ABOUT FRANKLIN COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT
The Franklin County Municipal Court is the largest and busiest municipal Court in the State of Ohio. The Court has fourteen judges in the General Division and one judge in the Environmental Division. Judges preside over civil, criminal, and traffic cases and conduct both jury and court trials. The Court's jurisdiction includes traffic cases, misdemeanor criminal cases, and civil cases where the amount at issue is $15,000 or less. The Environmental Division has exclusive jurisdiction to enforce local codes and regulations affecting real property, such as fire and building codes. The geographic jurisdiction of the Court is all of Franklin County and those portions of the City of Columbus that extend beyond the boundaries of Franklin County. Despite its jurisdiction and name, the Franklin County Municipal Court is the judicial branch of the City of Columbus government.
JOB PURPOSE AND OVERVIEW
A Service Bailiff is a court officer responsible for (1) providing personal and residential service of legal documents; (2) serving and enforcing Court orders to seize and reclaim tangible property; and (3) enforcing eviction actions in landlord-tenant cases. Service Bailiffs spend most of their time in the field and work throughout Franklin County and those portions of the City of Columbus that extend beyond the boundaries of Franklin County. The Department is comprised of the Director of Security, Deputy Chief Service Bailiff, Administrative Bailiff, and 11 Service Bailiffs.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION:
1. Serve Court documents by personal and residential service upon parties, witnesses, and others.
2. Serve and enforce Court orders that provide for the return of personal property, enforcing orders of execution to satisfy a debtor's obligation by seizing tangible property such as automobiles and furniture, and holding the property in the custody of the Court; lock up businesses as directed; and conduct public sales of property.
3. Serve eviction notices and supervise tenant evictions.
4. Maintain records and accurately enter and file returns of service as required to validate service of Court documents.
5. Use courier service software to route and track progress throughout the day.
6. Communicate remotely with the Department and schedule future service requests while in the field.
7. Operate a personal automobile for on-the-job transportation for extended periods.
8. Maintain adequate insurance as determined by the Director of Security. All Vehicles must pass safety standards set by Ohio law.
9. Pick up and deliver mail, documents, and packages for Judges and Court Administration.
10. Maintain and be responsible for court-issued equipment (manuals, radios, extra radio batteries, badges, mobile phones, and IDs).
11. Comprehensive working knowledge of the rules of conduct and procedures in the Service Bailiff Directives Manual.
12. The employee occasionally reaches with hands and arms, climbs, balances, stoops, kneels, crouches, or crawls.
13. The employee regularly uses the usual vision demands, must be able to converse verbally in a professional manner with litigants and the public, and must be able to listen in detail.
14. Employees occasionally lift or exert a force of 50 pounds.
15. Adherence to all traffic and transportation laws and maintaining a safe driving record.
16. Adherence to assigned route and time schedules.
17. Working conditions include regular exposure to dirt, dust, debris, and smells.
18. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet, humid, and other outdoor conditions, as well as to extreme cold or heat related to weather.
19. While performing daily job duties, service bailiffs may meet mentally unstable individuals, Individuals who may have a criminal record, and some may be armed and dangerous.
20. Proficiently demonstrate the ability to follow operating procedures in dealing with all aspects of service bailiff-related issues.
21. Undergo continuous training to improve job skills.
22. Interact with plaintiffs, defendants, and all others in a professional, courteous manner.
23. Maintain a clean, neat, professional appearance and wear any required uniform or clothing.
24. Perform other tasks as assigned and may be assigned to other positions in other departments of the Court if needed.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
1. High school diploma or equivalent.
2. Knowledge of common office practices, procedures, and equipment.
3. Ability to communicate verbally effectively and professionally, and in writing, to diverse audiences.
4. Demonstrate the ability to stay calm and communicate effectively in person to diffuse highly stressful situations.
5. Ability to operate a personal computer and use Microsoft Office products such as Word, Outlook, and Excel.
6. Ability to learn and use courier software on court-issued mobile devices.
7. Professional appearance, attitude, and demeanor appropriate for the position and environment as a representative of the Court.
8. Maintain organized and detailed records.
9. Willingness to adhere to assigned routes, schedules, safety procedures, and transportation laws.
10. Demonstrated dependability, reliability, and excellent attendance record.
11. Ability to organize and plan schedules both in the office and remotely while in the field.
12. Pleasant personality and ability to interact and maintain effective working relationships with judges, employees, attorneys, litigants, and others conducting business with the Court.
13. Patience, objectivity, maturity, effectiveness under stress, initiative, and adaptability.
14. Knowledge of the geographical area of the City of Columbus and Franklin County.
15. Good sense of direction and familiarity with many different traffic patterns.
16. Valid Ohio driver's license and clean driving record.
17. Full-time use of a personal automobile for on-the-job transportation and adequate insurance, as determined by the Director of Security. The vehicle must pass the safety standards set by Ohio law.
18. Ability to sit, stand, drive, walk, navigate stairs, and drive for extended periods.
19. Conscious of and sensitive to the diversity within the CoCourt's jurisdiction and ability to interact professionally with this diverse population of people from many different geographic, socioeconomic, religious, racial, and ethnic backgrounds regularly.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
1. Familiarity with court systems, procedures, and terminology.
2. Prior work experience in a court or legal environment.
3. Prior experience in law enforcement or military background.
4. Fluency in a second language is a plus, particularly Spanish, American Sign Language, or a language commonly used by Somalis for whom English is a second language.
Additional consideration will be given to individuals who have any of the following qualifications: previous experience in a court system or legal environment; knowledge of the functions and locations of other courts and government agencies; experience reading and working with the public; the ability to speak and write Spanish or a language commonly used by the people of Somalia for whom English is a second language; or proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL).
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
This position requires significant fieldwork, driving, exposure to the public, potential hazardous interactions, physical exertion, and work in extreme weather conditions.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- The position requires frequent sitting, with intermittent periods of standing and/or walking.
- Must be able to lift to 50 pounds occasionally.
BENEFITS
The Franklin County Municipal Court offers an excellent benefits package that includes medical, prescription, vision, dental, and life insurance; short-term disability; generous vacation, sick, and personal leave; 11 paid holidays; longevity service payments; sick-leave reciprocity; employee assistance and deferred-compensation programs; tuition reimbursement; and credit union membership.
Court employees are members of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System, which provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for public employees. The Court pays the required employer 14 percent of the employee's salary. Court employees do not have Social Security taxes withheld from their paychecks because they are members of OPERS.
COURT EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYEES
In completing the duties and responsibilities of the position, the Court expects the employee to adhere to all Court policies, guidelines, practices, and procedures; act as a role model both inside and outside the Court; perform duties as workload necessitates in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner; be conscientious about meeting department productivity standards; and communicate regularly with the supervisor about department issues.
AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT
The Court's employees are at-will and serve at the Court's pleasure; they are not in the classified civil service system and are not members of bargaining units.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on age, gender, religion, race, color, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, military status, or genetic information.
