Courtroom Judicial Assistant (41-4088) Fairbanks

The Fairbanks Trial Court of the Alaska Court System seeks a highly dependable individual to be a Courtroom Judicial Assistant (salary range 12). This position is assigned to work in various departments of the court such as Criminal, In-Court, or Jury.

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• Employees transferring from another State of Alaska agency or applicants with prior legal work experience or education in the legal field may receive consideration for advance step placement.

Our organization, mission and culture:

The mission of the Alaska Court System is to provide an accessible and impartial forum for the just resolution of all cases that come before it, and to decide such cases in accordance with the law, expeditiously and with integrity.  Everything we do is outlined in our Pledge of Fairness.

The benefits of joining our team:

The Fairbanks Trial Court is a dynamic team where customer service is our priority.  Your success as an employee is our success as an organization.

  We will receive on-the-job training, on-going support, respect, and fairness.  We are a court family.

Employee Testimonials:

• "Working for the Fairbanks Trial Courts is meaningful work in an environment that expects and supports integrity, impartiality, and a strong work ethic."  

 -Helen, Court Case Manager 2

• "I have really enjoyed working within the Alaska Court System, the workplace culture here is so positive and inviting. Everyone is incredibly helpful, and willing to assist and answer questions. The amount of teamwork that goes on to make sure the level of work is done, really creates an open atmosphere to learn and grow together."    
• Cori, Court Case Manager 1

• "I started working for the Alaska Court System in August of 2021. Since becoming an employee here, it has been nothing short of an amazing opportunity that I am very grateful for.
  
  To summarize it in short, it has been a wonderful and fulfilling career. The website and application process were very user friendly, and easy to navigate. The Alaska Court System provides all of the support and training needed to be successful in your career here.
  
  Not only are the supervisors and staff very supportive, but they are very welcoming to new staff members as well. I have only been here a short time now but it has been a fantastic opportunity to work with some amazing people in this community. The Alaska Court System here in Fairbanks is a positive, uplifting and rewarding work environment that I am sure anyone would love to be a part of. "   
• Nichole, Courtroom Judicial Assistant

In-Court Division

The Courtroom Judicial Assistant for In-Courts will provide advanced clerical support to the judicial officer in the courtroom. You will prepare the courtroom for daily proceedings, ensure necessary case files or supplies are available, open all computer applications, perform microphone tests, and prepare the jury room if required. You will also prepare logs/tag reports and other forms used in the courtroom, make sure all parties are present and connect telephonic or video parties, if necessary, closely monitor the recorder at all times during proceedings, prepare and distribute court orders and judgments in the courtroom, calendar future court hearings and result hearings.

This position will maintain witness lists and exhibit lists, update and docket information in CourtView, and secure the courtroom and any exhibits at the end of the day. Out of court duties will include docket non-motion paperwork filed in open court into CourtView, properly process and distribute files and paperwork when hearings are complete.

These positions may take weekend or holiday duty on occasion to support District Court arraignments.

Jury Division

This position will perform case management duties involving highly complex clerical and/or technical tasks in the courtroom and out of the courtroom. You will open and prepare the courtroom for daily proceedings, print and post daily courtroom calendar, open all computer applications, perform microphone tests, prepare forms used in the courtroom, and prepare the jury room for trials. You will also make sure parties are present and connect telephonic or video parties, if necessary, swear in parties, witnesses, third-party custodians, and closely monitor the recorder to ensure a clear record is made.

This division is responsible for clerking grand jury proceedings in cases presented for felony indictment.  The case content can be graphic in nature with victims or witnesses in extreme emotional distress during testimony.

 Additionally, the incumbent will process jury questionnaires following court rules and bulletins to qualify jurors for service, set up and check in grand and trial jurors, enter daily time and attendance for juror payments, and process certificates of attendance.  Other duties will include process indictments, assign judges to felony cases, set up trial dates, and calendar call dates for defendants indicted by a grand jury.  This position will provide customer service to attorneys, judges, and the general public, act as back-up jury clerk and local transcript facilitator when needed, and coordinate courtroom and jury room for non-court proceedings and visiting judges.

Criminal Division

This position will manage criminal cases and assist the judicial officer during criminal hearings.  The incumbent will be expected to perform highly complex clerical and/or technical tasks with a high degree of accuracy.  During hearings they provide advanced courtroom support to judicial officers, attorneys, staff, and the general public to include confirming all parties are present in the courtroom and connected telephonically or by video, closely monitoring the recorder to ensure clear and accurate recordings are produced, take accurate log notes, prepare and distribute documents in the courtroom, perform data entry into CourtView, calendar future court hearings, and issue and quash bench warrants.

You will also serve as "float" or back-up clerks and will be assigned, as necessary, to cover/relieve other employees.  This position may work past 4:30 p.m. on occasion. Additionally, you will review criminal motions for rule and statutory compliance, enter into CourtView, and route to chambers for ruling, assist the supervisor with SIS notice processing and review audit reports, process judgments, orders, dated citations, warrants, and summons.

