Summary
If you are looking for an exciting and challenging position with the Federal Judiciary, this position may be for you. The Courtroom Deputy will work directly with the United States Magistrate Judge providing administrative and operational support, while managing the Magistrate Judge's caseload and providing courtroom assistance.
This job is open to
Clarification from the agency
This is a sensitive position in the Federal Judiciary and requires a background check/fingerprint check.
Duties
The position is based in the Scranton Office and reports to the Operations Supervisor, as well as to the assigned Magistrate Judge. Travel to the other divisional offices (Harrisburg, Williamsport, and Wilkes-Barre), as well as business travel, may be required. This position may also require working beyond normal business hours.
The Courtroom Deputy manages the Magistrate Judge's caseload, attends, and logs court proceedings, processes orders and records proceedings, and provides courtroom and other assistance to the Magistrate Judge and the court. Duties are accomplished through effective calendaring, efficient scheduling of conferences, hearings, trials, and other case events, organizing and attending court proceedings, recording pertinent results of judicial decisions for minutes and drafting judgments. Responsibilities also include monitoring filings to ensure compliance with rules, regulations and procedures, reviewing cases or reports for necessary action, drafting and preparing orders for the Judge's review, docketing orders, report and recommendations, opinions, judgments and minutes in a timely and accurate fashion in compliance with local court policy, making entries into the court's case management/electronic case filing (CM/ECF) system, preparing and reviewing case management and statistics to ensure accuracy, and serving as a liaison among the Judge's staff, Clerk's Office staff, the bar, public and other agencies. This position requires a high level of knowledge and complexity regarding court operations.
The duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Attends court sessions and conferences. Records court proceedings. Manages and organizes exhibits used in court proceedings. Assists with the orderly flow of proceedings including, but not limited to, setting up the courtroom, assuring presence of all necessary participants, and managing exhibits.
- Takes notes of proceedings, rulings, notices and prepares minute entries electronically. Reviews cases or reports for necessary actions.
- Keeps the Judge and immediate staff informed of case progress. Assists the Judge and parties in jury selection and maintains records of jury selection and attendance. Acts as liaison between the Clerk's Office, the bar, the public and the Judge to ensure that cases proceed smoothly and efficiently.
- Informs the Jury Department of upcoming trials. Drafts orders and judgments for the Judge's approval including judgment and commitment orders. Dockets orders, report and recommendations, opinions, judgments, and minutes as directed by local court policy, using the court's CM/ECF system.
- Schedules court reporters and interpreters; arranges for transcriptions; and answers questions from parties and the public regarding obtaining transcripts. Refers defendants to the U.S. Probation Office as appropriate.
- Coordinates hearings. Assists in the accurate statistical reporting requirements of the Administrative Office. Reviews the quality of electronically filed documents, ensuring that all orders and automated entries are appropriately and accurately docketed.
- Performs case administration duties and/or provides training or assistance to employees performing case administrative duties and administrative tasks. Responsible for coordinating and maintaining the Central Violations Bureau (CVB) dockets.
- Responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the data on the Magistrate Judge Summary Report (MJSTAR).
- Responsible for maintaining the Central Violations Bureau petty offense docket for the assigned Magistrate Judge.
- Responsible for learning and operating courtroom technology for proceedings.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- Successful candidate must be a United States citizen or eligible to work in the United States.
- The successful candidate is hired provisionally, pending the results of the required FBI background check (fingerprint check) and favorable employment suitability determination.
- Travel for the interview and/or relocation expenses are not authorized for reimbursement.
- The court provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please notify the District Court's Human Resources Office at (570) 207-5670. The decision on granting a reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
- This position may require working beyond normal business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) to meet the demands of the court.
- Employees are required to use electronic fund transfer (EFT) for payroll purposes (Direct Deposit).
- Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.
