What are the responsibilities and job description for the Conciliation Court Referee - 4th District position at Minnesota Judicial Branch?
Duties, Requirements and Responsibilities:
- Serves at the pleasure of the Chief Judge or designee
- Exercises all the duties and powers granted to a Conciliation Court Referee by M.S.A. 491A.03, Subdivision 1
- Familiarity with M.S.A. 491A.01 through 491.03
- Prohibits broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs in the courtroom or virtual hearing during sessions of Conciliation Court or recesses
- Prioritizes assignments and disposes promptly of the business of Conciliation Court
- Affords every party in a proceeding the full right to be heard according to law and maintains compliance with Rule 2.9 of the Code of Judicial Conduct
- Presides over assigned hearings; reviews court calendars before scheduled sessions of court; grants continuances; reads or listens to allegations and determines if action is supported by facts; hears and evaluates evidence of witnesses and technical experts; listens to presentation of case; and rules on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.
- Carries out work assignments with a substantial degree of discretion and independent judgment in accordance with applicable state laws, rules of court and local practices
- Perform legal research if needed
- Ability to learn, adapt, and utilize technology in operation of electronic devices
- Compliance with the Code of Judicial Conduct as adopted by the MN Supreme Court
- Refrains from making any extra-judicial public statements about pending proceedings
- Conciliation Court referees shall not serve as a lawyer in the County’s conciliation court for which they serve, nor as a lawyer in any appeals from judgments originating from the County’s conciliation court for which they serve
- Prepares orders that meet Judicial Branch standards
- Maintains order and decorum in all proceedings and treats all parties with courtesy and respect
- Advises litigants that they will be notified by mail of the Conciliation Court Referee's decision
Minimum qualifications:
- Must be a licensed attorney in the State of Minnesota
- Must have at least five years of experience as a practicing attorney
- Must be in good standing and have no disciplinary actions within the past 5 years
- Must reside or maintain an office in or near the 4 th Judicial District.
- May not have a client base that would create a frequent conflict in the type of cases most commonly heard in conciliation court (e.g. credit card debt, landlord tenant)
- Must pass background check(s)
Preferred qualifications:
- Civil litigation experience
- Possesses experience, knowledge and comfort with technology and electronic records
- Work well under pressure with demonstrated time management and problem-solving efficiencies
- Attention to detail and ability to foster cooperations with effective interpersonal skills
Service and Compensation:
- Must not cancel a scheduled assignment more than twice in a twelve-month period
- Will be compensated in the amount of $75 per half day court session; or if waived, a parking fee reimbursement may be requested
- Typical scheduling for this work is one morning calendar or one afternoon calendar, with a potential for both in the same day
- Time to complete a calendar depends upon the number of cases assigned, but typically, should not exceed three hours
- Must serve at least once every three months
Please note that these are contractor positions with the Fourth Judicial District. Candidates contracted for these opportunities will not be employees of the Minnesota Judicial Branch. They will be compensated on a contractual, per-diem basis, at the rate of $75.00 per half day, and they are excluded from eligibility of benefits available to MJB employees. The engagement of Conciliation Court Referees is governed by Minnesota Statute 491A.03 .
Employer Description
Why Work for Us?
Minnesota Judicial Branch employees consistently express pride in their public service and in the quality of programs and services provided to customers, as well as appreciation for the teamwork and collaboration that is promoted within the MJB. We celebrate and are committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and actively seek and value diversity in professional background and cultural characteristics. We are intentional and mindful about the organizational culture we are building, seeking broad-minded individuals with robust capabilities who value supporting one another’s growth.
Equal Employment Opportunity
It is the policy of the Minnesota Judicial Branch that all decisions regarding employment are made without discrimination on the basis of disability. Please let us know if you need a reasonable accommodation for a disability to participate in the employee selection process by contacting Human Resources at 4th.Human.Resources@courts.state.mn.us . The Minnesota Judicial Branch is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Minnesota Judicial Branch that all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, promotions, and other terms and conditions of employment be made without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, disability, sexual orientation, or age. We value and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds.
Salary : $75
