Magistrate Judge (41-8401) Aniak

About the Department

The Alaska Court System is seeking a dedicated individual to fulfill the mission of the court as a Magistrate Judge (salary range 22).  The incumbent will serve as a full-time circuit magistrate based in Aniak and will travel to rural courts on a regular basis to conduct court business and perform clerical functions. Weekend and holiday work will be required.  

Regular job duties will include the following:

Performs judicial duties as a magistrate judge for the district and superior courts in accordance with Alaska law, presiding over a wide variety of criminal, civil, family, juvenile, and probate-related proceedings. Reviews and issues warrants, conducts hearings and trials, researches legal issues, and applies current statutes, court rules, and appellate decisions to ensure the fair and efficient administration of justice. Serves as a training judge for magistrates, collaborates with other judicial officers on policy and procedural matters, and participates in statewide and district training initiatives. Oversees case management and court operations by maintaining court records, supporting case processing, managing financial transactions, and ensuring compliance with court procedures. Travels to rural court locations as needed, provides coverage for other courts within the district, and operates and maintains courtroom recording systems and other office equipment in support of judicial operations.

The Magistrate Judge requires substantial knowledge of: 

• Alaska Statutes and Alaska Rules of Court.
• Local ordinances and bail schedules.
• Court of Appeals and Supreme Court decisions.
• Formal courtroom proceedings.
• Advanced legal research techniques.
• Principles of law and complex office and policy management.

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

This position is in the exempt service; the incumbent serves "at-will" to the hiring authority. This position is exempt from provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is not overtime-eligible.

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

TO BE CONSIDERED:  Please attach a letter of interest, comprehensive resume, and a list of three professional references.
 
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.
 

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.

Position Duties

Minimum Qualifications:
 

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.

Minimum Qualifications

This applies to your application submission. 

 
Documents to be Attached to the Application (REQUIRED):

• A letter of interest, completed per the instructions below.    
• Post-secondary transcripts, if using education to meet minimum qualifications.
• A list of three (3) professional references who have had supervisory authority over you, including your most recent supervisor, along with their daytime contact phone numbers and email addresses.

LETTER OF INTEREST
Please attach a professional letter of interest to your application before submitting it online or, if unable to attach to your application, email it to [email protected].
     
Your letter of interest 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) Express your interest in employment with the Alaska Court System.
     
 The letter will be used to help determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.
 

LEGAL EMPLOYMENT
The 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 EXPERIENCE
If 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.
     
EDUCATION
If 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 EDUCATION
Education 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 PROCEDURE
Applicants 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 NOTICE
This 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 REVIEW
To 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 CHECK
A 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.

Other Qualifications

Contact Title: Recruitment
E-Mail:  [email protected]

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

 Phone Number: (907) 264-8242

Benefits

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerState of AlaskaAddress PO Box 110201

Juneau, Alaska, 99811 Phone(800) 587-0430 (Statewide toll-free number)
(907) 465-4095 (Juneau and out-of-state callers)Website http://workplace.alaska.gov/