Operations Specialist

Overview of the Position The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is now accepting applications for up to five Operations Specialists at the entry level with promotional potential upon successful training up to the target grade. Consideration will only be given to those who apply through the Court’s online applicant tracking system and submit a cover letter, resume, and two professional references.

To apply, please see the “Notice to Applicants” section listed below. Applicants who previously applied for the Operations Specialist (2026‑20) will be considered and do not have to re‑apply.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is currently accepting applications for up to five Operations Specialist at the entry level (CL‑24) with potential growth to the target grade (CL‑26). This position offers the potential to advance within the Clerk’s Office. An entry level Operations Specialist performs a wide range of duties including receiving payments, assigning cases, and screening mail.

Once trained at the entry level, an Operations Specialist advances to the docketing and auditing of case filings. Once fully trained in docketing and auditing, an Operations Specialist can apply to learn how to work as a courtroom deputy, supporting judges by attending court proceedings, recording pertinent results for minutes, and managing case documents. Advancement is based on an employee’s initiative and mastery of the required skills, and spending at least one year at the grade that the employee was hired into.

This position offers excellent opportunities for advancement, career growth, and work‑life balance.

At the CL 24 level

• Receives payments and balances monies collected from customers in the form of cash/checks for bonds, fines, and fees; deposits funds collected pursuant to the court’s policy and procedures.
• Issues invoices based on services requested.
• Reconciles and deposits money received by the court. Complies with internal controls.
• Works in mailroom picking up, sorting, delivering, and metering mail.
• Verifies that attorneys are admitted to practice before the court; provides files or copies of documents upon request.
• Assigns new civil and criminal cases.
• Processes indictments, prisoner correspondence, and requests for certified copies; assigns case numbers and judges; responds to attorney certificate requests, scans documents to be placed on the record.
• Monitors and processes requests from a variety of email inboxes.
• Dockets entries in the court’s Case Management/Electronic Case Files system (CM/ECF), and reviews electronic entries for accuracy and necessary follow up.

At the CL 25 level

• Prepares and issues summons/writs, notices, judgments and orders; makes summary entries of pleadings, petitions, motions, complaints, minute orders, and proceedings in CM/ECF.
• Answers inquiries about the status of cases; assists the public by answering case‑related inquiries and provides electronic filing assistance in a customer‑friendly manner.
• Enters documents on the record, and audits documents placed by others (attorneys and court staff) on the record to ensure that they conform with court guidelines and requirements. Ensures that all filings and motions conform to federal and local rules of practice; files documents; scans documents; opens cases upon receipt of initiating documents, such as complaints, indictments, or petitions.
• Closes cases upon receipt of terminating documents, such as judgments and closing orders.
• Audits electronic filings and provides feedback to customers; audits internal documents and ensures necessary follow‑up; and assigns judges to cases.
• Processes sealed materials and sealed access as required.

At the CL 26 level

• Assists with the orderly flow of court proceedings including, but not limited to, setting up the courtroom, ensuring the presence of all necessary participants, managing the exhibits and taking notes of proceedings, rulings, and preparing minute entries.
• Maintains the control of cases assigned to the judge.
• Examines all papers filed in an action assigned to the judge to determine whether they conform to the rules of…