Job Description

Posting number: 0099

Department: Court Administration

Job classification: Family Court Hearing Officer

Posting type: Open

Categories: Court Administration

Summary

The Family Court Hearing Officer shall be a quasi-judicial position appointed by the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County. The Hearing Officer shall be considered a confidential appointment of the judicial staff. This position is full-time with benefits.

Examples of duties

The Family Court Hearing Officer shall preside over matters regarding the Pennsylvania Juvenile Act, 42 Pa. C.S.A. §6301, et,seq, including delinquency and dependency proceedings and shall also preside over custody proceedings in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure.

In delinquency proceedings, the Hearing Officer may preside over the following and submit written recommendations to the supervising Judge:

1. Detention hearings, detention review hearings or shelter-care hearings;
2. Discovery, pre-adjudicatory, or preliminary proceedings for misdemeanors;
3. Any hearing in which the petition alleges only misdemeanors;
4. Uncontested dispositional review hearings and uncontested probation revocation hearings;
5. Any other matters designed by the Court.

In dependency proceedings, the Hearing Officer may preside over the following and submit written recommendations to the supervising Judge:

1. Shelter-care hearings;
2. Adjudication, disposition, status, and permanency review hearings;
3. Any other matters designated by the Court

In Custody proceedings, the Hearing Officer shall adjudicate initial custody proceedings filed by litigants including Petitions for Modification.

The specific duties shall include the following:

1. Conducting conciliation conference to mediate the issues;
2. Conducting evidentiary hearings;
3. Decision making;
4. Preparation of written reports and recommendations;
5. Drafting court orders;
6. Coordination of the presentation, filing, service of Reports and Orders; and
7. All other duties required to facilitate the successful implementation and administration of Court Rules and Policies for the adjudication of cases.

The Hearing Officer shall be required to perform all necessary duties including facilitate the successful implementation and administration of the court rules and policies for the adjudication of cases.

The Hearing Officer shall perform additional assignments as directed, from time to time, by the Court of Common Pleas and/or District Court Administrator.

The position of Hearing Officer shall be a full-time position in accordance with the Court of Common Pleas of Luzerne County Human Resource Policy and Procedures Manual and subject to all terms contained therein.

The Hearing Officer shall be subject to any rules or regulations that may be applicable from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania concerning matters within their job duties.

The Hearing Officer is an at-will employee of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas and may be separated from employment at any time without cause.

Qualifications

Required Knowledge and Skills:

The Hearing Officer must possess the following skills at a superior level:

1. Organization and time management;
2. Legal knowledge and ability;
3. Verbal and written communication ability;
4. Ability to manage interpersonal relations;
5. Ability to conduct extensive legal research;
6. Ability to compose legal documents;
7. Ability to learn and apply complex computer programs in day-to-day operations;
8. Ability to utilize advanced communication technology without assistance.

Supplemental information

Pursuant to Pa.R.J.P. 182, the Hearing Officer must be a member, in good standing, of the bar of this Commonwealth and have been licensed to practice law for at least five (5) consecutive years.

Upon acceptance of employment, the Hearing Officer will be required to complete six (6) hours of instruction, approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board, prior to hearing cases. Additionally, the Hearing Officer will be required to complete six (6) hours of instruction every two years.