creates new felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile cases as filed by the
• Prosecutor’s office. Prepares Summons or Warrants at the direction of the judges.

Coordinate with Sheriff’s office and Dispatch for accuracy of defendant information
prior to issuance of any Summons/Warrant.

• Assures cases are progressing pursuant to state statutes, court rules and/or state-

established time-standards.

• Collaborates with the Director and Criminal Supervisor to establish efficient work

processes in accordance with Idaho Supreme Court best business practices as well as
local practices and procedures.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

comprehend, interpret, and follow complex oral and written instructions, ability to
prepare documents, business correspondence, business memos, publications, and
information pursuant to the law and Idaho Court Rules, safety rules, court and county
policies and procedures.

• Working knowledge of legal terminology, formats, and processes is preferred.
• Proficient at drafting original orders, judgments, correspondence and memos, and a

working knowledge of good grammar, spelling, proofreading, composition and
pleading/document formats, to obtain a professionally finished product.

• Must be able to communicate orally and in writing in a logical and concise manner.
• Ability to professionally handle confidential materials and information.
• Ability to effectively present and receive information in one-on-one and large group

situations (jury pools, courtroom audiences and participants consisting of 1-100
persons).

• Professional oral and written communication skills. Ability to hear, speak, type, and

write legibly in English.

• Ability to solve practical problems requiring reasoning to deal with a variety of concrete

variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret, identify,
assess, or diagnose a variety of instructions or information furnished in written, oral,

Bonner County

diagram, or schedule form and plan approaches that respond to problems or challenges;
to adapt or modify existing systems, procedures, or methods to new situations; to find
alternative solutions by weighing alternatives and developing action plans; to prioritize
work and research information to complete work independently; to multi-task duties.

• Interruptions are frequent, expected, and routine. Must adapt to evolving work tasks

and environments.

• Expected to exercise logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions to

varying work situations lacking immediate supervision.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES & WORKING CONDITIONS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit
for extended periods of time in court, use hands to keyboard, handle or manipulate tools used
in performing the job and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift
and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision,
distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Ability to hear delayed playback on recording systems to assure court hearings are being
recorded for transcription. Must have the ability to work quickly and accurately, maintaining
efficiency while working under time pressure and deadlines. The noise level in the work
environment is moderate. There are daily exchanges with co-workers, many of whom regularly
need the judicial assistant’s services between court sessions. Must also respond on these
limited breaks from court to the public, attorneys, law enforcement, other agencies and
departments who are also accessing services by phone, mail, email, fax, in person, or via
interoffice mail. Must be prepared to remain in court for extended periods of time. While
performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to germs, bacteria, and
virus through contact with the public. They are also working with high-risk individuals (i.e.
current or former felons and mentally unstable persons) and hazardous materials in the form of
exhibits such as caustic chemicals, weapons, items with blood, etc. Many exhibits arrive
packaged to limit exposure. Commonly in court for extended periods of time with incarcerated
individuals with hygiene and behavior issues.

Disclaimer: This job description is not an employment agreement or contract, and management
reserves the right to modify it when necessary.