Deputy Clerk of the SJC (#230)

DEPUTY CLERK OF THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT

STATE OF MAINE JUDICIAL BRANCH

LOCATION: Cumberland County, Portland

The State of Maine Judicial Branch welcomes motivated team members to join us in serving the communities of Maine within the court system. The Judicial Branch plays a very important role in our communities by providing a safe, accessible, efficient, and impartial system of dispute resolution. Judicial Branch employees all support this mission, in their various roles.  We have 31 courts across the state and process over 130,000 cases each year in support of Maine’s almost 1.4 million residents.

The Job:

This is a highly responsible technical, administrative, and public relations position that is responsible, under the direction of the Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court, for the daily processing of matters before the Law Court and the Supreme Judicial Court, and for assisting the Clerk with managing the operation of the Clerk’s office and with the Clerk’s duties as Executive Clerk to the Supreme Judicial Court and Reporter of Decisions. The Deputy Clerk will interact with lawyers, the public, and a variety of state-government employees in a professional and courteous manner. The Deputy Clerk will act as the Clerk in the Clerk’s absence.

Some statewide travel required.

Salary Range: 

Grade 14, $28.48 to $37.12 per hour. 

What We Offer:

At the Maine Judicial Branch, we value our employees, which is why we offer great benefits. In addition to competitive pay, we provide:

• Work-life balance: 13 paid holidays, 2 weeks of vacation leave, and 12 paid sick days every year.
• Paid Parental Leave: 4 weeks
• Gym membership and childcare reimbursement programs
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
• Health insurance coverage (85%-100% employer-paid for employee-only plan)
• Health insurance premium credit (5% decrease in employee premiums)
• Dental insurance (100% employer-paid for employee-only plan)
• Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Defined Benefit Pension plan contributions
• Voluntary deferred compensation (retirement savings 457 Plan)
• Up to $1000 Tuition Reimbursement each year
• Employer-paid life insurance (1x annual salary)
• Additional wellness benefits

Responsibilities:

• Examines and prioritizes incoming mail and filings, and routes documents to appropriate people.

• Reviews new appeals for timeliness and other justiciability issues.

• Reviews adequacy of motions, records, and briefs filed with the Court.

• Reviews decisions and orders of the Court for spelling, grammar, and citation format.

• Reviews draft rules and maintains electronic versions of rules.

• Performs general research as requested by the Clerk, law clerks, or justices.

• Indexes, dockets, files, and distributes all materials concerning appeals before the Law Court.

• Indexes, dockets, files, and distributes all materials concerning matters before the Supreme Judicial Court, such as bar discipline matters, proposed rule amendments, requests for advisory opinions, and committee reports.

• Tracks and follows up on overdue or incomplete records, transcripts, briefs, petitions, memoranda, and other filings, and otherwise ensures that appeals and other matters are progressing expeditiously.

• Assists Clerk with scheduling and assignment of cases.

• Assists Clerk in posting information on and otherwise maintaining the SJC’s pages on the Judicial Branch website, including the pages with schedules, high-profile cases, briefs, decisions, and rules.

• Prepares Law Court opinions for publication.

• Assists Clerk with communicating and reporting decisions of the Law Court and Supreme Judicial Court to interested parties.

• Issues and mails procedural orders and Supreme Judicial Court orders.

• Reviews opinions published by official publisher and other major publishers for accuracy and agreement with Court’s official opinion.

• Maintains files and distributes rules, amendments, administrative orders, committee charters and appointments, and other documents relating to supervisory authority over Superior, District, and Probate Courts and to other governmental committees to which the Chief Justice or the Court makes appointments.

• Answers mail, incoming calls, and in-person questions from court staff, other courts, attorneys, parties, and the public regarding the Court, matters pending before the Court, appellate procedure, and the procedure for matters before the Supreme Judicial Court.

• Serves as courtroom clerk and crier and livestreams oral arguments and other courtroom proceedings.

• Edits audio and video of oral arguments and other courtroom proceedings for posting on the Judicial Branch website and YouTube.

• Handles and processes fees, costs, and other funds paid to or through the Court.

• Performs various administrative duties, including monitoring supplies and forms, conducting inventory of assets, and maintains books, ledgers, and accounts, as necessary.

• Returns materials to trial courts after appeals are concluded.

• Prepares and submits all required reports.

• Assists Clerk with e-mailing decisions and public notices to counsel, parties, trial judges, judicial branch personnel, and the public on the day of publication, and informs publishers of opinions ready for final publication.

• Drafts errata sheets and revisions to opinions to correct errors noticed after publication, and notifies publishers of the revisions.

• Assists Clerk with the distribution of briefs in closed cases.

• Assists Clerk with publishing of public notices, including notices inviting amicus briefs and comments on proposed rules.

• Attests orders and other documents as required.

• Makes recommendations for improvements to court rules and administrative orders.

• Makes recommendations for improvements in the managing of the office, and in case management and processing, to the Clerk of the Law Court.

• Assists Clerk with management of office and with other tasks as directed.

• Assists Clerk in Clerk’s role as librarian for the Judicial Branch.

We’re Looking For:

• Associate’s degree.  Bachelor’s degree preferred.

• At least two years’ experience in a legal office.  Two years’ experience in a court clerk’s office preferred.

• Knowledge of court procedures and legal documents pertaining to the Law Court and the Supreme Judicial Court.

• Knowledge of the organization, functions, and responsibilities of the Supreme Judicial Court and the trial courts.

• Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures followed by trial court clerks’ offices in relation to appeals.

• Knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

• Ability to organize and index voluminous and complex records.

• Ability to interact effectively and courteously with the public, judges, clerks, attorneys, and others in a variety of situations and circumstances.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to remain professional and helpful in difficult settings.

• Ability to operate and maintain various courtroom technologies, such as courtroom sound systems, assistive listening devices, computers, cameras, interactive video systems, and other related courtroom technology.

• Ability to learn detailed computer applications, including audio and video streaming, recording, and editing software.

• Ability to complete work with accurate attention to detail.

• Ability to engage in multiple tasks simultaneously, both high level and ministerial, while maintaining a calm and appropriate demeanor.

• Ability to organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical deadlines.

• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and courteously, orally and in writing.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of Supreme Judicial Court and Judicial Branch information.

How to Apply:

Cover letter, resume, and online application must be submitted online at https://www.courts.maine.gov/about/jobs.html.  

The Judicial Branch is an EEO/AA employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $28.48 - $37.12 per year

Salary : $28 - $37