District Court Clerk I

Under close supervision, 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 caseflow management functions in substantive and procedural compliance with the Michigan Court Rules.  Processes and ensures proper caseflow for traffic and civil matters before the Court as required by caseloads.

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

1. 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.
2. Enters and withdraws warrants in LEIN/TALON.
3. Opens criminal cases for defendants already in custody, defendants receiving appearance tickets, and defendants for whom warrants have been issued.
4. Prepares physical files for criminal arraignments and enters case data into case management system.
5. Opens and processes a variety of civil matters including general civil, small claims and landlord/tenant cases and garnishments.
6. Opens traffic cases for civil infractions and misdemeanor and felony violations of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code.
7. Receives documents submitted to the court for filing including, but not limited to, writs of garnishment and restitution, stipulations, proposed orders, briefs, and petitions for installment payments; reviews docuements for substantive and procedural compliance with the Michigan Court Rules; and notifies parties of errors and required corrections.
8. Processes procedurally and substantively correct documents.
9. Prepares case files for scheduled hearings.
10. Prepares dispositions and court orders for defendants pleading guilty at arraignment.
11. Types probation orders; orders to pay fines, fees, costs and restitution and the payment due dates therefor; orders to release bonds to third-party payors; makes agreements to transfer bond money for the payment of fines, fees, costs and restitution; orders of commitment to jail and other documents and forms required to close cases after pleas and sentencings. 
12. Prepares orders for the magistrate and judge in adjudicated traffic matters, enters orders into the case management and imaging systems and distributes copies to defendants and case files. 
13. Prepares abstracts of traffic cases for the Secretary of State and transmits them for entry into driving records.
14. Prepares Orders to Show Cause and schedules hearings for defendants who fail to appear for scheduled hearings or to comply with the terms and conditions of their Court orders.
15. Prepares notices to appear; and prepares proofs of service and serves notices to involved parties by mail.
16. Prepares and processes default judgments for civil infractions.
17. Prepares and processes driver's license suspensions.
18. Prepares and processes bench warrants and enters and withdraws warrants from LEIN/TALON systems.
19. Prepares and processes documentation to bind cases over to Circuit Court.
20. 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.
21. Prints register of actions for closed cases and distributes to appropriate parties.
22. May balance bond book and prepare checks to refund bonds, apply bonds to fines and costs or forfeit bonds to the Court.
23. May balance daily cash drawer.
24. May serve as a back-up recorder for a judge.
25. May open and distribute incoming mail and prepare and process out-going mail.
26. May perform other functions as necessary to ensure proper caseflow and timely litigation of cases in the Court.

1. Excellent customer relation skills.
2. Basic knowledge of Michigan Court Rules and Michigan Secretary of State Traffic Benchbook.
3. Basic knowledge of court administrative procedures and practices.
4. Basic knowledge of traffic, civil, and criminal court processes.
5. Fast and accurate keyboarding skills.
6. Accurate mathematical skills.
7. Working knowledge of privacy requirements related to court records.
8. Computer literacy and knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet and database management applications.
9. Knowledge of document imaging protocols and equipment operation.
10. Knowledge of court recording protocols and requirements and the proper use of court recording equipment.
11. LEIN user knowledge.
12. Good time management and organizational skills.
13. Good verbal and written communications skills.
14. Excellent interpersonal and human relations skills.
15. 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.

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.