(Judicial Conduct & Disability)
$89,488 to $145,507 (CL 28)
San Francisco, CA

The Office of the Circuit Executive for the Ninth Circuit (OCE) invites applications for an Administrative Attorney, with a primary focus on complaints filed under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980 (28 U.S.C. §§ 351–364). Candidates who are motivated, self-sufficient, critical thinkers with excellent organizational and communication skills are encouraged to apply. If you are interested in a position that offers an opportunity to contribute to the federal judiciary’s mission of ensuring equal justice under the law, come join our talented and diverse team at the OCE.

About the Office of the Circuit Executive
The OCE serves the United States Courts for the Ninth Circuit, which is the largest federal circuit in the country, comprising nine western states and two territories. The OCE serves all judicial court units within the Circuit, including the Court of Appeals, District Courts, Bankruptcy Courts, Probation and Pretrial Services Offices, and Federal Public Defender’s Offices.

The OCE also provides administrative support to the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit—the chief policy making body for federal courts within the Ninth Circuit—and its various committees. The mission of the Judicial Council is to support the effective and expeditious administration of justice and the safeguarding of fairness in the administration of the courts within the Circuit. All OCE responsibilities flow from directives of the Judicial Council or the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit. These responsibilities include identifying judicial needs, conducting studies, developing and implementing policies, organizing training opportunities, staffing committee meetings, providing public information and human resources support, coordinating facilities and IT projects, and advising the Judicial Council on procedural and ethical matters.

About the Position
The Administrative Attorney will report to the Assistant Circuit Executive (ACE) for Court Operations, Policy, and Legal Affairs (COPLA). The incumbent’s primary focus will be to process Judicial Conduct and Disability (JC&D) complaints and related matters pursuant to the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act of 1980, 28 U.S.C. §§ 351–364. Specifically, the incumbent will perform clerical, administrative, and technical duties to coordinate the workflow of all JC&D matters, as well as engage in substantive legal work to support the resolution of such matters. The incumbent will also provide legal and administrative support to the ACE, the Attorney Advisors and other COPLA staff, the Chief Circuit Judge, the Circuit Executive, and the Judicial Council.

Representative Duties
• Serve as the initial and primary administrative and clerical point of contact for all JC&D matters, which includes:
o Opening, reviewing, and processing hard-copy mail submissions from complainants to determine compliance with relevant rules;
o Performing case management duties, including appropriate record retention practices, paper file organization, and calendaring deadlines;
o Processing judicial orders and other legal documents for all Attorney Advisors within COPLA;
o Receiving and responding to JC&D inquiries from complainants via mail and email;
o Communicating with judges and providing updates regarding JC&D matters via telephone, mail, and email;
o Drafting accurate, thorough, grammatical, and error-free correspondence and memos;
o Inputting and maintaining data and reviewing the accuracy, timeliness, and quality of data entered;
o Formatting and assembling internal reports and complying with accurate statistical reporting requirements of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts; and
o Responding to requests for JC&D complaint information from the FBI, ABA, or other internal vetting processes in compliance with the
confidentiality requirements of 28 U.S.C.§ 360.
• Process JC&D complaints in accordance with 28 U.S.C. §§ 351-364, the JC&D Rules, and the Ninth Circuit’s Local Rules for Misconduct Proceedings, which includes:
o Reviewing the complaint, researching the legal issues, investigating the record and underlying facts, and identifying the correct recommendation for resolving the complaint;
o Analyzing and synthesizing issues in underlying civil, criminal, and bankruptcy proceedings, where applicable, for a basic understanding of the procedural and legal background of the complaint;
o Preparing memoranda and drafting disposition orders;
o Orally presenting the recommendation to the Chief Circuit Judge;
o Effectively managing a docket of cases;
o Promptly and accurately performing administrative tasks to conclude the JC&D matter; and
o Monitoring and resolving petitions for review of the Chief Judge’s disposition order by preparing a recommendation memorandum for the Judicial Council.
• Assist the Chief Circuit Judge or Special Committee on JC&D related matters as necessary, including interviewing witnesses, summarizing witness interviews, drafting memoranda, coordinating the investigation, etc.
• Perform other legal, policy, and administrative support to the COPLA Unit, the OCE, and the Chief Circuit Judge as necessary.