Judicial Assistant I

Recruitment Schedule: Written Exam is tentatively scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 and Thursday, February 27, 2025. 

All application materials must be received in NeoGov to be considered for review. Incomplete application packets will not be accepted. A resume will not be considered in lieu of a completed application. 

DEFINITION: Under immediate supervision, performs a full range of clerical and administrative duties in support of courtroom and other court operations in accordance with statutes, regulations, and established policies, procedures, and legal requirements.  DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Within this framework, Judicial Assistants are responsible for processing legal documents to ensure completeness and conformity to legal requirements. Judicial Assistants can be:

• Assigned to the clerk's office;
• Assigned to data entry in a courtroom;
• Or assigned to clerk in a courtroom which includes participating in court  proceedings in support of the judge.

Judicial Assistants may be required to explain court procedures to attorneys and the public in and outside of the courtroom. Judicial Assistants differ from Office Assistants in that only Judicial Assistants are assigned to work in the courtrooms and may be assigned to duties requiring greater knowledge of court procedures, rules and regulations. Judicial Assistant I is the entry level classification in this series. Incumbents are subject to closer supervision and review. Judicial Assistant II is the experienced level classification in this series. Incumbents are fully trained and expected to perform assignments with a minimum of supervision and review. 

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:  The information listed below is meant to serve as samples of essential job functions and responsibilities for positions in this classification. This list is neither inclusive nor exclusive, but indicative of several types of duties performed.
 
All duties are subject to limitations established in the Court Human Resources policies, guidelines, and labor contract provisions. All duties are performed in accordance with California State Law, Rules of Court, and established statutes, rules, and procedures.
 
Typical tasks:

• Receives, sorts, prepares, examines, and processes legal documents for accuracy, conformity, jurisdiction, and/or validity; certifies and issues documents which primarily occurs in the clerk's office, but may also be required in the courtroom;
• Attends court sessions and records minutes of actions and proceedings as clerk to a judge; participates in court proceedings by reading charges and recording pleas; administers oaths or affirmations to witnesses and jurors; and reads jury verdicts;
• Receives, records, marks, secures, takes custody of exhibits, and maintains control of evidence including weapons, hazardous material, and other valuable items during court proceedings;
• At the discretion of a judge, prepares and issues legal orders including but not limited to, warrants, writs, orders, petitions, subpoenas, abstracts, and other official documents on behalf of the court; and recalls warrants, prepares judgments, and dismissals;
• Copy, seals, scans, and destroys cases in accordance with established codes and court procedures;
• Impanels juries and records challenges and proceedings during jury selection; documents jury services; computes compensation due; and ensures attorneys have paid jury and court reporter fees;
• Coordinates jury room activities including jury dismissal, checking in jurors, answering questions regarding procedure, preparing panel lists, preparing jury summonses, and processing  jury pay, mileage reimbursement, and requests for excusal;
• Maintains court calendars and other relevant court case information;
• Performs clerical duties such as filing, typing, data entry, copying, scanning, assembling, and distributing legal documents;
• Operates telephone systems including screening, transferring, or referring calls;
• Operates office equipment including, but not limited to, word processors, copiers, scanners, fax machines, computer terminals, and microfiche readers;
• Sends and retrieves physical files from various court locations; boxes files; and conducts file searches;
• Without providing legal advice, assists the public, attorneys, justice partners, and court staff in person and/or by phone; provides complex procedural and other information regarding status of legal cases and case histories; and answers inquiries and explains court and legal filing procedures, processes, forms, fees, and basic Rules of Court;
• Receives, processes, and records payments of fines, fees, and other charges at the public counter or through mail; and balances a cash drawer on a daily basis;
• Maintains records of statutory time limits for rulings of submitted cases, maintains manual logs, and automated case files;
• Performs a variety of duties for limited periods of time for the purpose of professional development and/or to provide relief coverage;
• Pulls and delivers court records and documents as requested; certifies and exemplifies copies of requested records; retrieves files and assembles documents; accesses databases and court case management systems to update and retrieve information; and reviews documents for completeness;
• Processes incoming case correspondence; makes docket entries; notifies parties of orders and requests of the court; and calendars court hearings in the case management system. Functions may be performed in the clerk's office or in the courtroom;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EXPECTED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
 
As applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.

