Court Clerk

Description Purpose/Description

The Court Clerk 3 will perform highly difficult, complex and responsible office work in the Court Services division of the Clerk’s office. Duties include but are not limited to handling complex public contact work, reviewing and processing documents for completeness, accuracy and conformance with required office practices, laws and statutes.

• Prepare and issue orders of the court, such as probation orders, release documentation, sentencing information, or summonses.
• Prepare dockets or calendars of cases to be called, using typewriters or computers.
• Record case dispositions, court orders, or arrangements made for payment of court fees.
• Prepare documents recording the outcomes of court proceedings.
• Examine legal documents submitted to courts for adherence to laws or court procedures.
• Perform administrative tasks, such as answering telephone calls, filing court documents, or maintaining office supplies or equipment.
• Search files and contact witnesses, attorneys, or litigants to obtain information for the court.
• Answer inquiries from the general public regarding judicial procedures, court appearances, trial dates, adjournments, outstanding warrants, summonses, subpoenas, witness fees, or payment of fines.
• Instruct parties about timing of court appearances.
• Explain procedures or forms to parties in cases or to the general public.
• Prepare court files for court proceedings
• Swear in witnesses
• Assist with impaneling of juries
• Certifying court documents
• Prepare commitment forms
• Prepare state required forms, i.e. enrollment and abstract of conviction forms
• Enter probation orders and warrants
• Documenting/Recording Information:
  Prepare legal documents.
• Record information about legal matters.
• Record information from meetings or other formal proceedings.

• High school diploma; AND
• At least five (5) years of full time clerical experience in a courtroom setting, Corp Counsel or Clerk's office; OR
• A Bachelors Degree with one (1) year of full time experience in legal or clerical field

NOTE:

Equivalent part-time experience in a law firm will be assessed and credited at the discretion of the Department of Personnel/Human Resources.

Employees will be fingerprinted and must pass a national criminal background check before being placed in this position and periodically thereafter.

A Written Assessment (100%) covering knowledge of English usage, public relations, courtroom procedures, basic legal definitions, court rules, filing procedures, trial and jury selection procedures, and related information. Online virtual testing and testing at Wayne County Community College-Northwest Campus and the Guardian Building is available.

Candidates must pass all tests in order to be placed on the eligibility list.

In the event that the number of eligible applicants is equal to or less than the number required for certification, the Department of Personnel/Human Resources may substitute for the above tests an evaluation of experience and training or other such tests as the Department may deem desirable to determine the competence of the applicants for appointment.

The purpose of this examination is to establish an eligibility list from which to fill present and future vacancies. The eligibility list will remain in effect for six (6) months but may be extended.

This is a continuous examination and ranking on the eligible list will be subject to change as names are added to and removed from the list.

Appointments will usually be made at the minimum rate with annual increases where applicable. Payment is on a bi-weekly basis. Employees receive liberal fringe benefits, which include vacation pay, sick leave pay, health care insurance, optical, dental, long term disability, life insurance and a retirement plan.

The application may be used both for determining admission to the examination and for rating experience and training. Applicants will be notified by mail of the time and place of the examination. Section 5 (b) of Rule 6 of the Rules of the Department of Personnel/Human Resources provides that persons denied permission to compete in an examination may make a written appeal to the Wayne County Civil Service Commission for a final decision within twenty (20) days following the mailing of such notification, stating the basis on which it is felt that their application should be accepted.

An investigation of character and past employment and/or fingerprinting of candidates will also be conducted. Appointees must satisfactorily complete a probationary period before the appointment will be considered permanent, in accordance with the provisions of the collective bargaining agreements.

Honorably discharged war veterans who receive passing grades on examination will have ten (10) points added to their final earned…