Job Specification
CHIEF MUNICIPAL COURT ADMINISTRATOR
DEFINITION:
Under direction of the Municipal Court Judge or the Municipal
Court Director, in a municipal court system consisting of multiple
courts within a single municipality, supervises a large staff
performing quasi-judicial and administrative functions related to
the operation of a municipal court; does related work as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
A Chief Municipal Court Administrator can only serve in a
Municipal Court system consisting of multiple courts within a single
municipality. Coordinates work operations among subordinate
units and with other organizations on matters affecting the operations
and programs of the courts.
The Chief Municipal Court Administrator is responsible for
assuring that the work performed meets acceptable standards as
to quality and quantity, and has authority to establish work standards
and to prepare and issue instructions and procedures for its
accomplishment.
Positions in this class require the supervision of a large staff which
includes Assistant Chief Municipal Court Administrators, Municipal
Court Administrators, or Deputy Municipal Court Administrators on
a regular and recurring basis. Such supervision occupies a substantial
portion of the Chief Municipal Court Administrator's work time, and is
not of an infrequent, incidental, emergency, or temporary nature.
Employees in this class may perform some aspects of the duties
performed by subordinates, and are merely an adjunct to the primary
supervisory responsibilities.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Plans, develops, coordinates, and implements procedures for the
efficient and effective operation of a large municipal court system
consisting of multiple courts.
Assigns duties to court personnel and supervises and evaluates
their performance.
Provides instructions to office staff on activities related to the
implementation of court rules, state statutes, local ordinances,
and local court policies. Provides and/or arranges for training
for all office staff in their respective functions.
Develops administrative programs designed to achieve the
objectives of the Municipal Courts.
Analyzes, evaluates, and modifies office organizational
structure, as required.
Supervises staff who participate in case processing, which may
include determining whether a summons or warrant should be
issued, interacting with defendants, witnesses, and attorneys;
docketing; recording payments and fines; operating recording
machine during court proceedings; scheduling trial calendars,
and so forth.
May determine whether alleged facts justify the issuance of either
a summons or warrant for the arrest of the defendant. If a warrant
for arrest is issued, may determine bail amount consistent with
parameters established by Statutes and Rules of the Court.
Supervises the arranging of court sessions, assures that court
room facilities are available and maintained, and that appropriate
staff have been assigned.
Where authorized, sets conditions of pre-trial release in
accordance with bail schedules promulgated by the
Administrative Office of the Courts or by the Municipal Court.
Oversees court accounting, auditing, and the maintenance of
property controls and inventories.
Supervises and directs the disposition of correspondence.
Maintains liaison with the Municipal Court Judge, the governing
body, police departments, and other law enforcement and municipal
officials regarding court activities; provides requested information
and responds to issues or complaints involving court operations.
Submits budget requests and prepares necessary justification
based on past performance and projected needs; evaluates
available equipment and supplies and makes specific
recommendations regarding their acquisition.
Oversees the establishment and maintenance of required
records and files.
Prepares or supervises the preparation of summary and
statistical reports as required by the municipality, vicinage
level judicial managers, and/or the Administrative Office
of the Courts.
Initiates and conducts special research and analytical projects,
compiles and analyzes data, and makes recommendations
regarding court business and improvement based on these studies.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic
and/or manual recording and computerized information systems
used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
EDUCATION:
Graduation from High School or possession of an approved High School
equivalency certificate.
EXPERIENCE:
Four (4) years of experience in work related to the administrative
operation of a court, law enforcement agency, law office or
government agency, including the preparation and/or processing
of legal documents, two (2) years of which shall have been in a
supervisory capacity.
NOTE: Applicants who do not possess the required
education may substitute additional experience as indicated on a
year-for-year basis with thirty (30) semester hour credits being equal
to one year of experience.
SPECIAL NOTE: "Effective May 25, 2011, appointees must possess
a Municipal Court Administrator certificate issued by the New Jersey
Supreme Court, subject to the following exceptions: 1) A person
appointed provisionally prior to May 25, 2011 but after May 25, 2006 will
still have five years from the date of the provisional appointment to obtain
the certificate, even if the provisional subsequently receives a regular
appointment from an eligible list for the title but does not yet possess the
certificate at the time of regular appointment. 2. Interim appointments of
persons who do not possess a Municipal Court Administrator certificate
may be made pursuant to the provision for L.2006,c.20."
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license
valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than
employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties
of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the methods, techniques, and procedures used
in planning and implementing work activities.
Knowledge of the problems involved in the formulation of
effective policies and procedures for the office and other
clerical and related operations.
Knowledge of the methods used to prepare and supervise the
preparation of statistical and other reports containing findings,
conclusions, and recommendations.
Knowledge of the techniques used in budget preparation.
Knowledge of the rules, regulations, standards, and procedures
relating to court work and of their application to specific cases.
Knowledge of effective supervisory and management techniques.
Knowledge of general accounting and statistical record keeping
methods.
Knowledge of the methods used to establish and maintain
required records and files.
Ability to establish, implement, and monitor work goals and
objectives.
Ability to organize assigned work and develop effective work
methods.
Ability to give suitable assignments and instructions to
individuals and groups and to evaluate their performance.
Ability to effectively and efficiently coordinate the
administrative and clerical functions, staff, and facilities
of an organization.
Ability to prepare and supervisor the preparation of legal
papers used in court proceedings.
Ability to interpret applicable laws, ordinances, rules,
regulations, and procedures.
Ability to prepare clear, concise, accurate, and informative
reports, including those of a statistical nature.
Ability to take and maintain a firm and correct stand when
controversial matters are considered.
Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or
manual recording and information systems used by the
agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate
in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered
as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long
as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without
reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be
made because it would cause the employer undue hardship,
such persons may not be eligible.
This job specification is applicable to the following title code: | | Job
Spec
Code | Variant | State,
Local or
Common | Class of
Service | Work
Week | State
Class
Code | Local
Class
Code | Salary
Range | Note | | 07794 | | L | C | | N/A | 06 | | - |
This job specification is for local government use only.
Salary range is only applicable to state government.
Local salaries are established by individual local jurisdictions.
MER 5/25/2011 |
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