Assistant Clerk Magistrate

About This Role

This position involves responsible legal work and supervisory responsibilities, assisting the Clerk-Magistrate in performing magisterial and administrative duties as set forth in state statutes and court rules. The role suits a candidate with a strong background in criminal justice, public administration, or business administration.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Clerk-Magistrate in performing magisterial and administrative duties
• Determine probable cause for the issuance of criminal complaints and search warrants
• Make in-court and out-of-court bail determinations
• Determine preliminary probation violation hearings
• Adjudicate small claims motions and trials
• Preside over both civil and criminal motor vehicle hearings
• Decide certain non-dispositive motions in civil and criminal cases
• Enter defaults and default judgments and other civil process
• Prepare and maintain all court papers and records
• Perform administrative tasks to ensure cases move rapidly and smoothly to a determination by the court
• Supervise support personnel within the Clerk-Magistrate's Office
• Receive applications for criminal complaints and review them for probable cause
• Review applications for search warrants filed by police and others and determine whether such warrants may issue
• Conduct hearings and determine whether criminal complaints and/or arrest warrants may issue
• Determine appeals from civil motor vehicle citations, municipal by-law violations, and environmental citations
• Conduct trials of small claims and make judgments of the same
• Arraign defendants, determine questions of bail, and conduct preliminary probation violation hearings in the absence of a justice
• Call the list of cases scheduled before a justice and make the official record of the proceedings
• Review filings from attorneys and Pro Se litigants and inform them on court procedure
• Arrange for hearings and notify counsel
• Certify and transmit official copies of court records as required
• Issue process as required by the court or prescribed by statutes and rules of court
• Receive, examine, and review all filings and ensure they comply with rules of court and establish their suitability for filing
• Maintain electronic and written indexes of cases entered
• Supervise the receipt, recording, and disbursements of fees and money by the court
• Distribute and implement changes in court rules and office procedure
• Administer hearings inside and outside of court where no judge is present
• Perform related work as required

Requirements