Description

The Court Access Manager is a highly responsible professional position that serves as the Judicial

Branch’s primary administrative resource for assuring compliance with State and federal accessibility and civil rights laws, mitigating risks against legal complaints, and improving public access to the Maine state court system.

The Manager is responsible for addressing the court access needs of the public, specifically including, but not limited to people with disabilities or with Limited English Proficiency—and the needs of court users without legal advocates—in all courts, case types, events, and formats.

The Manager serves as the Judicial Branch’s designated statewide disability accommodation coordinator under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), for non-employee requests, and manages efforts to ensure access to justice in the Maine state courts.

The Manager supervises efforts to ensure language access to the courts, in compliance with State and federal laws, including the Language Access Plan for the Maine Judicial Branch, and efforts to accomplish goals and initiatives in that Plan.

The Court Access Manager reports to the Director of Court Services.

Requirements

Responsibilities:

Assists the Judicial Branch in being responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities, limited English proficient individuals, unrepresented or self-represented litigants, and jurors, by:

Assuring that Judicial Branch programs, services, practices, policies, and procedures comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA), and other federal and State laws pertaining to persons with disabilities;
Procuring and managing aids and services to effectively communicate with people with disabilities;
Managing the Judicial Branch’s response to requests for accommodations and complaints associated with them;
Providing support to judicial officers, clerks, attorneys, and marshals as needed;
Assuring that the Judicial Branch is providing services in compliance with the Title VII of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1973, the MHRA, and other federal and State laws and regulations pertaining to limited English proficient individuals, and responding to the communication access needs of individuals by overseeing the work of the Communication Access Specialist and independent contractors, and by managing the qualification process for court sign language interpreters;
Speaking on behalf of the Judicial Branch on ADA, court access, and access to justice matters;
Managing responses to public comments and complaints about access to justice, up to and including managing responses—in coordination with the Director of Legal Affairs and Public Relations and the Office of the Attorney General—to complaints of discrimination filed with the Maine Human Rights Commission or U.S. District Court;
Assisting with the improvement of jury operations, particularly with improving juror utilization, juror communication, and the juror experience;
Leading training for Judicial Branch employees and external groups, including attorney associations, as needed and as requested, about—but not limited to—disability accommodations, working with unrepresented or self-represented litigants, people who are limited English proficient, and jurors, as well as general public access issues; and
Serving as liaison to Maine’s legal aid providers, the Maine Justice Foundation, the Maine Civil Legal Services Fund Commission, the Maine State Bar Association, the University of Maine School of Law, and other statewide and local organizations concerned with the delivery of pro bono, low bono, and other legal aid services.
Reviewing the accessibility of the electronic Case Management System, e-filing, and other digital court services by participating in development, implementation, and enhancement;
Assists in the development of budgets and monitoring budget expenditures in the area assigned;
 

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

Performs other duties as required.
Extensive statewide travel may be required (including overnight stays).
Some out-of-state travel possible.

Minimum Education/Skills/Experience/Training required to be Considered for Employment

Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school.
Fluency with computerized word processing, electronic spreadsheets, and videoconferencing is strongly preferred, and will be required within a short period of time after initial employment.
Knowledge of State and federal disability and civil rights laws. 

Preferred Education/Skills/Experience/Training

Admission to the Maine Bar.
Experience in court administration.
Experience supervising subordinate employees, contractors or volunteers.

Additional Skills/Experience/Training Required to Adequately Perform Job Duties:

Strong communication skills, able to convey legal information in plain language.
Strong ability to build and maintain productive and positive working relationships with different types of personalities.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong organizational skills.
Supervisory skills.
Leadership skills.