DC Court Commissioner

Court Commissioner

The mission of Yakima County Government is to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs.

Our Values:

• Integrity
• Common Sense
• Innovation
• Accountability

Position Data:

DC Court Commissioner-SRegularExempt (ineligible for overtime)

Overview:

Monthly Salary: $15,528.27 (District Court- Court Commissioner Pay Plan) There is one opening with the Yakima County District Court for a full-time Court Commissioner. Working under the direction of the District Court Judges, the Court Commissioner performs independent judicial functions authorized under Washington State law and court rules. The Court Commissioner presides over a wide variety of District Court proceedings including civil cases, small claim matters, name changes, vehicle impound hearings, civil protection orders, infraction, contested infraction hearings, criminal proceedings, motions and trials. This position is responsible for conducting hearings, evaluating evidence and testimony, making findings of fact and conclusions of law, issuing rulings and court orders, and ensuring proceedings are conducted fairly, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable laws and court rules. The position requires extensive knowledge and experience in civil law, sound judicial temperament, strong legal analysis skills, and the ability to effectively manage courtroom proceedings involving self-represented litigants, attorneys, law enforcement, and members of the public. The Court Commissioner may be assigned to preside over court proceedings at multiple court locations, including the Yakima County Courthouse and Grandview Courthouse. The incumbent must be available to travel between court facilities as operational needs require. The position also participates in an on-call rotation and must be available outside normal business hours to review and determine probable cause requests submitted by law enforcement agencies in accordance with applicable court rules and constitutional requirements.

Closing date: June 22, 2026

Benefits included in position:

• Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
• Retirement Benefits
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave

Note: This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections)

Responsibilities:

Essential Duties:

Conducts hearings and trials involving civil lawsuits, small claims matters, name changes, vehicle impound hearings, and civil protection orders. Evaluates evidence and testimony, applies applicable statues and court rules and issues findings, rulings, judgments and orders.

Presides over criminal hearings within District Court jurisdiction including municipal contracted District Court. Hearings include arraignments, pre-trial hearings, motions, contested hearings, and infraction calendars. Conducts contested infraction hearings and rules on procedural and substantive legal matters.

Reviews court files, pleadings, motions, declarations, affidavits, proposed orders, and related legal documents in preparation for hearings.

Ensures court hearings are conducted fairly, impartially, and efficiently. Explains court procedures when appropriate and ensures compliance with constitutional requirements, court rules, and judicial ethics.

Researches and analyzes statues, regulations, court rules, and legal precedent relevant to matters before the court. Applies legal reasoning and judicial discretion in making decisions and rulings.

Other duties as required.

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctorate or completion of APR 6 program; and admission to Washington State Bar Association.

Licensing/Certification Requirements:

· A valid license to practice law in the State of Washington Admitted and a minimum of to practice for a period of at least five (5) years of legal experience.

· An emphasis on Civil Law is preferred. prior to appointment, unless periods of inactive membership are due to previously holding the position of judge, referee or commissioner.

Required:

· Active membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association.

· A valid license to practice law in the State of Washington

· Valid Washington State Driver's License. Proof of auto insurance, if requested.

· Incumbents must be a citizen of the United States and cannot engage in active practice of law during employment with the court in this capacity.

· Successful completion of a comprehensive criminal background investigation and general employment verification prior to employment.

· The incumbent is required to attend Washington Judicial College within 12 months of appointment.

· The incumbent must maintain the highest standards of conduct consistent with the Code of Judicial Conduct and other applicable rules.

Preferred:

• Previous experience as a pro tem judge, court commissioner, administrative law judge, magistrate or equivalent. Experience in District Court or courts of limited jurisdiction.
• Experience handing civil protection orders, infraction proceedings, or criminal matters.
• Experience working with self-represented litigants.

Equipment Used:

Standard office equipment including but not limited to computer and related software/applications; printer, telephone, copy machine, fax machine, voice mail, calculator and automobile.

Working Conditions: This position is rated as Sedentary Work, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Environment: Exposure to weather, pathogen exposure, and multiple work locations. This position requires daily interaction with individuals who may be hostile and/or angry. May be subject to work outside of standard business hours, travel to other work locations.

Physical Demands: bending, carrying, handling, lifting, pulling, pushing, reaching, sitting, standing, walking fingering, crouching, kneeling, hearing, talking, grasping, and visual acuity.

Intellectual Demands: Ability to multitask, confidentiality, ability to work under pressure, ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, ability to follow written instruction, and ability to follow verbal instruction.

Knowledge:

· Principals of family, civil, criminal, constitutional and administrative law. Washington State civil, criminal, and constitutional law.

· Civil Rules of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CRLJ)

· Criminal Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CrRLJ)

· Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (IRLJ)

· Rules of evidence and courtroom procedures.

· Judicial ethics and standards of ethics.

· Legal research methods and legal writing principles.

Skills and Abilities:

· Computer assisted research skills

· Skill to effectively communicate to others

· Ability to present statements of fact and law and communicate clearly and logically in written and oral form.

· Define issues, perform legal research, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and make appropriate findings and recommendations.

· Prepare clear and concise decisions and summaries of factual and legal issues.

· Effectively represent the court in contacts with the public, attorneys, law enforcement agencies and other government jurisdictions.

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

"AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER" Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person's age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish the information.

