Job Details for Clerk of Court

The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, which serves more than 13 million people residing within its 35 counties, seeks a dedicated and experienced administrator to be the Clerk of Court of this “mega-district.” The Middle District of Florida includes 5 divisional courthouses (Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers) and employs approximately 300 people (including 160 in the clerk’s office). The Clerk of Court oversees the operational and administrative functions needed to support its 15 active district judges, 18 senior judges, and 18 magistrate judges as they manage one of the heaviest caseloads in the country. Appointed by the district judges, the Clerk of Court serves as the Middle District’s chief administrative officer and reports directly to the Chief Judge. The Clerk communicates regularly with the district and magistrate judges, clerk’s office staff, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the Circuit Executive for the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and other related agency heads. The Court employs two chief deputy clerks who report directly to the Clerk.

Operational Responsibilities

• Directing the administration of all court operations, including information technology, space and facilities, security, budget, finance, procurement, audits, human resources, training, jury administration, and planning.
• Analyzing and improving all aspects of court operations, ensuring that court plans and policies, forms, and internal controls are updated, with frequent review of staffing, the budget, and expenditures.
• Implementing Administrative Office protocols and maintaining statistical and narrative reports.
• Providing support to judicial committees and preparing and maintaining meeting minutes.

Staffing Responsibilities

• Overseeing the hiring, development and retention of highly competent staff.
• Supervising the organization of staff workspace and duties to optimize performance.

Financial Responsibilities

• Preparing and managing the annual budget.
• Strategic budget planning.
• Forecasting budget trends, oversight of internal audits and financial controls, and oversight of non-appropriated fund account.
• Maintaining sound fiscal practices including maintaining separation of duties, fee collection, restitution, authorization of expenditures, and juror payments.
• Frequently updating the Chief Judge on the clerk’s office budget and staffing.

Case Management and Records Management Responsibilities

• Directing staff responsible for the processing of civil and criminal cases and the maintenance of official court records.
• Overseeing the management of juror qualification, utilization, and attendance.
• Ensuring effective controls in the case management system to minimize human error, maintain integrity of the official court records, and provide accurate assignment of cases.
• Overseeing implementation of the Criminal Justice Act plan.

Information Technology Responsibilities

• Supervising the information technology systems and processes.
• Determining present and future automation needs.
• Anticipating technology trends.
• Improving existing systems to maximize efficiency.
• Ensuring effective systems and controls for managing and anticipating cybersecurity threats.

Space & Facilities Responsibilities

• Overseeing management of space and facilities at 5 separate courthouses.
• Drafting proposals for funding of space and facilities projects.
• Overseeing construction projects, including financial controls.