Court Attendant

The Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, seeks well-qualified and detail-oriented candidates for the Court Attendant position. This recruitment will be used to fill current and future vacancies throughout the Court and various districts in the County of San Bernardino.

• Be the VOICE for the courtroom. Ensure a safe environment in the courtroom by maintaining order, reporting issues to appropriate personnel, and managing the public audience.
• Apply technical knowledge with the ability to prepare and troubleshoot audio and visual equipment before court hearings and effectively use various software applications to support court functions.
• Provide emergency assistance while remaining calm and composed in stressful environments.
• Effectively multitask under stressful situations, maintaining composure and performing all duties accurately and efficiently.

1. Applications will be reviewed to identify candidates with minimum qualifications and/or desirables. Only those who meet the minimum qualifications and/or desirables (if applicable) will proceed to the next step in the recruitment process.
2. Candidates' supplemental question responses may be evaluated and ranked.
3. Candidates who are successful in step 2 will be invited to complete a written assessment (dates are subject to change due to availability).
4. Candidates who are successful in step 3 will be placed on the eligible list and may be considered for interviews (Placement on the eligible list does not guarantee an interview or employment).

Under general supervision, maintains the order and safety of the Judicial Officer, courtroom staff, jurors and spectators in a fulltime limited and unlimited, assigned civil or probate courtroom and performs specialized and responsible technical and administrative case-processing support functions; maintains the integrity of the jury; serves as the court liaison for juries, witnesses, attorneys, case parties and the public; monitors court surroundings; and performs related clerical and security duties as required.

Distinguishing Characteristics
A Court Attendant assists the court in operating effectively and efficiently, including maintaining the safety and security of the courtroom, ensuring the physical integrity of the jury, maintaining order in the court and performing difficult and responsible court operations support functions to ensure that court policies and procedures are followed. Duties and responsibilities are carried out with considerable independence within a framework of established policies and procedures.

Court Attendant is distinguished from the Judicial Assistant series in that the latter acts as the primary clerical support for courtroom procedures, functions and activities with responsibility for recording minutes of proceedings, swearing in juries, witnesses, interpreters and other related parties, and providing primary care of exhibits and evidence.

Employees in this class typically report to an Operations Supervisor I, Operations Supervisor II or other supervisory or management classification.

Typical duties of a Court Attendant may include, but are not limited to:

1. Performs pre-court searches of courtroom and surrounding areas prior to morning and afternoon sessions; identifies hazardous/suspicious items or conditions and reports security violations to the sheriff or other appropriate personnel; uses alarm buttons or radio communications for emergencies.
2. Sets up audio/visual equipment prior to court session; aids attorneys in the use of equipment and reports any technical issues to appropriate staff; handles ADA requests and provides help with equipment when required.
3. Opens court sessions and maintains order while court is in session by carefully monitoring juror, litigant, spectator, witness and attorney demeanor and actions and anticipating and taking prompt, appropriate actions to address potential disturbances, including notifying the sheriff's office as required; provides emergency assistance by administering first aid and CPR and by contacting appropriate personnel or agencies in emergency situations; administers courtroom evacuation procedures; completes related reports and forms, including incident, theft and injury reports.
4. Acts as liaison with jurors and takes charge of the jury; greets and orients jurors to appropriate courtroom decorum and procedures; provides jurors with exhibits, verdict forms, jury question forms and jury instructions as appropriate; prevents conversations between jurors and with the public, witnesses, spectators, media and the parties to cases during trials; takes jury attendance; passes out jury questionnaires; reviews questions for proper format and transports all questions in written format from jury to judge; ensures the physical integrity of the jury during trials and deliberations and ensures appropriate isolation from the public and compromising situations; during jury deliberation, remains available at all times; as necessary, coordinates refreshments and meals for jurors, gathers and secures exhibits and informs court when verdict is reached or when jury cannot reach a decision; at trial end, destroys jurors' notes.
5. In conjunction with the Judicial Assistant, accepts and processes designated materials, including documents for filing and confidential materials; returns incomplete documents; enters and retrieves documents and case data into case management databases; scans documents where appropriate; verifies accuracy of data entry; maintains inventory of case files within the courtroom; copies, posts and distributes or faxes materials, such as daily court calendar and tentative rulings; may accept fees from attorneys and process following established procedures; provides courtroom status reports; picks up, sorts and distributes courtroom mail and materials.
6. Assists parties, witnesses, the court and clerks in the handling and presentation of exhibits in court; inventories and/or delivers exhibits to and from the exhibit room or locker.
7. May assist the Judicial Assistant in locating and retrieving case files and organizing materials; assists with calendar preparation and calendar call; posts and distributes calendars; may prepare less-complex minute orders; compiles court case statistics and prepares and coordinates a variety of narrative reports and records; operates a photocopier, fax machine and other office machines including scanners and personal computers.
8. Answers telephones and assists the public by providing general information pertaining to courtroom procedures in a courteous and service-oriented manner; directs members of the media to appropriate area or personnel.
9. Ensures efficient courtroom operations; regularly operates and monitors courtroom equipment; identifies and notifies maintenance or custodial services to ensure that courtroom issues are promptly addressed; monitors, maintains inventory of and orders courtroom supplies and equipment.
10. Attends various meetings.
11. Performs other duties as assigned.

• General functions and organization of the judicial system, including the various divisions of the court;
• State and local statutes and Rules of Court that govern general court operations, as applicable to areas of assigned responsibility;
• Codes, local rules, procedures and legal terminology applicable to the preparation, acceptance, processing and distribution of legal documents;
• Correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation;
• Safety and security policies, procedures, measures and precautions;
• First aid, terminology and procedures, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures;
• Appropriate courtroom decorum;
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including recordkeeping and filing;
• State regulations and court policies and procedures regarding jury service, including attendance, supervision and impanelment;
• Regulations and procedures governing the disclosure of court records and documents;
• Use and operations of automated case management systems;
• Case and file records research methods and techniques;
• Principles and practices of customer service and telephone etiquette.

• Observe situations, identify when to react, and determine an appropriate course of action without a supervisor present;
• Maintain order and silence in a courtroom;
• Listen and obtain accurate and complete information from Judicial Officers, court staff, attorneys, jurors and other personnel to identify and appropriately respond to their needs;
• Use good judgment and interpersonal skills in the courtroom to mediate and diffuse disputes;
• Read, understand and explain legal documents and verify their completeness and accuracy in accordance with applicable procedures;
• Operate a computer and use standard business and complex operations support software with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency;
• Maintain confidentiality of Court documents and records;
• Set priorities and exercise independent judgment within areas of responsibility;
• Understand, interpret, explain and apply rules, regulations, statutes, and procedures;
• Represent the court effectively in dealings with the public;
• Use tact and diplomacy when dealing with sensitive, complex and/or confidential issues and situations;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.

Salary : $52,851 - $67,429