JOB VACANCY
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NO. #26-091
OPENING DATE July 1, 2026
CLOSING DATE Open Until Filled
POSITION TITLE AND DEPARTMENT
SALARY Minimum $120,000
Associate Judge
San Carlos Apache Tribal Court
DOE
APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SAN CARLOS TRIBAL HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE
(Applications must be received in the Human Resources Office by close of business on the closing date)
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
Ø Political Appointee. (Appointed by Tribal Council)
Ø Applicant must possess a valid driver’s license.
Ø Applicant must submit a cover letter, resume, three (3) letter of recommendation, and copies of college transcripts for full consideration. NOTE: Applicant must submit a copy with application.
Ø Applicant must be a member or eligible for membership in the San Carlos Tribal Bar Association, and must certify under oath and under penalty of perjury that the applicant has no ethical conflicts of interest which would disqualify the Associate Judge from performing the tasks and duties of this position.
Ø Applicant will subject to a five (5) year driving record background check. Applicant must have a safe driving record. Safe driving record is defined as no more than three (3) serious moving violations and no convictions for DUI within the past five (5) years. Failure to reveal driving records may be grounds for not hiring or termination after hire.
Ø Applicant must have no felony convictions or arrests, no misdemeanor arrests and/or convictions within the past thirty-six (36) months. Any misdemeanor offenses involving crimes of violence, sexual assault, molestation, exploitation, contact or prostitution; Crimes against persons or offenses committed against children; Not have been convicted misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; Not have been convicted of a crime involving a child, a sex crime, or a drug felony. Failure to reveal arrest records may be grounds for not hiring or termination after hiring. If an applicant makes a false statement in any part of the application, the applicant may not be hired or may be terminated after he/she begins work.
Ø Applicant will be subject to and must pass a background investigation with a favorable determination. The results of a background check shall only be used for the purpose of determining an individual’s suitability for employment. Applicants who provide false or misleading information in their application or authorization may be eliminated from any further consideration. Note: Applicants must meet this requirement by completing Item No. 15., on the Application for Employment.
Ø Applicant must complete a "Child Care & Indian Child Care Worker Position" form to determine your suitability for tribal employment, to authorize a background investigation, and to certify the accuracy of all information in your application. Under P.L. 101-630 Indian Child Protection Act, anyone who answers in the affirmative will be found ineligible and unsuitable for employment with the San Carlos Apache Tribe. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired or you may be terminated after you begin work.
Ø In accordance with the San Carlos Apache Tribe Drug and Alcohol Policy, all potential employees will be tested for the presence of controlled substances as part of the pre-employment selection process. Applicants who fail to pass the drug test will be ineligible for employment and may not reapply for twelve (12) months thereafter. This policy has been adopted to provide drug-free work sites and to prohibit working while under the influence of alcohol.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
As an Associate Judge under the direction of the Chief Judge, the Associate Judge hears and decides disputes on matters filed in the San Carlos Tribal Court. These may be civil, criminal, domestic relations, juvenile, probate, traffic, order of protection, restraining orders, guardianship, adoption, etc. The Associate Judge may be assigned to assist in matters of finance, budget, grant writing, reports and administrative as well as Personnel supervision and policy making up to and including revisions of the Law and Order Codes and overall recommending improvements to the judicial system. The Associate Judge may be assigned to act in the Chief Judge’s place when the Chief Judge in unavailable. Hear and decide all matters assigned in an expeditious manner. Impartially weigh the facts of a variety of cases and render decisions based on the Law and evidence. Assist in drafting policies and procedures and their implementation. Serve on judicial committees, court related activities such as Wellness/Drug Court, Teen Court, Domestic Violence Teams, Law Enforcement Committees, Task Force, etc. The Associate Judge will be assigned and preside over Tribal Law and Order Act Cases in criminal court. Participate in community activities which promote the courts in the community and may perform other related duties as required and assigned.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Basic Requirements:
A Juris Doctorate Degree is required for applicants . NOTE: Applicant must submit a copy of all transcripts and/or degrees to meet positive education requirements.
Licensure: Candidates must possess a membership to any Bar of any jurisdiction. Note: Applicants must submit a copy of their active license.
In addition to meeting the basic requirements above, candidates must have had five (5) years of specialized experience.
Specialized experience is experience practicing court advocate in good standing OR, a combination of education and training in a job related field which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Examples of the type of experience that will be credited are shown above under “Duties and Responsibilities”.
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EVALUATION METHOD AND RANKING FACTORS: Evaluation will be made of the extent to which experience, education, training, self-development, and/or awards demonstrate that basically qualified candidates possess the Ranking Factors-Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) described below.
1. Knowledge of court procedures, rules, codes and policies.
2. Knowledge of basic computers and software including Word, Excel, etc.
3. Ability to interpret and apply various laws, statutes and ordinances that are followed on the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
4. Ability to make decisions based on fact without bias or prejudice of any kind.
5. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with an understanding of human nature and psychology.
6. Ability to perform in depth legal research associated with decision making in cases.
7. Ability to apply common sense, reason and experience.
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OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Ø Persons who submit incomplete applications will be given credit only for the information they provide and may not, therefore, receive full credit for their veteran preference determination, Indian preference, education, training and/or experience.
Ø All material submitted for consideration under this announcement becomes the property of Human Resources Office and is subject to verification. Therefore, careful attention should be given to the information provided. Fraudulent statements or any form of misrepresentation in the application process could result in loss of consideration for this position and/or a determination of unsuitability for tribal employment.
Ø Additional or alternate selections may be made from the eligibility list within 30 days from the date the selection list was issued. The positions to be filled must have the same title and have the same qualification requirements. However, if there are no Indian preference candidates left on the certificate, the vacancy be re-announced.
Ø INDIAN PREFERENCE: It is the goal of the San Carlos Apache Tribe to employ as many tribal members as possible in tribal positions. Therefore, all other qualifications being equal, tribal members will receive hiring preference over other Indian Preference eligible and non-Indian Preference eligible. Preference for employment will be granted to qualified individuals, in the following order:
1. Enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe with Veteran’s Preference
2. Enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe
3. Native American spouse of an enrolled tribal member or Native American parent of enrolled tribal member
4. Other Native American
5. Non-Indian spouse or Non-Indian parent of enrolled tribal member
6. Non-Indian
It is also the goal of the San Carlos Apache Tribe to provide the best services possible to tribal members. In furthering the Tribe’s efforts to insure retention of tribal members and to provide job opportunities to tribal members, non-tribal member employees upon hiring shall, as part of the hiring agreement, agree to provide training and development to tribal members to allow them to become qualified for jobs which non-tribal member employees hold. The Indian Preference policy applies to hiring, placement, and promotion, transfer or lay off, treatment during employment, and selection for training.
Ø VETERANS PREFERENCE AND INDIAN PREFERENCE: Preference in filling vacancies may be given to honorably discharged veterans who are enrolled members of the San Carlos Apache Tribe.
Ø EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: Except for Indian preference, consideration will be given without regard to any non-merit factor such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, partisan politics, physical or mental handicap, marital status, age, membership or non-membership in any employee organization, or sexual orientation.
HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICE CLEARANCE:
/s/Christie Velasquez July 1, 2026
Human Resources Assistant
SAN CARLOS APACHE TRIBE
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
P.O. Box 0
San Carlos, Arizona 85550
(928) 475-1760 * Fax (928) 475-2296
Or Call/Email for further information
Chief Judge Karla Comanche 928-475-1701/1702
[email protected]
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
