8113-Court Clerk

Job Description

SAN FRANCISCO CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION

CLASS TITLE: COURT CLERK CODE: 8113

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLASS:

Under direction, is responsible for keeping civil and criminal court records; processes legal documents and materials for court activities; schedules cases to come before the court; and performs related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES:

Individuals in class 8113 Court Clerk are responsible for performing highly specialized legal clerical work for the courts. Positions in this class provide administrative assistance to the judiciary in the courtroom and issue and file a variety of legal papers relative to court actions.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:

I. Prepares judge's and court clerk's daily calendars with pleadings, depositions, and other necessary papers prior to the hearing of cases.

2. Conducts drawing of juries and swears in members, collects jury feed and arranges for juror's pay; obtains jury instructions requested by counsel for court to accept or reject; swears in witnesses and interpreters; marks and arranges exhibits for display; prepares verdicts of civil and criminal trials for court and counsel approval; remains in attendance during jury deliberation; polls jury, enters abstract of all court proceedings in register of actions; notifies parties of court decisions and judgements.

3. Examines legal documents for correctness or form and format, sufficiency of information and conformance with legal filing procedures of the County Clerk's Office; maintains control records of the cases assigned to a judge as they are filed.

4. May do research fur the court; keeps statistics and prepares records, and reports concerning the work of the court; advises judge as to legal time limit far ruling on submitted matters; prepares documents for judge's signature.

5. Files, indexes, and enters in the register or actions proceedings of the criminal court; accepts bail, issues releases for prisoners; maintains ledger account and an index of deposits, withdrawals and bail forfeited; receives, indexes and maintains records or exhibits submitted in criminal cases.

6. Issues and files a variety of legal papers and reviews them for jurisdiction, conformance with governing court orders, codes and regulations and presence of required related documents.

7. Sets hearing dates for probate petitions; maintains records of receipts and numbers documents with permanent case numbers; certifies and prepares exemplification of records.

8. In the Sheriff's Department, receives and examines a variety of writs, process and orders of court for service and execution, examining for correctness and sufficiency or documents and fees; calculates proper fees and advises litigants and counsel regarding Sheriff's procedures; issues releases for real property under Sheriff's levy of attachment and execution; reviews current legislation pertaining to civil code and code of civil procedure for operative dates; balances fee receipts for transmittal to city treasurer.

9. In the City Attorney's Office, maintains calendars of cases: sets up depositions securing certified shorthand reporters and interpreters; notifies deputy city attorneys regarding times for court appearances, depositions, answers and demurrers; files all pleadings, briefs and motions by the city within appropriate jurisdictions (City, State and Federal courts) in accordance with the rules of each jurisdiction.

10. May assist in the training of new employees.

CLASS TITLE: COURT CLERK CODE: 8113

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Training and Experience: Requires completion of high school, supplemented by four years of responsible clerical experience, including one year of experience in legal or court work or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Requires a good knowledge of: Court procedures and practices; various codes and rules of court; departmental rules, regulations and procedures; modern office practices and techniques.

Requires ability to: Record court proceedings accurately in legible handwriting or by typing when appropriate to the court to which assigned; exercise good judgment in evaluating situations and carrying out directives of the court; maintain confidential court records and prepares prescribed reports; type court documents; establish effective working relationships with members of the legal profession and the public.

AMENDED: April 29, 1982

Standard Information

Disaster Service Work

All City and County of San Francisco employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Historic and future compensation