Under the supervision of the Chief Clerk of the Court, prepares and processes case documentation for misdemeanor and felony violations of the Michigan Criminal Code, general civil infractions, small claims and landlord/tenant cases, garnishments, and/or civil infractions and misdemeanor and felony violations of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code. Performs case flow management functions in substantive and procedural compliance with the Michigan Court Rules. Processes and ensures proper case flow for traffic and civil matters before the Court as required by caseloads.

This is a full time, benefitted position working Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Hudsonville District Court location.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Ottawa County recognizes the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the accomplishment of our mission and hold it as a basic value to proactively engage and understand a variety of perspectives across all human difference. We seek to ensure respectful, fair treatment and full, equal access to opportunities and resources so all may thrive and achieve their full potential. We believe every person’s voice adds value.

Applicants whose work can align with this value are encouraged to apply.

The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, any combination of the following:

• Assists customers on the phone and at the counter, explaining Court policy and procedures for misdemeanor and felony criminal matters, general civil infractions, small claims and landlord/tenant matters, garnishments, and civil infractions and misdemeanor and felony traffic violations, judgments, and Court orders.
• Enters and withdraws warrants in LEIN/TALON.
• Opens criminal cases for defendants already in custody, defendants receiving appearance tickets, and defendants for whom warrants have been issued. Opens and processes a variety of civil matters including general civil, small claims and landlord/tenant cases and garnishments. Opens traffic cases for civil infractions and misdemeanor and felony violations of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code.
• Prepares physical files for criminal arraignments and enters case data into case management system. Processes procedurally and substantively correct documents. Prepares case files for scheduled hearings.
• Receives documents submitted to the court for filing, reviews documents for substantive and procedural compliance with the Michigan Court Rules, and notifies parties of errors and required corrections.
• Prepares dispositions and court orders for defendants pleading guilty at arraignment. Prepares notices to appear; and prepares proofs of service and serves notices to involved parties by mail.
• Types probation orders, orders to pay fines & fees, to release bonds to third-party payors.
• Prepares orders for the magistrate and judge in adjudicated traffic matters, prepares abstracts of traffic cases for the Secretary of State and transmits them for entry into driving records, and prepares orders to Show Cause.
• Prepares and processes default judgments for civil infractions, driver's license suspensions, bench warrants, documentation to bind cases over to Circuit Court, and enters and withdraws warrants from LEIN/TALON systems.
• Closes cases, ensuring that record includes all actions; all dispositional information and orders; and all documentation of completion of jail time, community service, treatment, driver's education and victim impact classes, payment of fines, costs, restitution, and fees, and other orders of sentence. Prints register of actions for closed cases and distributes to appropriate parties.
• Helps support an equitable, safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

High school diploma or GED combined with some post-secondary training in court administration, business information systems, legal secretarial or other relevant field and two years of progressively responsible experience in a legal practice or court administrative office position requiring extensive public contact and fast, accurate keyboarding skills; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Excellent customer relation skills.
• Basic knowledge of Michigan Court Rules and Michigan Secretary of State Traffic Benchbook, court administrative procedures and practices, and traffic, civil, and criminal court processes.
• Fast and accurate keyboarding skills.
• Knowledge of court recording protocols and requirements and the proper use of court recording equipment. Working knowledge of privacy requirements related to court records.
• LEIN user knowledge.
• Good verbal and written communications skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and human relations skills.
• Ability to interact positively and professionally with judges, attorneys, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, employees, community and business representatives, plaintiffs, defendants, other parties to litigation and members of the general public with widely divergent socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and varying levels of communication skills.

NOTE: Ability to communicate in Spanish, Lao, Cambodian or other language spoken by ethnic groups residing in the county strongly preferred.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

Must become LEIN certified within 6 months of the date of hire and maintain certification.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodations, including, but not limited to, visual and/or audiological appliances and devices to increase mobility.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is generally performed in a normal office environment.