Magistrate Court Clerk

Job posted until filled.

Entry salary is $33,860 ($17.36/hour)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The purpose of this position is to provide specialized administrative and clerical duties in support of efficient and effective Magistrate’s Office operations, including preparing and maintaining accurate and complete court records, and assisting the public with filings of civil actions in Magistrate Court. This role includes data entry, managing court files, processing civil and criminal paperwork, balancing accounts, and scheduling court activities. The Clerk communicates with various agencies, including the DMV, Sheriff's office, and SCHP, and is responsible for corresponding through phone calls and emails. The position requires handling inquiries from the public, assisting with civil filings, and ensuring smooth court operations through organizational skills and knowledge of legal procedures. This class is given general outline of work to be performed and is free to develop work methods and sequences; work is reviewed regularly by supervisor.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job duties satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out but may be considered incidental in the performance of this job.

• Processes Court Tickets and civil paperwork, Highway Patrol, County, City tickets/warrants as applicable, Animal Control, Domestic Violence Court, DUI Court, DNR Court, State Transport Court.
• Processes Civil Papers: Rule to Vacate, Summons and Complaints, Claim and Deliveries, Restraining Orders.
• Conducts administrative tasks such as filing, typing, data entry, copying, and answering the telephone.
• Explains procedures to customers, and provides customer service.
• Balances cash drawer daily for Civil, Criminal, and Traffic.
• Balances Monthly Reports: Criminal, Traffic, Civil, and Juror Account.
• Balances Bank Statements: Criminal, Traffic, Civil, and Juror Account.
• Handles bank reconciliation and account balancing.
• Sets up trials: civil, traffic, and criminal.
• Mails correspondence to notify all parties in each case.
• Works with Attorneys, officers, and other agencies for trials.
• Sets up community service orders, coordinating places, dates, and times.
• Coordinates inmate transfer with the Detention Center and SCDC.
• Manages office supplies and transmits orders when needed.
• Prepares information for Jury Trials, Pre-trials, Jury Selections, checks in Jurors at time of trial, verifies juror information, and processes juror payments.
• Schedules and makes appointments for Judges.
• Processes warrants and prepares expungements.
• Processes Heat tickets for CMS problems.
• Processes set off debt.
• Schedules preliminary hearings, trials, pre-trials, jury selections, and bench trials.
• Assists the public with civil filings and answers inquiries in a professional manner.
• Prepares and manages court documents, including orders, dockets, NRVCs, and affidavits of service.
• Balances cash drawers and monthly reports.
• Assists with social media and IT communications.
• Maintains records and statistical data pertinent to court cases and activities.
• Ensures proper legal procedure knowledge and organizational skills in maintaining court operations.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of basic office policies and procedures. 

Data entry skills. 

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. 

Ability to deal with irate persons. 

Ability to learn CMS computer system, fines and procedures of court related matters.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

High School Diploma or equivalent; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, OR REGISTRATIONS:

Required: None.

Preferred: None.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work is light work which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.  

This position has the following special vision requirements: close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less); color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors); adjust focus (ability to adjust the eye to bring an object into sharp focus). 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in a relatively safe and secure indoor office environment; may encounter noise or dust.