Court Operations Associate, Cottonwood County

The Fifth Judicial District is seeking qualified applicants for a customer-focused and team-oriented Court Operations Associate to join the Court of Appeals Unit / Mailing specialization team with the Cottonwood County Court Administration team.

This Court Operations Associate position works directly with the public at our front counter, judges, and other court stakeholders by processing eAppeals case work for all district courts in the State of Minnesota and various other case types, providing exceptional customer service, and ensuring compliance with applicable court rules, polices, and standards to achieve an impartial, accessible, fair, and timely system of justice.  Duties require the application of independent judgment, and the interpretation of laws, policies, procedures, and regulations based on training and knowledge gained through experience on the job.

The primary work location for this position is the Cottonwood County Courthouse located at 900 Third Avenue, Windom, MN.  The regular work hours will be Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

A successful candidate will need to possess strong technical and customer service skills in a high volume, fast-paced environment which requires the ability to manage competing demands simultaneously.  

Example of Duties

The following are examples of major job duties that may be expected for this position:

• Performs the full scope of varied court clerical work involved in case processing on Minnesota Court Information System (MNCIS) or related technology systems.
• Provides assistance courteously and effectively to attorneys, parties, self-represented litigants, judges, and the public by responding to a variety of questions in-person, over the phone, by mail, and/or electronically; provides forms, documents, and court procedure information; assists public in filling out various applications and forms and arranges for language interpretation as needed.
• Initiates case records using electronic means or paper documents; records required data regarding parties, documents, flags comments, events, and dispositions in case processing system and other relevant systems; reviews for completeness, adequacy, accuracy and compliance with rules/policies.
• Will be part of the centralized printing and mailing team.
• Performs the full range of local core responsibilities including counter and phone curt administration duties.
• Updates court minutes and/or may operate electronic recorder.
• Coordinates jury and processing activities by assisting with juror check-in, update jury case management system.
• May participate in and coordinate the scheduling and calendaring of court proceedings; sends out notices; and contacts attorneys and parties concerning rescheduling.
• May perform financial activities within the office; receipting bail payments, making disposition entries and adjustments, preparing and making bank deposits; balances tills, and monitors accounts for delinquency; and Court Payment Center holding queues.
• May perform the duties of an Electronic Recording Equipment Operator (EREO) including recording and monitoring court proceedings.

Typical Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS: (Any combination of training and work experience which indicates possession of the knowledge, abilities and skills listed. An example of an acceptable qualification for this position is:)

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Six months of recent experience in the legal field or a highly technical, customer focused, administrative position
• OR Equivalent education and experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience using electronic applications, such as Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, and the ability to learn job related software
• Excellent communication skills, including ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with attorneys, court staff, judicial officers, and the general public, including the handling of sensitive and confidential matters.
• Experience in providing excellent customer service and interpersonal skills, including the ability to de-escalate difficult customer interactions and process financial transactions accurately.
• Ability to prioritize and make decisions in accordance with laws, regulations and departmental policies and procedures; to read and interpret legal documents of varying type and complexity; to