Tribunal Judge - Archdiocese of Washington

• This position works cooperatively with the Judicial Vicar and other Tribunal staff members, primarily conducting canonical processes, instructing and deciding marriage cases in the First and Second Instances, and writing judicial sentences.
• Instruct cases and conduct interviews of petitioners, respondents, and witnesses.
• Write decrees, intermediary vota, and other documents as necessary.
• Prepare appeal cases and submit the cases to the appropriate Tribunal.
• Serves as an assessor for penal cases.
• Provide canonical advice and counsel to all the parishes and faithful from the archdiocese.
• Pursues ongoing formation in doctrine and jurisprudence.
• Participate in regular Tribunal staff meetings, educational sessions, and events.
• Resolve problems within the scope of authority and responsibility to ensure completeness and compliance with canonical norms.
• Assume responsibilities in other canon law areas as appropriate and as directed.
• Performs other Tribunal-related duties as assigned by the Judicial Vicar and the Secretary for Canonical Services.

Qualifications

Education

• Licentiate in Canon Law (J.C.L) required.
• A minimum of three years of Tribunal experience is required, particularly in substantive and procedural penal law.
• Able to work with clients from multicultural backgrounds is required.
• Bilingual Spanish-speaking preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Practicing Catholic in good standing with knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Church and its mission.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well with Tribunal staff and others.
• Strong commitment to confidentiality.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize work effectively and efficiently.
• High level of professional maturity, integrity, and a strong work ethic.
• Attention to detail and exceptional quality of work.
• Ability to efficiently multi-task and handle interruptions.
• Ability to adapt to changes in routine or schedule.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work independently with limited supervision.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to compose letters, reports, and briefs.
• Excellent telephone and email communication etiquette.
• High emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills to communicate professionally, pleasantly, compassionately, and effectively with clients.
• Excellent ability to interact and work pleasantly, respectfully, and effectively with Tribunal personnel and other archdiocesan offices.
• Ability to present oneself professionally.
• Ability to properly represent the Tribunal to those who call, write, or visit.
• Ability to interact with individuals who may be very emotional, distraught, or hostile.
• Accepts constructive criticism well and strives to improve.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen.
• The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and use hands and fingers to handle, feel, and reach with hands and arms.
• The employee will occasionally be required to bend and carry light- to medium-weight items such as supplies and program material.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This is a full-time 40-hour per-week position.

All the above duties and responsibilities require in-office presence.