What are the responsibilities and job description for the Probate Court Magistrate position at Portage County Ohio?
JOB PURPOSE
The Probate Magistrate is responsible for presiding over probate court proceedings, ensuring the fair and efficient administration of justice in matters related to estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, and conservatorships. This role involves interpreting and applying relevant laws, overseeing case management, and issuing legal rulings while maintaining judicial impartiality. The Probate Magistrate works to protect the rights of all parties involved, guiding families and individuals through complex legal processes with professionalism and empathy.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty listed below:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty listed below:
- Preside over all probate hearings. Hearing types include but are not limited to guardianship hearings, accounts hearings and estate hearings. Accept and evaluate evidence in accordance with established rules of evidence, hear testimony, facts and arguments, rule on objections, and apply statutes and case law. Rule on motions and make determinations. Maintain fairness and impartiality and write legally defensible decisions.
- Research case law, statutes, secondary legal sources, local/evidentiary rules and proposed legislation using hard-copy and computerized research materials and analyze legal decisions, cases and documents.
- Conduct conferences to facilitate settlement of cases or issues. Mediate with parties to assist in reaching agreements.
- Control and maintain courtroom procedure and conduct on part of attorneys and litigants. Monitor, manage and control hearing times to ensure that cases are heard in a timely manner.
- Conduct trials and motion hearings pursuant to Rule 53, Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure.
- File all decisions as soon as possible and time allows upon the conclusion of the trial.
- Issues orders regarding discovery, case scheduling and related pretrial matters.
- Performs duties as the workload dictates to maintain the standards and integrity of the Court.
- Writing articles for local bar publications.
- Speaking to schools and community groups presenting seminars to promote public relations and judicial system.
