Judicial Assistant

The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota is seeking a full-time Judicial Assistant for District Judge Joan N. Ericksen. This position is located in the Diana E. Murphy United States Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The successful candidate will manage the day-to-day operations of the judge’s office, including scheduling appointments and meetings, preparing reports, drafting correspondence, making travel arrangements for the judge, copying, and filing. The candidate will also be responsible for an extensive variety of case-related tasks. The ideal candidate will display initiative, good judgment, professionalism, follow-through, the ability to multi-task and quickly adapt to fast-changing priorities, excellent organizational skills, a strong work ethic, and the ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive matters.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

• Manage the day-to-day operations of chambers.

• Perform administrative duties, including preparing reports, correspondence, and other documents.

• Manage chambers’ internal criminal files and civil and criminal case management, including the coordination with the career law clerk and communication with other chambers regarding case-related issues.

• Prepare hearing and trial binders for the judge and ensure that the judge has the materials that she needs for hearings, meetings, appointments, conference calls, and other events.

• Receive, screen, and respond to or refer inquiries received via telephone, email, or in person, professionally representing the Court as the first (and sometimes only) contact with attorneys, litigants, members of the public, and others. Respond to basic questions related to the status of cases.

• Arrange and manage the judge’s schedule by planning, scheduling, confirming, and coordinating meetings and travel. Continuously update and coordinate schedule with the judge and others.

• Monitor emails, letters, and other communications to the judge. Make the judge aware of matters requiring prompt attention or action. Draft replies to communications at the direction of the judge.

• Make travel arrangements for the judge. Ensure appropriate travel authorization is secured and prepare and submit travel vouchers on the judge’s behalf. Ensure that all travel and reimbursement requests are consistent with applicable policies and regulations.

• Maintain records (electronic and paper) of case filings, correspondence, committee work, publications, reports, data forms, and other documents.

• Perform docketing functions and run reports in the national automated case management system (CM/ECF).

• Act as liaison between the Clerk’s Office staff, the bar, the public, jurors, the U.S. Marshal’s Office, the U.S Probation and Pretrial Services Office, and the judge to ensure that cases proceed smoothly and efficiently and that the federal and local rules, along with procedures, for our District are followed.

• Manage and regulate the judge’s cases by reviewing reports for necessary actions by litigants, Magistrate Judge chambers, the Clerk’s office, and the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office. Enforce deadlines and monitor case filings for compliance with the federal rules as well as local court rules and policies.

• Inform the judge and approved staff members of case progression. Furnish information to the general public and members of the bar.

• Schedule all court hearings, trials and court-related conferences and phone calls. Serve as the chamber’s primary source of information regarding scheduling, judge preferences and case status. Prepare weekly courtroom calendars and file preparations for upcoming hearings.

• Docket orders, notices, and minutes as directed by local court policy. Review the quality of electronically filed documents, ensuring that all orders and automated entries are appropriately and accurately docketed, and make summary entries on the docket of all court documents and proceedings.

• Ensure all required attendees are notified of and present for hearings, including hiring contract foreign-language interpreters when needed.

• Inform the jury clerk of upcoming trials and the need for jurors. Assist selected jurors throughout trial.

• Manage court proceedings, including setting up, and troubleshooting electronic evidence presentation systems.

• Manage and organize exhibits used in court proceedings, including keeping the court’s official record of admitted exhibits.

• Call Court and administer oaths.

• Attend court sessions as directed by the judge, take notes of proceedings, rulings and prepare minute entries. Ensure that all required elements of the hearing are met. Assist in the accurate statistical reporting of court events and cases.

• Assist the judge and parties in the selection of grand and petit juries, maintaining records of jury selection.

• Assist in the accurate statistical reporting of court events and cases, including time in court, naturalization ceremonies, grand juries, and the twice annual reports required by the Administrative Office (AO) for case statuses. Report court time for the judge both locally and nationally.

• Assist with first and second level Quality Control and paper Quality Control as needed.

• Assist with Jury Master Wheel duties as needed.

• Work on special projects assigned by the Judge or Clerk’s Office Operations Manager.

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $73,367.00 - $95,374.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person