Disabled

Court Commissioner

The mission of Yakima County Government is to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs.

Our Values:

• Integrity
• Common Sense
• Innovation
• Accountability

Position Data:

DC Court Commissioner-SRegularExempt (ineligible for overtime)

Overview:

Monthly Salary: $15,528.27 (District Court- Court Commissioner Pay Plan) There is one opening with the Yakima County District Court for a full-time Court Commissioner. Working under the direction of the District Court Judges, the Court Commissioner performs independent judicial functions authorized under Washington State law and court rules. The Court Commissioner presides over a wide variety of District Court proceedings including civil cases, small claim matters, name changes, vehicle impound hearings, civil protection orders, infraction, contested infraction hearings, criminal proceedings, motions and trials. This position is responsible for conducting hearings, evaluating evidence and testimony, making findings of fact and conclusions of law, issuing rulings and court orders, and ensuring proceedings are conducted fairly, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable laws and court rules. The position requires extensive knowledge and experience in civil law, sound judicial temperament, strong legal analysis skills, and the ability to effectively manage courtroom proceedings involving self-represented litigants, attorneys, law enforcement, and members of the public. The Court Commissioner may be assigned to preside over court proceedings at multiple court locations, including the Yakima County Courthouse and Grandview Courthouse. The incumbent must be available to travel between court facilities as operational needs require. The position also participates in an on-call rotation and must be available outside normal business hours to review and determine probable cause requests submitted by law enforcement agencies in accordance with applicable court rules and constitutional requirements.

Closing date: June 22, 2026

Benefits included in position:

• Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
• Retirement Benefits
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave

Note: This is a Non-Bargaining Unit position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections)

Responsibilities:

Essential Duties:

Conducts hearings and trials involving civil lawsuits, small claims matters, name changes, vehicle impound hearings, and civil protection orders. Evaluates evidence and testimony, applies applicable statues and court rules and issues findings, rulings, judgments and orders.

Presides over criminal hearings within District Court jurisdiction including municipal contracted District Court. Hearings include arraignments, pre-trial hearings, motions, contested hearings, and infraction calendars. Conducts contested infraction hearings and rules on procedural and substantive legal matters.

Reviews court files, pleadings, motions, declarations, affidavits, proposed orders, and related legal documents in preparation for hearings.

Ensures court hearings are conducted fairly, impartially, and efficiently. Explains court procedures when appropriate and ensures compliance with constitutional requirements, court rules, and judicial ethics.

Researches and analyzes statues, regulations, court rules, and legal precedent relevant to matters before the court. Applies legal reasoning and judicial discretion in making decisions and rulings.

Other duties as required.

Education and Experience:

Juris Doctorate or completion of APR 6 program; and admission to Washington State Bar Association.

Licensing/Certification Requirements:

· A valid license to practice law in the State of Washington Admitted and a minimum of to practice for a period of at least five (5) years of legal experience.

· An emphasis on Civil Law is preferred. prior to appointment, unless periods of inactive membership are due to previously holding the position of judge, referee or commissioner.

Required:

· Active membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association.

· A valid license to practice law in the State of Washington

· Valid Washington State Driver's License. Proof of auto insurance, if requested.

· Incumbents must be a citizen of the United States and cannot engage in active practice of law during employment with the court in this capacity.

· Successful completion of a comprehensive criminal background investigation and general employment verification prior to employment.

· The incumbent is required to attend Washington Judicial College within 12 months of appointment.

· The incumbent must maintain the highest standards of conduct consistent with the Code of Judicial Conduct and other applicable rules.

Preferred:

• Previous experience as a pro tem judge, court commissioner, administrative law judge, magistrate or equivalent. Experience in District Court or courts of limited jurisdiction.
• Experience handing civil protection orders, infraction proceedings, or criminal matters.
• Experience working with self-represented litigants.

Equipment Used:

Standard office equipment including but not limited to computer and related software/applications; printer, telephone, copy machine, fax machine, voice mail, calculator and automobile.

Working Conditions: This position is rated as Sedentary Work, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Environment: Exposure to weather, pathogen exposure, and multiple work locations. This position requires daily interaction with individuals who may be hostile and/or angry. May be subject to work outside of standard business hours, travel to other work locations.

Physical Demands: bending, carrying, handling, lifting, pulling, pushing, reaching, sitting, standing, walking fingering, crouching, kneeling, hearing, talking, grasping, and visual acuity.

Intellectual Demands: Ability to multitask, confidentiality, ability to work under pressure, ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, ability to follow written instruction, and ability to follow verbal instruction.

Knowledge:

· Principals of family, civil, criminal, constitutional and administrative law. Washington State civil, criminal, and constitutional law.

· Civil Rules of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CRLJ)

· Criminal Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CrRLJ)

· Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (IRLJ)

· Rules of evidence and courtroom procedures.

· Judicial ethics and standards of ethics.

· Legal research methods and legal writing principles.

Skills and Abilities:

· Computer assisted research skills

· Skill to effectively communicate to others

· Ability to present statements of fact and law and communicate clearly and logically in written and oral form.

· Define issues, perform legal research, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and make appropriate findings and recommendations.

· Prepare clear and concise decisions and summaries of factual and legal issues.

· Effectively represent the court in contacts with the public, attorneys, law enforcement agencies and other government jurisdictions.

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

"AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER" Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person's age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish the information.

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