Courtroom Clerk

The Maryland Judiciary offers a generous benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, tuition assistance, continuing education programs, employee assistance programs, and State Retirement and Pension plans.

Maryland Judiciary Benefits (mdcourts.gov)

About the Maryland Court System | Maryland Courts (mdcourts.gov)

Maryland Judiciary Pay Scale June 2025

Essential Job Functions:

The Courtroom Clerk performs experienced clerical work within a courtroom for Baltimore City Circuit Court, including facilitating all aspects of court proceedings, ensuring that all court proceedings are recorded in a clear and legible manner for the permanent court record, preparing paperwork for signatures, and administering oaths. This position is also responsible for assisting in Jury process, maintaining exhibits, and calculating court cost, fines and fees. Assist judges, magistrates, attorneys, general public and other court related personnel to ensure the smooth operation of the court.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Prepare Court Docket: Obtains and transports all files to assigned courtroom. Accounts for all files. Logs in or uploads cases into CourtSmart. Files summonses, pleadings, and any miscellaneous paperwork for each case. Organizes case folders. Returns completed files to Editing Room.

File and Docket Entries:

Interprets and records all essential information related to judicial proceedings, including decrees, judgements, jury verdicts, sentences, terms of probation, motions hearings, rulings, etc.

Operation of Court Smart System:

Operates audio-video recording system. Tags all individual proceedings for retrieval and transcription purposes.

Interpersonal/Intrapersonal Communications:

Makes frequent contact by telephone, e-mail, as well as in person with judges, court staff, the public and various agencies to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the court.

Preparing Court Orders:

Prepares all court ordered documents, including but not limited to Probation Orders, Commitments, Jail Releases, Public Defender Reimbursement Forms, Notification of Right to Counsel Forms, Drug Treatment Assessment Forms, Warrants, Body Attachments, Summonses, Civil Judgement Forms, Jail Cards, Community Service Forms, Settlement Orders, Circuit Court Criminal Bills, Bail Increase/Reduction Forms, Release and Transportation Order forms, and Exhibit Letter.

Guilty Plea, Stet, Nolle Pros, Not Criminally Responsible Plea, Case Abated by Death;

Completes all necessary paperwork and making the appropriate docket entries.

Jury Selection: Determines the number of jurors needed for the jury panel for each trial.

Calls the jury Commissioner for jury panel availability. Assembles jury panel. Conducts roll call. Informs the Judge and Jury Commissioner of any absentees. Administers Voir Dire oath. Assists in the jury selection process by keeping track of attorney?s challenges/strikes. Keeps record of all jurors excused. Administers the jury oath. E-mails the jury?s status to the Jury Commissioner daily.

Administers oaths to witnesses and interpreters.

Calculates court costs based upon the number of served summons and the judge?s order that may include, fines, Public Defender fees, restitution, Civil Judgement and District Court Appeals.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

High School diploma (or GED equivalent).

Experience:

Two (2) years of work experience, to include one (1) year in court operations or in the fields of criminal justice, parole and probation, legal or financial services.

Note:

A Bachelor?s Degree may substitute the required work experience.

A Paralegal/Associates Degree or 60 college credits may substitute the required work experience.

A Paralegal Certificate may substitute the required work experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

Civil and criminal court forms, practices, procedures, protocols, systems, and equipment required to support the specialized work of the assigned unit(s).

Legal terminology and court procedures.

Judicial policies, procedures, and forms.

Basic English and arithmetic to include, but not limited to, spelling, punctuation, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Skill in:

Operation of recording equipment, computer terminals, and related software.

Typing on a personal computer.

Managing priorities to meet critical deadlines while multitasking.

Problem solving.

Ability to:

Acquire knowledge of Maryland Judiciary procedures, rules, practices, regulations, and jurisdictional courts.

Make work decisions in accordance with laws, regulations, rules, and Judiciary policies and procedures.

Apply job-related terminology, policies, procedures, regulations, and laws to define problems, collect data, establish facts, record data, appropriately complete forms, and provide information to customers.

Communicate clearly, tactfully, and effectively with judges, the public, police agencies, attorneys, and other court officials and personnel, both verbally and in writing.

Follow procedures, verbal and written instructions, and protocols for any given assignment.

Multitask, adjust to situations quickly, set priorities, and handle pressure in a fast-paced environment.

Work within time constraints, meet fixed deadlines, and demonstrate good organizational skills.

Handle sensitive or difficult situations requiring discretion and confidentiality.

Understand and carry out complex verbal and written instructions.

Pay attention to detail.

Physical Requirements:

Light work. Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Equipment, Machinery and Tools:

Computer to obtain and input case information.

Facsimile Machine and Scanners for sending and receiving time sensitive information.

Calculator to determine judgment amounts, court costs, and defendant credits.

Video/Courtsmart System for recording open court proceedings.

Software and Computer Skills:

Knowledge of the judicial information system, Odyssey, Zoom and Skype Video Communication, Microsoft Office Suite, and Courtsmart.

Selection Process:

Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and ranking for this position. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration. It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. Please report all related education, experience, dates, and hours of work. If you have held more than one (1) position at the same employer, you must list each position that you held, the length of time that you held each position, and the corresponding duties. Description of duties that state, "see resume" will negatively impact consideration for this position. Applicants will not be contacted for additional information. Only applicants considered for this position will be contacted.

Complete applications must be submitted by the closing date. Information submitted after this date will not be added. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

For further information please contact Talent Acquisition at aocta@mdcourts.gov.