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Job Description

CHIEF PRESIDING JUDGE

(Non-classified)

JOB CODE 10590

Effective Date:	12/92X

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The fundamental reason this classification exists is to perform professional legal and administrative work while serving as the administrative head of the Municipal Court. Responsibilities include complying with the Constitution and laws of the State, rules and directives of the Supreme Court, and charter provisions and ordinances of the City. The Court has an exercised original jurisdiction of all proceedings for the violation of any ordinance of the City and concurrent jurisdiction over all misdemeanor violations of the law of the State, committed within the City. The Municipal Court tries both jury and nonjury cases. The Court is not a court of record. Duties require the exercise of considerable independent judgement in adjudicating cases. Work is performed in accordance with law and is subject to review by a higher court by way of an appeal of special action. Supervision is exercised over City Judges and management staff. This class reports to the Mayor and City Council.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Supervises the work of other City Judges and the management staff, counsels them regarding all matter of policy, procedures and effective sentencing and offers suggestions and corrections;
• Supervises the work of other employees concerned with Court operations;
• Presides at arraignments, pre-trial conferences, trials and other special hearings in court and hears and disposes of cases;
• Performs extensive public relations activities;
• Reviews and supervises the maintenance of the trial docket;
• Approves bonds and signs criminal warrants and other legal documents;
• Assigns City Court Judges to serve in the divisions of the City Court;
• Records actions of the City Court;
• Appoints and removes, subject to the civil service of the City of Phoenix, for cause, all Court officers and personnel except City Court Judges;
• Prepares and supervises all arraignment, trial and sentencing schedules and other Court schedules as deems necessary;
• Collects, safekeeps and transfers to the City Treasurer, all fines, penalties and fees collected in City Court except as otherwise provided by law;
• Files all reports required by the Constitution and Statutes of the State, and Charter and Ordinances of the City;
• Adopts regulations for the internal administration of the Court such as: records management, access and safekeeping; information dissemination; public relations; Court security; personnel conduct and intra-departmental contact;
• Prepares and administers the annual budget;
• Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless customer service.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Substantive criminal law, Arizona and local rules of criminal procedure and the rules of evidence.

Ability to:

• Perform a broad range of supervisory responsibilities over others.
• Conduct Court, elicit pertinent information and confine witnesses and litigants to relevant issues.
• Produce written documents in the English language with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
• Appraise situations and make appropriate decisions rapidly.
• Communicate orally in the English language by telephone or in a one-to-one or group setting.
• Work cooperatively with other City employees and the public.
• Work safely without presenting a direct threat to self or others.

Additional Requirements:

• Admission to the bar in the State of Arizona.
• Some positions require the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee is not authorized to drive a City vehicle or if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
• Some positions will require the performance of other essential or marginal functions.

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:
Five years of experience in work involving considerable public contact, with responsible experience in community or civic organizations, including at least three years of judicial experience to that of City Judge or higher and possession of a law degree. Other combinations of education and experience which meet the minimum requirements may be substituted.