Govt. Tribal Court- Court Administrator/Magistrate (Current Team Member Preference Applies - Closes 5/11/2026)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Court Administrator/Magistrate manages all administrative functions and the daily operations of the Tribal Court and Court of Appeals. Manages personnel, finances, and is responsible for all case management. The position performs professional advanced executive and legal assistance for the Chief Judges of both courts and the Associate Judges and is responsible for the programs operated by the trial level and appellate Courts. The Court Administrator/Magistrate serves in a quasi-judicial capacity as prescribed by Code and court rule, and as further authorized by the Chief Judge.          

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (includes, but is not limited to, the following)

• Manages daily operations of Tribal Court.  Manages case flow, records management, fiscal management, statistical analysis and projections, public relations, technology management, court security management, and administrative personnel management.
• Coordinates and provides administrative support to the judiciary. 
• Develops and establishes court policies and procedures in conjunction with Chief Judge.
• Establishes priorities, monitors and evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of policies and procedures.  Develops and implements methods to improve services.  Investigates, analyzes, and resolves problems related to program coordination and operation.
• Drafts court orders and opinions under direction of Chief Judge. 
• Manages court docket, jail inmate placements and coordinates jail placement and juvenile offender placement.
• Presides over preliminary hearings in civil, criminal and traffic cases; reviews ex parte and other emergency petitions and motions, adjudicates traffic, landlord/tenant and civil contempt cases as requested by chief judge; performs wedding ceremonies; swears in witnesses and law enforcement officials to issue complaints and to testify, sets bond, drafts orders; LEIN law enforcement information network entry; conducts legal research and maintains accurate resource material.
• Presides as the judicial officer over Domestic Violence Court docket.
• Manages the operation of the Court of Appeals; prepares schedules, assigns cases, review of case record, cited authority, law and statutes; consults with appellate judges; prepares pre-hearing memoranda; coordinates and schedules oral argument; drafts orders and briefing schedules.         
• Solicits for new appellate judges upon term expirations and presents candidates to the Board of Directors for approval and appointments.
• Manages and operates National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as Tribe’s technical operator.  Receives and responds to all FBI and law enforcement inquiries for information on wanted persons and probationers.  Validates and authenticates bench warrants and performs person checks and supervised released per NICIC/FBI/DOJ rules and regulations.
• Monitors current, newly adopted, and proposed legislation that may affect the Courts; continued evaluation of court programs, policies, and procedures.
• Serves as liaison between the court and all agencies, attorneys, board of directors, departments, judges, and courts to resolve and maintain cases and case flow.      
• Grant acquisition and administration, monitoring and reporting. 
• Continued evaluation and management of court programs and specialty programs and procedures such as drug courts, domestic violence court and the required logistics of each.
• Reviews programs for compliance and maintains and updates policy and procedure.
• Monitors functioning of audio and video recording equipment to ensure accuracy of record creation, and logs of proceedings.  Assumes custody of admitted evidence and ensures safety of storage.  Coordinates the preparation of official transcripts.  Ensures operates of BIA digital recording equipment.
• Plans, organizes, and directs court services in accordance with court rules, applicable laws and policies.  Oversees preparation of statistical reports, determines organizational requirements and assigns personnel to develop and maintain court programs as needed.  Conducts compliance reporting, data collection and entry, analytical reporting and data and financial review in the court's case management system.
• Supervision, management, and direction of all administrative Court staff; interviews, hires, and trains employees, plans, assigns, and directs work, appraises performances, rewards and disciplines employee and addresses complaints and resolves problems.
• Serves as Court’s financial manager in monitoring expenditures, preparing invoices to other agencies and departments for services performed; balances account receivable and restitution; prepares budgets; confers with auditors an accounting staff regarding financial controls and procedures and implements audit recommendations.                           

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: (includes, but is not limited to, the following)

• Performs Court Clerk duties and other staff duties in their absence.
• Maintains inventory of assets; attends meetings, conferences, trainings, higher education seminars, etc. on behalf of the court and its programs; Administers oaths of office; creates job descriptions, develops job postings/ads for appellate judge; interviews applicants and potential employees.                                  
• Negotiates and re-negotiates contracts between attorneys and service agencies; develops viable program objectives and redefines scope of policies and procedures.
• Acts as Electronic Court Recorder, shorthand dictation for all jury and bench trials.
• Supervises Court personnel as delegated by Chief Judge.
• Serves as the Tribal representative for the national Inter-Tribal Working Group under the Violence Against Women Act.

CONTACTS:           

Immediate peers, peers in other departments, immediate supervisor/manager, managers in other departments, executives, Board of Directors, customers, outside vendor/service provides, court clients, defendants, probationers, attorneys and jail/prison administrative staff, other circuit and district courts, law enforcement agencies, tribal community, general public, federal, state departments, judges, justices, FBI, BIA, U.S. Attorney and legislators.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Position light with lifting of 20 pounds, with frequent lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds. Physical factors include constant use of hearing, near/midrange/far vision, depth perception, color/field of vision and typing; frequent standing, walking, sitting, kneeling, reaching, manual handling and driving and occasional carrying/lifting, pushing/pulling, climbing, stooping and bending. Working conditions include constant computer and equipment use and occasional exposure to electric shock, chemicals, insecticides/pesticides, infectious exposure, patient and/or client contact and needles and syringes. Protective equipment/clothing needed to perform job provided.

REQUIREMENTS:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Law, Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Business Administration, Accounting, or a closely related field required. A combination of relevant education and progressively responsible experience in court administration or a legal setting may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience: Minimum of five years of progressively expansive legal experience in a court or legal office setting which requires knowledge, interpretation and application of court rules, procedures and statutes in addition to above education requirement. Prior supervisory and legal administration experience preferred.

Certification/License: Must be certified in Court Administration and in LEIN or become certified within 1 year of employment. Will be required to undergo and successfully pass a background check. Must maintain a good moral character standing. Must comply with the Sault Tribe’s Drug-Free Workplace Policy which may include random drug tests.                                

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of court case processes, records management, legal terminology, civil and criminal law, and courtroom procedures required. Knowledge of financial management, accounting, practices and formats for strategic planning required. Knowledge of the fundamental subjects in law, legal research (Westlaw or Lexis), federal, state and tribal court rules and laws required. Knowledge of grant administration, writing, data collection and reporting required. Ability to interpret, explain domestic violence cycle, familiarization with substance abuse and mental health issues preferred. Comprehension of variety of evidentiary documents, police reports, laboratory and drug testing results, etc. preferred.   Must be able to apply conventional fact-finding, analytical and problem-solving methods, draw conclusions; ability to communicate excellently, both orally and in writing to provide services, coordinate with officials and agencies, and to prepare reports, documents, orders, etc. in relaying complexed matters. Must have excellent organization and prioritization ability. Must be capable of public speaking/presentations, conduct formal and informal meetings and maintain tact and professionalism under stress and in stressful and potentially dangerous situations. Must be able to work all hours, on-call, weekends.  Must be able to use computer and software programs: Microsoft office, COMPAS, Justware Case Management system, BIS audio and video recording system, all other office equipment. Must maintain confidentiality. Native American preferred.     

This job description outlines the general scope and level of responsibilities associated with the position. It is not intended to be an employment contract, nor does it represent a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, or requirements. The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians reserves the right to modify, add, reassign, or combine job duties or positions, in whole or in part, at any time.

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