- The selectee for this position is subject to a criminal record check and satisfactory adjudication by the employing office to be eligible for employment. Candidates will not be asked about their criminal history prior to receiving a tentative offer of employment. Candidates completing the AO-78 are not required to complete questions 18-20 regarding criminal history. Criminal history is not in itself disqualifying. All available information, past and present, favorable and unfavorable, about the reliability and trustworthiness of an individual will be considered when making an employment suitability determination. Providing false and/or misleading information may be grounds for removal from the application and selection process, as well as disciplinary action if discovered after an individual's date of hire.
The https://www.uscourts.gov/careers web page provides a means for candidates to report alleged violations of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act. This is the only applicant complaint avenue available.
Qualifications
To qualify for the CL-26, Step 1, the successful candidate must be a high school graduate or equivalent, have two (2) years of general experience and one (1) year of specialized experience. To qualify at a higher step within the CL-26 level (CL-26, Step 2 to CL-26, Step 25), the successful candidate must possess one of the following: job-related court-preferred skills or additional experience beyond the minimum requirements (i.e., at least two years of specialized experience).
To qualify for the CL-27, Step 1, the successful candidate must be a high school graduate or equivalent, have two (2) years of general experience and two (2) years of specialized experience. To qualify at a higher step within the CL-27 level (CL-27, Step 2 to CL 27, Step 25), the successful candidate must possess either job-related court-preferred skills or additional experience beyond the minimum requirements.
General experience is progressively responsible clerical, office or other work that indicates the possession of, or the ability to acquire, the particular knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties of the position. Specialized experience is progressively responsible clerical or administrative experience requiring the regular and recurring application of clerical procedures that demonstrate the ability to apply a body of rules, regulations, directives, or laws that involve the routine use of legal and specialized terminology and automated software and equipment for word processing, data entry or report generation.
Education above the high school level may be substituted for required general experience based on one (1) academic year (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) equals one (1) year of general experience. Education may not be substituted for specialized experience.
A candidate may be appointed above Step 25, at the Clerk of Court's discretion and based upon budgetary considerations, provided the candidate possesses unusually high or unique qualifications suited to the position that exceed the minimum requirements of the position being filled.
The successful candidate must display initiative, excellent verbal and written communication skills, a positive attitude, ability to work in a team environment, be detail oriented, flexible, and exercise discretion in dealing with confidential information. The applicant must also possess excellent organizational skills, demonstrate good judgment, possess a demeanor and appearance appropriate for a professional legal office environment, communicate effectively with a variety of individuals in a positive manner and balance demands of varying workloads, responsibilities, and deadlines. The successful candidate is required to have working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365, specifically Word and Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat. Applicant must also possess proficient typing and personal computer skills, as well as excellent proofreading skills.
Education
The successful candidate must be a high school graduate or equivalent. A bachelor's degree in criminal justice, political science, business or a related field and/or paralegal certificate is preferred.
Additional qualifications, experience and skills preferred, but not required, include:
- Knowledge of CM/ECF, PACER (public access to court electronic records), legal terminology, legal documents and federal and local rules;
- Knowledge of courtroom proceedings and applicable requirements;
- Experience in a federal or state court system or other business or legal field requiring interpretation of complex rules, procedures and statutes;
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and impartiality and consistently demonstrate sound ethics, good judgment, a positive attitude, and a high level of professionalism; and
- Skill in the use of automated equipment, including word processing applications, requisite court computer programs and automated case management systems.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Candidates will be evaluated based on their experience, training, education, knowledge, skills and abilities.
Required Documents
Cover Letter, Resume (including educational information, employment experience and salary history), three (3) professional references and contact information, and a completed AO 78, Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
How to Apply
Applicants are invited to electronically submit a cover letter detailing how your experience relates to the position requirements; resume (including educational information, employment experience, skills and salary history); three (3) professional references and contact information; and a completed AO 78, Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment, which may be downloaded from the court's web site at https://www.pamd.uscourts.gov/.
All documents are to be forwarded as one PDF file via email to: HR1_PAMD@pamd.uscourts.gov
Please include in the subject line: COURTROOM DEPUTY I/II (VA 24-04)
Closing date for applications is September 23, 2024 (close of business).
The U.S. District Court, Middle District of PA, is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Next steps
Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted and must travel at their own expense.
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