Some positions are assigned to work a non-standard workweek schedule, work extended hours, and be on call when directed.  This position may take weekend or holiday duty.

To be successful in this position, a candidate will need the following core competencies:

• Adaptability: Adjusts planned work by gathering relevant information and applying critical thinking to address multiple demands and competing priorities in a changing environment.

• Computer Skills: Uses computers, software applications, databases, and automated systems to accomplish work.

• Conscientiousness: Displays a high level of effort and commitment towards performing work; demonstrates responsible behavior.

• Customer/Quality Focus: Anticipates, monitors, and meets the needs of customers and responds to them in an effective, appropriate manner. Demonstrates commitment to identifying customers' apparent and underlying needs and continually seeks to provide the highest quality service and product to all customers.

• Interpersonal Skills: Shows respect, fairness, understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.

Work Hours

This position is scheduled to work 37.5 hours per week.  The work hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break.

Typical Benefits Available to Full-Time Employees 

• 11 paid holidays per year

• Medical and dental coverage for employee and eligible dependents

• Vision plan (optional)

• Employer-paid Basic Life insurance with additional coverage available

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)

• Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan (SBS) in lieu of contributions to Social Security

• Alaska Deferred Compensation Plan (optional)

• Personal leave accrual

See http://doa.alaska.gov/drb/index.html for additional information.

LETTER OF INTEREST

A letter of interest IS NOT REQUIRED to be considered for this position. Instead, applicants must demonstrate their skill and/or experience in their responses to the Supplemental Questions.

Please make sure to answer the supplemental questions as thoroughly as possible.  Your responses must be supported by your application. Please see the "QUESTIONS" tab at the top of this bulletin to preview the Supplemental Questions.

For more information on the Alaska Court System, please visit:

http://www.courts.alaska.gov

For information about what state courts do, please watch the following short video:

VIDEO: The who, what, when, where and how of state courts

The Alaska Court System is an EEO employer and proudly promotes diversity.

Graduation from high school or completion of a General Education Development (GED) certificate AND one year of office clerical experience AND the ability to keyboard at least 40 words per minute (net).

Substitution:

Additional office clerical work experience will substitute for the high school diploma or GED certificate on a month-for-month basis.

Completion of 36 semester credit hours or 48 quarter credit hours of coursework from an accredited college will substitute for the year of required office clerical experience.

Completion of an appropriate vocational training course of study such as legal secretary, paralegal, or office skills will substitute for the required office clerical experience on a month-for-month basis.

This applies to your application submission.

Documents to be Attached to the Application (REQUIRED): 

• Post-secondary transcripts, if using education to meet Minimum Qualifications.

• Keyboarding certification dated within one year showing a keyboarding speed of at least 40 words per minute (net).

Documents to be Submitted at the Time of Interview (REQUIRED):

If you are selected to advance to the interview phase of the recruitment process, you must provide the following at the time of the interview (if not already attached to your application): 

• Copies of your most recent (2) evaluations, if available. 

• A list of three (3) professional references who have had supervisory authority over you along with their daytime contact phone numbers and email addresses.

• Two (2) writing samples each at least ½ page in length.

KEYBOARDING CERTIFICATION REQUIRED

Attach a recent keyboarding certification (dated within one year) to your application that verifies your keyboarding speed of 40 wpm or higher (net). Online keyboarding tests (often at no cost) are accepted with a valid website address noted on the document.  Acceptable websites include: www.ratatype.com and www.typingtest.com.

In addition, keyboarding tests are given at any Alaska Job Center location.  A list of locations is available at: http://www.jobs.state.ak.us/offices.

WORK HISTORY

If using work experience not already documented in your application, provide the employer's name, your job title, dates of employment and whether full or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and Minimum Qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant will not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

EDUCATION

If post-secondary education is required to meet the Minimum Qualifications, you must fill in the Education and Training section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of credit hours earned in the Degree Obtained field. Copies of academic transcripts will be required at time of interview.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Applicants will be required to meet the Minimum Qualifications as outlined above. Unfortunately, we cannot always interview all applicants.

If your application is considered "not qualified," you will be sent a notice within two weeks after the closing date for this recruitment. If you believe your application was improperly disqualified, you may appeal this decision to the Human Resources Director at 820 West 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501-2005 within five workdays from the date the notice is mailed to you. Qualified applications will be forwarded to the hiring supervisor.

NEPOTISM REVIEW

To avoid a conflict of interest and the appearance of impropriety, applicants who have a spouse, close relative, and/or regular member of their household employed by the Alaska Court System may not be considered for employment without the approval of the Administrative Director.

BACKGROUND CHECK

A background check will be conducted prior to an employment offer being made. Applicants who have prior convictions that have been set aside under the terms of a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS) may answer "no" to these questions.

If you are not sure if your situation requires disclosure, please contact the Human Resources Department at (907) 264-8242. The Court System reserves the right to confirm all background information.  

Contact Title: Recruitment

E-Mail: recruitment@akcourts.gov

Mailing Address: 820 West 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501

Fax Number: (907) 264-8262

Phone Number: (907) 264-8242