Court Clerks Job Description

The Court Clerk performs clerical duties in court of law; prepare docket of cases to be called; secure information for judges; and contact witnesses, attorneys, and litigants to obtain information for court.

Objectives:

The Court Clerk prepares dockets or calendars of cases to be called, using typewriters or computers. In most cases the dockets are prepared on a computer in order to preserve the paper work for future references. The Court Clerk records case dispositions, court orders, and arrangements made for payment of court fees. The Court Clerk answers inquiries from the general public regarding judicial procedures, court appearances, trial dates, adjournments, outstanding warrants, summonses, subpoenas, witness fees, and payment of fines. The Court Clerk prepares and issues orders of the court, including probation orders, release documentation, sentencing information, and summonses. The Court Clerk prepares documents recording the outcomes of court proceedings. The Court Clerk instructs parties about timing of court appearances. The Court Clerk explains procedures or forms to parties in cases or to the general public. The Court Clerk searches files and contacts witnesses, attorneys, and litigants to obtain information for the court. The Court Clerk follows procedures to secure courtrooms and exhibits, such as money, drugs, and weapons. The Court Clerk amends indictments when necessary and endorses indictments with pertinent information.

Activities:

The Court Clerk uses computers and computer systems including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. The Court Clerk enters, transcribes, records, stores, or maintains information in written or electronic form. The Court Clerk observes, receives, and otherwise obtains information from all relevant sources pertaining to the court docket before the hearing takes place. The Court Clerk must communicate with people outside their courtroom, often representing the court that they are a part to others in relative situations. When one of the customers has a record in another court system the Court Clerk must be able to contact that system to sync all information for the hearing. The Court Clerk is responsible for compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. It is up to the Court Clerk to develop specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish their work in a timely manner.

The Court Clerk must establish and maintain interpersonal relationships in order to be affective. This requires the Court Clerk to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over a long period of time. The Court Clerk provides information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. The Court Clerk must keep up to date technically and apply new knowledge or information retrieved in order to do their job function properly. The Court Clerk performs day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Abilities and Skills:

• The Court Clerk needs the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• The Court Clerk needs the ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand especially when approaching the judge in a courtroom.
• The Court Clerk needs the ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• The Court Clerk needs the ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• The Court Clerk needs the ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules. They must make sure that they follow instructions according to the letter of the law and of course per the instructions of the judge.
• The Court Clerk needs the ability to see things at close range. Often they need to do a lot of reading and writing as well as proofing discoveries before any action is taken.
• The Court Clerk needs the ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• The Court Clerk needs knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• The Court Clerk needs knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.