Magistrate Judge 4 (41-3182) Anchorage - Alaska Residents Only

Full Job Description

The Alaska Court System (ACS) is accepting applications from qualified individuals to serve as a Magistrate Judge on Team 3 with the Anchorage Trial Court.

The incumbent will be appointed as standing master to adjudicate Superior Court cases and recommend decisions to Superior Court judges in contested and uncontested matters.

Under general direction of the Presiding Judge, and pursuant to Alaska Statute (AS 22.15) and Alaska Rules of Court, the children’s magistrate judge team’s caseload includes presiding over child in need of aid and juvenile delinquency cases.

Additionally, the magistrate judge will handle domestic violence/stalking protection cases; dissolution & default divorce/custody cases; mental health commitments; and change of name matters.

The incumbent will have occasional “on-call” after-hours/weekend duty dealing with search warrants; arrest warrants; telephonic bail hearings; and telephonic delinquency arraignments.

Magistrate Judges are appointed to a four-year term and serve a one-year probationary period. Following successful completion of the probationary period, an incumbent may only be removed from office for cause. A Magistrate Judge may be reappointed to additional four-year terms.

A Magistrate Judge is responsible for the legal work required to conduct hearings and other related activities in accord with appropriate state statutes, municipal codes, and court rules.

Duties require a high degree of independent judgment to determine if the action cited in the case is supported by the facts.

A Magistrate Judge 4 requires knowledge of:

• Alaska statutes, rules of court, regulations, and local ordinances.
• Formal courtroom procedures.
• Advanced legal research techniques.
• The principles of law and the principles of complex office and policy management.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited law school with a LLB or JD degree AND active membership in the Alaska Bar Association (ABA).

TO BE CONSIDERED: Please attach a letter of interest, comprehensive resume, a list of three professional references, and a writing sample no more than 10 pages in length.

NOTE: Applicants invited to interview will be required to provide information regarding their involvement in any legal proceedings in which they were a party in a non-representative capacity, and undergo a criminal background and credit check.

Exceptional Benefits for Full-Time Employees

We offer a competitive benefits package that includes 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, and optional vision coverage, and employer-paid life insurance.

Employees are enrolled in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) and the Alaska Supplemental Annuity Plan (SBS), with access to the Alaska Deferred Compensation Plan.

Personal leave is accrued for vacation, illness, or personal needs.

Enjoy peace of mind and long-term security while serving your community.

See http://doa.alaska.gov/drb/index.html for additional information.

IMPORTANT: Please attach a letter of interest in employment with the Alaska Court System. Failure to submit a letter may disqualify you from consideration for an interview.

For more information on the Alaska Court System, please visit:
http://www.courts.alaska.gov

For information about what state courts do, please watch the following short video:
VIDEO: The who, what, when, where and how of state courts

The Alaska Court System is an EEO employer and proudly promotes diversity.

Requirements

1. Must be a citizen of the United States of America and of the State of Alaska.
2. Must be at least 21 years of age.
3. Must be a resident of Alaska for at least six months immediately preceding appointment as magistrate.

Qualifications

This applies to your application submission.

Documents to be Attached to the Application (REQUIRED):

• A letter of interest, completed per the instructions below.
• Resume.
• Writing sample, no more than 10 pages in length.
• A list of three (3) professional references who have had supervisory authority over you along with their daytime contact phone numbers and email addresses.

LETTER OF INTEREST
Please attach this to your application before submitting it online or, if unable to attach to your application email it torecruitment@akcourts.gov.

Your letter should: 1) Be professionally written and include proper format, grammar, spelling and punctuation. 2) Explain how you meet the minimum qualifications of the position.

3) Explain why you are the best candidate for the position. Your letter will be used to help determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.

If you do not attach a professional letter of interest, you may not move on to the interview phase.

LEGAL EMPLOYMENTThe State’s online recruitment system, Workplace Alaska, requires applicants to certify that they have a legal right to accept employment in the United States.

It is the responsibility of the employee to maintain the appropriate documentation to accept or continue legal employment. The Alaska Court System does not sponsor visas.

WORK EXPERIENCEIf using work experience not already documented in your application, provide the employer’s name, your job title, dates of employment and whether full or part-time.

Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and Minimum Qualifications are clearly met.

If they are not, the applicant will not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

EDUCATIONIf post-secondary education is required to meet the Minimum Qualifications, you must fill in the Education and Training section of the application.

If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of credit hours earned in the Degree Obtained field.

Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications for the position and are required with each application.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATIONEducation completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the minimum qualifications listed above.

If utilizing this education, you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S.

education programs; or an accredited U.S.

post-secondary institution reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the post-secondary institution.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

SELECTION PROCEDUREApplicants will be required to meet the Minimum Qualifications as outlined above. Unfortunately, we cannot always interview all applicants.

If your application is considered "not qualified," you will be sent a notice within two weeks after the closing date for this recruitment.

If you believe your application was improperly disqualified, you may appeal this decision to the Human Resources Director at 820 West 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501-2005 within five workdays from the date the notice is mailed to you.

Qualified applications will be forwarded to the hiring supervisor.

MULTIPLE VACANCIES NOTICEThis recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy.

The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to sixty (60) days after this recruitment closes.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

NEPOTISM REVIEWTo avoid a conflict of interest and the appearance of impropriety, applicants who have a spouse, close relative, and/or regular member of their household employed by the Alaska Court System may not be considered for employment without the approval of the Administrative Director.BACKGROUND CHECKA background check will be conducted prior to an employment offer being made.

Applicants who have prior convictions that have been set aside under the terms of a suspended imposition of sentence (SIS) may answer "no" to these questions.

If you are not sure if your situation requires disclosure, please contact the Human Resources Department at (907) 264-8242. The Court System reserves the right to confirm all background information.

Additional Information

Contact Title: Recruitment
E-Mail: recruitment@akcourts.gov

Mailing Address: 820 West 4th Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501

Phone Number: (907) 264-8242