The Tenth Judicial District, which includes eight counties in the Northern Suburbs of the Twin Cities Metro Area (Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright), is seeking attorneys to serve as Conciliation Court referees. Conciliation Court, also known as "small claims court," is a division of District Court and handles claims for money and property that do not exceed $15,000 and consumer credit transactions that do not exceed $4,000. Conciliation Court referees preside over calendars of approximately 25 cases per half day session in a remote setting. Per-diem Conciliation Court referee coverage will begin July 1, 2024, with possibility of coverage needed earlier based on program transitions. 

Please note that these are contractor positions with the Tenth District. Candidates contracted for these opportunities will not be employees of the Minnesota Judicial Branch. They will be compensated on a contractual, per-diem basis, at the rate of $75.00 per half day, and they are excluded from eligibility of benefits available to MJB employees. The engagement of Conciliation Court Referees is governed by Minnesota Statute 491A.03.

EXAMPLES OF JOB DUTIES:

• Serves at the pleasure of the Chief Judge or designee
• Exercises all the duties and powers granted to a Conciliation Court Referee by M.S.A. 491A.03, Subdivision 1
• Familiarity with M.S.A. 491A.01 through 491.03
• Compliance with the Code of Judicial Conduct as adopted by the MN Supreme Court 
• Refrains from making any extra-judicial public statements about pending proceedings
• Prohibits broadcasting, televising, recording, or taking photographs in the courtroom or virtual hearing during sessions of Conciliation Court or recesses
• Prioritizes assignments and disposes promptly of the business of Conciliation Court
• Affords every party in a proceeding the full right to be heard according to law and maintains compliance with Rule 2.9 of the Code of Judicial Conduct
• Conciliation Court referees shall not serve as a lawyer in the County's conciliation court for which they serve, nor as a lawyer in any appeals from judgments originating from the County's conciliation court for which they serve
• Presides over assigned hearings; reviews court calendars before scheduled sessions of court; grants continuances; reads or listens to allegations and determines if action is supported by facts; hears and evaluates evidence of witnesses and technical experts; listens to presentation of case; and rules on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony 
• Prepares orders that meet Judicial Branch standards
• Carries out work assignments with a substantial degree of discretion and independent judgement in accordance with applicable state laws, rules of court and local practices
• Maintains order and decorum in all proceedings and treats all parties with courtesy and respect
• Perform legal research if needed
• Ability to learn, adapt, and utilize technology in operation of electronic devices

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be a licensed attorney in the State of Minnesota
• Must have at least five years of experience as a practicing attorney
• Must be in good standing and have no disciplinary actions within the past five years
• Must reside in Minnesota 
• May not have a client base that would create a frequent conflict in the type of cases most commonly heard in conciliation court (e.g. credit card debt, landlord tenant)
• Must pass background check(s)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Civil litigation experience
• Possesses experience, knowledge and comfort with technology and electronic records
• Work well under pressure with demonstrated time management and problem-solving efficiencies
• Attention to detail and ability to foster cooperations with effective interpersonal skills

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Service and Compensation: 

• Must not cancel a scheduled assignment more than twice in a twelve-month period
• Will be compensated in the amount of $75 per half day court session

 District Specific Information: 

• If working remotely, access to a computer and webcam with reliable, high-speed internet allowing for video and document sharing
• Work will include hearings across multiple counties of the Tenth Judicial District
• Option to work remotely or in person at the Tenth Judicial District Office located in City of Ramsey
• Typical scheduling for this work is one morning calendar or one afternoon calendar, with a potential for both in the same day
• Must serve at least once every three months.
• Time to complete a calendar depends upon the number of cases assigned, but typically, should not exceed three hours
• Orders from hearing must be produced to Court Administration within 48 hours of the hearing

Instructions to Apply:
Please apply for this position online by clicking the Apply link near the top of this page. (For instructions on creating and submitting your online application, click on the How to Apply link in the left-hand menu at the top of this page).

This posting will be accepting applications and interviewing until the roles are filled.

Contact Information:
Please contact the Tenth District Human Resources Department with questions regarding this posting via email at 10thDistrictHumanResources@courts.state.mn.us.
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 at 10thDistrictHumanResources@courts.state.mn.us.The Minnesota Judicial Branch is an Equal Opportunity Employee. It is the policy of the 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.