Associate Judge - Central Booking
The City of Austin is seeking highly qualified individuals to fill up to two Associate Judge positions, which report to the Presiding Judge. This judge will primarily act as a magistrate at the Travis County Central Booking facility where they will oversee proceedings including administering Article 15.17 warnings and setting bail amounts and bond conditions for Class B and higher charges. The work schedule may consist of Sunday through Thursday, either 2pm-10pm or 10pm-7am. The successful candidate will participate in an upcoming Travis County initiative known as Counsel at First Appearance (CAFA), which will include adversarial bail hearings with defense counsel present.
The work of the court: Please note that all court settings are open to the public.
The Municipal Court is the judicial branch of local government, the City of Austin. The court commits to administering fair, efficient, and prompt justice. Court services are handled both onsite and online, or by telephone, email, and mail.
The court decides the lowest level criminal offenses in the state of Texas, including traffic, city ordinance, juvenile, and disabled parking.
The court also:
- Collaborates with community court
- Processes citizen complaints
- Presides over bench and jury trials
- Processes parking citations
- Responds to requests for public information
- Explains options when:
- delinquent cases are sent to the collection agency
- delinquent cases cause a juvenile or minor’s driver’s license renewal to be denied
- you are accused of a violating class C law in Austin, even if you don’t live here
- you can’t comply with court orders.
The Ideal Candidate: The Ideal Candidate excels in handling criminal case appeals, collaborating with community courts, and addressing citizen complaints. They possess expertise in trials, parking citations, and responding to public information requests, skillfully explaining options for delinquencies, juvenile license matters, class C law violations in Austin, and court order challenges. Committed to justice within our Youth Services Unit, they provide educational alternatives to prevent charges from appearing on juvenile records.
Our Youth Services Unit:
- Helps juveniles and their families understand what they need to do to comply with court orders and/or program requirements.
- Provides educational alternative sentencing and deferral options that, if successfully completed, keep a charge off a juvenile’s record.
The following core competencies are important for this role:
Legal Knowledge and Application - Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of judicial procedures, civil and criminal law, municipal codes, and relevant state laws, applying this knowledge to interpret and navigate complex legal issues in accordance with Federal, State, and Local laws and ordinances.
Effective Communication - Exhibits strong oral and written communication skills to convey legal information clearly and persuasively, fostering positive relationships with City employees and the public while handling conflicts and uncertain situations with professionalism.
Organizational and Analytical Skills - Applies exceptional organizational skills to handle multiple tasks, prioritize responsibilities, and adapt to changes in priorities, utilizing analytical skills for data analysis and effective problem-solving in legal matters.
Conflict Resolution and Adaptability - Demonstrates the ability to handle conflicts and uncertain situations with poise, promoting resolution and maintaining a positive work environment, while showcasing adaptability to changes in priorities and interruptions.
Equity and Inclusion Applies an equity lens and framework to promote inclusive, diverse, and safe workspaces and programs, integrating a commitment to fairness and diversity into decision making processes and legal practices.