City Magistrate

Full Job Description

Are you looking for a position with a work/life balance? Do you want to earn four (4) weeks off during your first year of employment? Do you want low and no cost health insurance options?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to complete your application now. Work for the city you love!!!

The Courts Department is actively seeking a City Magistrate.

Did you know as a City of Jacksonville employee, you would also have twelve (12) paid holidays and a personal leave day as well?

In addition to health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance and flexible spending plans are also available.

City of Jacksonville employees are also eligible for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness after ten (10) years of public service and on-time payments.

The essential function of the position within the organization is to conduct hearings and submit recommended Orders/Judgments on matters referred to the Magistrates by judges.

The position is responsible for setting referred cases for hearing, conducting hearings, making decisions on cases and preparing Orders/Judgments that include findings of facts, conclusions of law and recommendation for the referring judge’s review.

The position works under the general supervision of a Chief Judge or designee.

Requirements

• Manage and review judge’s orders of referral, review the dockets and conduct legal research in preparation for hearings of family law/probate/dependency/civil cases.
• Make rulings on pre-trial and post judgement motions including discovery, dismissals, motions for temporary relief, clarification and re-hearings.
• Schedule cases and conduct hearings in compliance with applicable regulations and laws. Take and evaluate evidence and testimony from witnesses and technical experts and use that information in making legal factual recommendations, rule on evidentiary objections.
• Consider/analyze related research and information presented at hearings to make case determinations in the form of recommended orders/judgments to the courts.
• Timely prepare recommended Orders/Judgments which include findings of facts and conclusions of law for the referring judge’s review and signature at the conclusion of hearings.
• Read professional journals, updates of case law and attend conferences to stay current on the rules and statutes governing the assigned areas.

Qualifications

• Must be conversant with dependency and other family law proceedings in accordance with Chapters 39, 61, 63 and 742.

• Knowledge of and the ability to interpret and apply Florida statutes and case law concerning dependency and family matters.

• Knowledge of the rules of evidence and the ability to take evidence.

• Knowledge of civil, family, and juvenile procedures.

• Ability to work with litigants who are in stressful situations.

• Ability to communicate clearly.

Additional Information

• Juris doctorate degree from an accredited law school.

• Five years of experience in the practice of law, including one year in family law.

• Requires membership in good standing in the Florida Bar.

The Florida State Courts System is a criminal justice agency. The successful applicant will be fingerprinted for the purpose of conducting a criminal history record check. Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory criminal background check.

FULLY COMPLETED ONLINE APPLICATION IS REQUIRED. Apply at www.jacksonville.gov.

• Work history is required for all employment/volunteer work in which qualifications are being based.

When meeting/basing qualifications on education, a copy of your college transcript, with your social blacked out, is required with your application.

Transcripts do not need to be official, but must state your name, the school’s name, classes taken, grades received, type of degree, and date degree was conferred.

• If basing qualifications on being certified through a state or national animal control association, a copy of your certification is required with your application.

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You may also track the status of your application and see notifications by logging into your account.

Certain servicemembers and veterans, and the spouses and the family members of such service members and veterans, receive preference and priority, and certain servicemembers may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements, in employment and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

If claiming veteran's preference, you must attach a DD-214 (Member Form-4 copy) or military discharge papers, or equivalent certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs listing military status, dates of service and character of discharge.

You must also attach the Veterans Preference Certification Form and if applicable, the additional forms as noted here: http://www.coj.net/departments/employee-services/veterans-preference If a candidate believes he or she was not afforded veteran’s preference, he or she may file a written complaint, within 60 calendar days upon receipt of notification of the hiring decision, requesting an investigation to: Florida Department of Veterans AffairsAttention: Veterans’ Preference Coordinator11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 311-KLargo, FL 33778-1630Email: VeteransPreference@fdva.state.fl.us

The City of Jacksonville is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and will provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants in compliance with all applicable federal and state employment laws and the current interpretation of employment discrimination by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as set forth in Directive 0528.

There shall be no discrimination or harassment against any person with regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, political affiliation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, or any other impermissible factor in recruitment, hiring, compensation, training, placement, promotion, discipline, demotion, transfers, layoff, recall, termination, working conditions and related terms and conditions of employment.

We hire only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers.

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in the application/selection process, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please notify Debra Marchant at 904-255-1022 prior to the application deadline.

Persons using a TDD may call the contact person through the Florida Relay Service 711 or 1-800-955-8771.