JOB DESCRIPTION (Salary – $144,969.84 Annually)

Hennepin County District Court is seeking to fill a Judicial Referee position in our Civil Division, assigned to Housing Court and Harassment Court with the potential to be reassigned to other areas of the court as needed. The appointment will be made by the Hennepin County District Court Chief Judge.
 
This position supports the Judicial Branch’s mission to increase access to justice for all citizens in the State of Minnesota.
 
This position will be located in the Hennepin County Government Center, in downtown Minneapolis.

 Example of Duties

• Hears contested and uncontested cases, trials, motions, and hearings as assigned; instructs parties and witnesses as to their rights.
• Questions witnesses; inquires as to the causes for which the persons are brought before the court.
• Rules on objections to evidence; evaluates evidence.
• Makes decisions on factual and legal questions; prepares findings and orders regarding the disposition of cases.
• Completes and prepares documents for a judge’s signature; confers with attorneys and the public in regard to court matters.
• Conducts legal research to prepare for court proceedings and litigated matters
• Hears cases in Housing Court and Harassment Court, and removals and recusals from Conciliation Court.
• Acts as a District Housing Court expert for the bench and as a liaison with partner agencies and the community, giving presentations on Housing Court to judicial, legal and community groups.
• Performs related work as required by the Court.

 Typical Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school; and
• A combined five years’ experience as either an Attorney representing and/or advising clients in practice, or as a Judicial Officer.

Minimum Licensure/Certifications

• Admission to the Bar of the State of Minnesota; eligibility to practice law before the courts of the State of Minnesota.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of state laws and court rulings as they pertain to the assigned division of the court.
• Thorough knowledge of general and specific law, state laws, established precedents, and sources of legal reference.
• Thorough knowledge of court procedures, rules of evidence, and trial and courtroom procedures.
• Ability to be fair, impartial, and sensitive to the needs of a diverse population.
• Ability to apply legal principles and specialized knowledge to individual cases and problems.
• Ability to prepare for hearings and trials, hear difficult cases and present findings, decisions, and other material clearly and logically in oral and written form.
• Ability to maintain control and courtroom decorum during high volume calendars with parties in crisis who often have limited understanding of court proceedings
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Preferred Qualifications

• Courtroom and litigation experience in Housing Court.
• Extensive experience with real estate and housing court matters.
• Works well under pressure with excellent time-management skills.
• Extensive experience as a problem-solving critical thinker.
• Possess a broad organizational perspective to improve the administration of justice in Hennepin County District Court.

 Supplemental Information

The Minnesota Judicial Branch (MJB) is committed to providing fair and equal access to justice. If you share this same commitment, desire a meaningful career serving the public, and want the opportunity to make a difference for your community, consider a career with us. We celebrate and are committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and actively seek and encourage applications from persons with diverse backgrounds and characteristics. Minnesota Judicial Branch employees consistently express pride in their public service and in the quality of programs and services provided to customers, as well as appreciation for the teamwork and collaboration that is promoted within the MJB.

TO APPLY: Please apply online by following the Career Opportunities link on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website: www.mncourts.gov.  Complete and submit your online application with resume and cover letter attached.

All employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory results of background screening. An employment offer may be rescinded if the background screens identify job related concerns.

Please contact Melanie Johnson, Judicial Staffing Coordinator with questions regarding this posting via email: 4thRecruitment@courts.state.mn.us; Phone: (612)348-2298.

It is the policy of the Minnesota Judicial Branch that all decisions regarding employment are made without discrimination on the basis of disability. Please let us know if you need a reasonable accommodation for a disability to participate in the employee selection process by contacting Human Resources, 4th.Human.Resources@courts.state.mn.us.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Minnesota Judicial Branch that all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, promotions, and other terms and conditions of employment be made without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, disability, sexual orientation, or age. We value and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds.

The Minnesota Judicial Branch offers a comprehensive benefit package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, life and disability insurance.

For a more detailed overview of our regular employee benefits package, please follow this link Employee Benefits Package

To apply, please submit your application to our Hennepin County District Court Law Clerk posting, which can be found by following the Career Opportunities link on the Minnesota Judicial Branch’s website: www.mncourts.gov/careers.