Knowledge of:

• Laws, legal codes, terminology, court procedures and rules, precedents, government regulations, and executive orders;
• Legal forms, documents, legal waivers and legal time limits, and terminology relating to all court divisions including, but not limited to, Civil, Criminal,  Family Law, Juvenile, Probate, and Traffic;
• Policies and procedures related to the division to which assigned and regulations governing the intake, maintenance, disclosure, transfer, and safeguarding of subpoenaed records, court documents, public records, court exhibits, and court related information;
• Appropriate levels of confidentiality regarding sensitive and confidential court documents and records.
• Principles of office organization, practices, and procedures including recordkeeping and filing;
• Cash handling skills and application of basic arithmetic;
• Telephone etiquette and principles of customer service;
• Office equipment, automated case management systems, and software applications;
• Well versed in the English language and the fundamental principles of spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Skills and Ability to:

• Maintain regular and consistent work hours;
• Keyboard extensively and type accurately at a minimum of 35 words per minute to perform the duties of the position;
• Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand;
• Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen and to understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences;
• Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand;
• Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing;
• Assist people of diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and temperaments;
• Respond appropriately to sensitive and/or confidential issues;
• Remain flexible while working in a high pressure environment which requires planning, organizing, prioritizing, and completing work rapidly and accurately in spite of frequent interruptions;
• Simultaneously work on multiple tasks and meet legal, procedural, and established deadlines;
• Screen and evaluate the judicial officer's correspondence, telephone calls, and visitors to ensure Judge's involvement only in * Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic form;
• Understand and be able to comprehend and apply a variety of administrative and departmental policies as well as procedures, laws, and rules;
• Effectively represent the department in situations requiring tact, diplomacy, and poise;
• Answering phones, filing court documents, or maintaining office supplies or equipment;
• Processing Information: Compiling, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data;
• Provide quality customer service, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with judicial officers, court employees, members of the public, and others encountered in the course of work.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
 
Education:
 
Level I/II: Graduation from High School or G. E.D. equivalent.
 
Experience:
 
Level I: A minimum of two years full-time clerical experience in a Court or legal office preparing or processing legal documents. Up to one year of business training in an approved school or training program can be substituted for a maximum of one year of experience. 
 
Level II: Two and one half years of increasingly responsible clerical experience in the Fresno Superior Court. One year of business training in an approved school or training program can be substituted for a maximum of one year of experience.
 
OR
 
Level I/II: Any combination of relevant experience and/or education that would demonstrate that the individual possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities as determined by the Court Executive Officer.
 
Other:
 
Level I/II: Type at a rate of 35 wpm and possess a typing certificate. The typing certificate must be from an authorized agency and must be dated within one calendar year to the closing date of the position.
 
License: A valid California class C driver's license or the ability to utilize an alternative  method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

WORKING CONDITIONS: The incumbent will primarily work in a climate-controlled office setting under artificial lighting. Incumbent may also be required to travel and occasionally may be exposed to a variety of altering weather conditions (extreme cold or hot weather).

Physical Demands:

• Strength, dexterity, coordination, and vision to use a keyboard, computer monitor, and other office equipment on a daily basis and for extended periods of time;
• Fine finger manipulation, dexterity, and coordination to handle files and single pieces of paper;
• Forceful and repetitive gripping, grasping, and pinching;
• Occasional lifting and carrying of objects weighing up to 25 lbs. such as files, stacks of paper, and other materials;
• Frequent reaching for items on shelves, above, at, and below desk/shoulder level;
• Exerts up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move, torque, twist, push, and pull objects;
• Frequently sit for extended periods; frequently stand for extended periods; and frequently walk, move, bend, stoop, lift, and stretch;
• Able to move to different locations such as, but not limited to: courtrooms, clerk's office, various departments, other court facilities, and desk assignments based on the operational needs of the Court; * Able to traverse inside and outside over uneven ground and pavement;
• Perform repetitive writing, typing, copying, filing, scanning, and document stamping;
• Employees are regularly required to verbally communicate both in person and by telephone;
• Corrected hearing and vision to normal range.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS: Convictions, depending on the type, number and date, may be disqualifying. Court employees shall be subject to a modified background investigation and fingerprinting. False statements or omission of facts regarding background or employment history may result in disqualification or dismissal.

Request for Reasonable Accommodations:   The Superior Court of California, County of Fresno is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).  Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process may contact the Human Resources Department at (559) 457-2050 or via email at hr@fresno.courts.ca.gov.  Individuals with hearing and/or speech impairments may also contact Human Resources for this position through the use of the California Relay Service by dialing 711. 

Salary : $46,114 - $65,354