MUNICIPAL COURT EXECUTIVE OFFICER

JOB CODE 10620

Effective Date: 08/11

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The fundamental reason this classification exists is to manage the activities of the operating divisions of the Phoenix Municipal Court. This class is responsible for the management and supervision of the work of a professional staff managing diversified and complex functions in the Municipal Court. The incumbent reports directly to the Presiding Judge of the Court, however, supervision is nominal and assignments are frequently initiated, deduced and/or anticipated from an awareness of general departmental needs or problems. Direct supervision is exercised over Court Administrators. The incumbent is responsible for proposing and recommending ways and means of improving departmental administrative, operational and judicial policies, systems, procedures and programs. Responsibilities involve frequent interaction and coordination with elected officials, top level management, judges, City departments and non-City governmental and quasi-governmental agencies. The incumbent represents the Presiding Judge as required on interdepartmental coordinating committees and task forces.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

 Oversees the assignment and management of the work of all Court employees providing administrative and operational support to courtroom judges;  Continually evaluates and analyzes statistical data concerning case flow management throughout the Municipal Court, and prepares periodic reports based on that data;  Analyzes and recommends revisions to the Court's scheduling calendar, as required;  Responds verbally and in writing to complaints and inquiries from the public, the City Council, the City Manager's Office, and other City departments and explains relevant administrative and judicial policies and procedures;  Consults with and advises the Presiding Judge and management team regarding administrative, operational and legal issues and problems affecting the Municipal Court;  Determines, with the Presiding Judge, departmental budget and staffing priorities for the operating divisions;  Anticipates the Municipal Court’s arising needs based on changing legal, demographic or technological trends;

 Directs the development and installation of procedural, technical, and operational improvements;  Works with the Assistant Presiding Judge to facilitate cooperation between the Municipal Court’s judges and courtroom and operational staff;  Demonstrates continuous effort to understand all aspects of the Municipal Court’s operations, improve operations, increase efficiency, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, mitigate costs, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

 Effective supervisory and personnel practices and techniques.  Systems and procedures development and analysis.  Criminal, civil, appellate and administrative law and procedure, including a detailed knowledge of Arizona court rules.  Law enforcement procedures relevant to the operations of the Municipal Court.  The Arizona legislative process and legislative drafting.  Ethical responsibilities of judges and Court Staff.  Case flow management techniques and best practices.  The use of technology in the practice of law and in the courtroom.  Legal requirements and procedures for efficient juror administration and utilization.  Court case calendaring methods, priorities, needs and development.  Ethical and procedural aspects of constitutionally mandated governmental separation of powers.  The criminal justice system, particularly as it related to the operation of limited- jurisdiction courts.

Ability to:

 Perform a broad range of supervisory responsibilities over a large staff.  Analyze staff morale conditions and motivate staff performance.  Assess individual staff strengths as well as areas needing improvement, and promote staff development at all levels of the Municipal Court.  Communicate verbally with customers, staff, the media, and the public in face-to- face one-on-one settings, in group settings, or using a telephone.  Formulate and implement strategic plans and programs.  Anticipate legal and technological challenges to Court operations.  Review draft legislation and rule change proposals, analyze potential impacts on Court operations, and suggest appropriate responses.

 Establish and maintain effective working relationships, especially with judges, members of the practicing bar, the County Superior Court, Attorney, and Sherriff’s Office, the Arizona Administrative Office of the Courts, the Police Department and Arizona Department of Public Safety, City management and departments, and community groups.  Analyze complex work procedures and job methods to apply processing and technique improvements and promote efficiency and improved performance.  Write professionally with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.  Present ideas concisely and effectively, both verbally and in writing.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

Five years of progressively responsible experience in public administration, court case flow management, case scheduling, juror management, organizational analysis and behavior, including a minimum of three years of responsible supervisory experience, two years of which was in a criminal justice agency, and a degree in law or a master's degree in court management, public or business administration, or its equivalent. In addition, some knowledge of personnel management and computerized information systems is required. Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.