Assistant Clerk Magistrate - South Boston Division of the Boston Municipal Court

Departmental Mission Statement: Given our unique responsibility to advance the fair administration of justice, the Boston Municipal Court Department is devoted to the rule of law through the conscientious and expeditious resolution of disputes, with a commitment to restoring the human spirit through correction, education, respect and compassion.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE:
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/boston-municipal-court

Notes:

• This position is designated as a management position and is covered by the Trial Court Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual.

Position Summary: The employees in this position assist the Clerk-Magistrate in performing magisterial and administrative duties as set forth in state statutes and court rules. Magisterial responsibilities include determining probable cause for the issuance of criminal complaints and search warrants, in court and out of court bail determinations, determinations of preliminary probation violation hearings, adjudicating small claims motions and trials and presiding over both civil and criminal motor vehicle hearings. Assistant clerk-magistrates also may decide certain non-dispositive motions in civil and criminal cases, enter defaults and default judgments and other civil process.
Administrative responsibilities include the preparation and maintenance of all court papers and records and performance of administrative tasks to ensure that cases move rapidly and smoothly to a determination by the court. Work is performed under the direction of the Clerk-Magistrate or First Assistant Clerk-Magistrate. Supervision is exercised over support personnel within the Clerk-Magistrate's Office.

Duties: Any one position may not include all of the duties and responsibilities listed below nor do the listed examples include all tasks which may be found in these positions.
• Receives applications for criminal complaints and reviews them for probable cause.
• Reviews applications for search warrants filed by police and others and determines whether such warrants may issue.
• Conducts hearings and determines whether criminal complaints and/or arrest warrants may issue, determines appeals from civil motor vehicle citations, municipal by-law violations and environmental citations.
• Conducts trials of small claims and makes judgments of the same. In the absence of a justice, arraigns defendants, determines questions of bail, and conducts preliminary probation violation hearings.
• Calls the list of cases scheduled before a justice and makes the official record of the proceedings.
• Reviews filings from attorneys and Pro Se litigants and informs them on court procedure.
• Arranges for hearings and notifies counsel.
• Certifies and transmits official copies of court records as required.
• Issues process as required by the court or prescribed by statutes and rules of court.
• Receives, examines and reviews all filings and has responsibility to ensure they comply with rules of court, and to establish their suitability for filing.
• Maintains electronic and written indexes of cases entered.
• Supervises the receipt, recording and disbursements of fees and money by the court.
• Distributes and implements changes in court rules and office procedure.
• Administers hearings inside and outside of court where no judge is present.
• Performs related work as required.

Job Competencies: 

• Thorough knowledge of state statutes, case law and court rules which prescribe the powers and duties of the Clerk-Magistrate and ability to interpret and apply them to the administrative procedures of the office.
• Thorough knowledge of court procedure, legal documents, laws, and legal factors pertaining to the court.
• Thorough knowledge of the organization, functions, jurisdiction and authority of the court.
• Knowledge of and ability to use computer software such as MS Office, including word processing, spreadsheets, data bases, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to maintain complex and accurate court records.
• Ability to plan and supervise the work of others.
• Good communication skills and the ability to maintain effective working relationships with court officials, attorneys, subordinate employees, government agencies and the general public.

Minimum Requirements: These are the minimum requirements necessary to apply for a position of Assistant Clerk.

A Bachelor’s Degree; and knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through 6 or more years of relevant work experience in criminal justice, public administration or business administration including supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of higher education and relevant experience equal to 10 years total; 

OR 

A law degree or a graduate degree in a relevant field (for example: criminal justice, public administration or business administration); and knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through 2 or more years of relevant work experience.

Employment with the Trial Court is contingent upon passage of a criminal record check.