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Hudson Vicinage Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Program

Vicinage EEO/AA Program

The New Jersey Judiciary is dedicated to the principles and goals of fairness, equality, courtesy, and respect for all individuals. These are the cornerstones of activities and operations in the court system and embody the Judiciary's commitment to equality under law and fairness in the administration of justice. As an employer, the Judiciary is committed to the principles of fairness and equality of opportunity in the workplace as reflected in the Judiciary's Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action (EEO/AA) Master Plan.

Likewise, the Hudson Vicinage's EEO/AA program is an initiative which is in continual development. It is based on the vicinage EEO/AA Implementation Plan and is designed to insure that every aspect of our employment practices is fair and non-discriminatory. Both the Judiciary EEO/AA Master Plan and Vicinage Implementation Plan can be viewed and downloaded by clicking on the sites below.

Hudson Vicinage EEO/AA Advisory Committee

Role of the Committee

The Hudson Vicinage EEO/AA Advisory Committee is a working group representing a cross-section of vicinage employees. The Committee is co-chaired by Hudson Vicinage Finance Division Manager Yosimary Hernandez and Civil Division Manager Antoinette Outwater, and is staffed by Vicinage EEO/AA Officer, Pauline Daniels. All members of the Advisory Committee are appointed by Assignment Judge Maurice J. Gallipoli for 2-year renewable terms.

HUDSON VICINAGE EEO/AA ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2008– 2009

Silvia Gonzalez, Vicinage Assistant Chief Probation Officer/Child Support, Co-chair
Antoinette Outwater, Civil Division Manager, Co-chair
Pauline D. Daniels, EEO/AA Officer, Staff
Denise Artificio, Judiciary Clerk 4
Angelica Crespo, Judiciary Clerk 4
Milagros Garcia, Judiciary Clerk 3
Yolanda Gutierrez, Probation Officer-Bilingual
Valerie Hicks, Senior Probation Officer
Ebony Johnson, Court Services Supervisor 2
Diana Ortiz, Court Services Supervisor 2
Priscilla Pender, Court Services Supervisor 2
Derek Perry, Court Services Supervisor 2
Zina Phillips, Judiciary Clerk 4
CariAnn Rizzolo, Coordinator Volunteer/CDR Programs
Jessica Roman, Judiciary Secretary 1, Confidential
George Stanowski, Court Services Supervisor 2
Omar Taylor, Investigator
Ida Vargas, Court Services Supervisor 2
Belinda Walker, Court Services Supervisor 2

The Committee is charged with the following responsibilities:
  • Act as an advisory body to the Assignment Judge regarding recommendations for the implementation of the Judiciary EEO/AA Program.
  • Review the Judiciary EEO/AA Master Plan, the Vicinage EEO/AA Implementation Plan and the vicinage workforce analyses and recommend improvements as needed.
  • Meet regularly with the EEO/AA Officer to provide guidance and advice on various aspects of the program.
  • Assist the vicinage EEO/AA Officer as necessary in gathering information and developing specific programs to meet the Judiciary's objective of a fair and equitable work environment.
  • Act as a communication liaison between management and other employees to convey information regarding the Judiciary EEO/AA program and serve as a forum for employees to raise questions concerning the EEO/AA program generally.
  • Advise the Assignment Judge on steps that should be taken to promote the development and utilization of minorities and women in the Judiciary work force.
  • Identify availability of training and recommended training standards in the areas of EEO/AA, Sexual Harassment and Cultural Diversity.
  • Identify problems and make recommendations which promote harmony in a diverse work place.

The Committee is currently divided into three working subcommittees: (1) Community Outreach; (2) Career Development; and (3) Diversity Awareness. The subcommittees are charged with the task of requesting and analyzing data in their respective areas and making recommendations in policies and/or procedures or suggesting programs. The Committee may also conduct periodic surveys of vicinage staff to help in determining causes and origins of barriers to equal employment opportunity.

Vicinage Discrimination Complaint Procedures and Forms

The vicinage discrimination complaint policies and procedures apply to all employees, court users and volunteers. The Judiciary’s EEO Complaint Procedures Manual outlines the procedures for receiving, investigating and remedying complaints of violations of the Supreme Court’s Policy Statement on Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action and Anti-Discrimination.

The Judiciary discrimination complaint policies and procedures are outlined in the brochure Employee Guide to Reporting and Handling Complaints of Discrimination or Harassment in the Judiciary. Copies of this booklet may be obtained from the Human Resources Division in room 405 of the Administration Building.

If you believe you are being subjected to discriminatory treatment and want to file a complaint, you may print the complaint form listed below, complete it, and forward (or bring) it to the Vicinage EEO/AA Officer, Pauline D. Daniels, in room 408 in the Administration Building.

Vicinage EEO/AA Officer:

Downloadable Documents

Getting a Job with the New Jersey Courts

  • Career Opportunities with the New Jersey Court System
  • Classified Versus Unclassified Service
  • Job Announcements
  • How To Apply For A Job With The New Jersey Courts
  • Who to Contact
  • Vicinage Internship Program For College Level Students


Career Opportunities with the New Jersey Court System, Hudson County Superior Court

Judiciary Employees

The Judiciary, or court system, of New Jersey employs more than just lawyers and judges. Employees of the Judiciary provide administrative support to the judges and litigants who use the courts. Judiciary employees provide: counseling and referral services to clients, technical support in information management systems, clerical support, as well as training and services to its own employees. Court employees collect money and handle the finances of the court system, coordinate mediation and other programs, manage jurors and conduct investigations and research, among other services.

If you are looking for a job in public service that offers great career opportunities and excellent benefits, consider the Judiciary of New Jersey. This web page was designed to give you an overview of New Jersey’s court system and to acquaint you with its career opportunities.

The New Jersey Court System

The Judiciary is one of the three branches of state government. The two others are the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch. Courts are the most visible part of our legal system. Each year, about seven million new cases are filed in New Jersey’s courts. These cases involve everything from education, the environment, wills, crimes, contracts and car accidents to health care, taxes, adoptions, divorces, defective products and our basic rights as Americans, such as the freedom of speech. The decisions that are made in our courts influence our lives in countless ways.

Mission Statement

We are an independent branch of government constitutionally entrusted with the fair and just resolution of disputes in order to preserve the rule of law and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States and this state.

Structure

The structure of New Jersey’s court system is among the simplest in the nation. There are only a few basic types of courts in the state: Municipal Courts, Tax Court, state Superior Court, which includes an Appellate Division, and the New Jersey Supreme Court.

The Superior Court

Cases involving criminal, civil and family law are heard in the Superior Court. The Superior Court is sometimes called the trial court because it is where trials are conducted. Superior Court trial judges sit in each of New Jersey’s 21 counties. The Superior Court itself is divided into 15 vicinages, or court districts, several of which include more than one county. Each vicinage is managed by an Assignment Judge selected by the Chief Justice. Each vicinage also has a Trial Court Administrator.

Each Superior Court is divided into nine (9) general areas or divisions: Civil Division, which includes the Special Civil Part; Family Division; Criminal Division; Municipal Division, Finance Division; Information Technology Division; General Operations Division, which includes Facilities, Court Interpreters, Jury Management, Ombudsman, Law Library, and Court Reporters; Human Resources Division, and Probation Division. In addition to the Divisions, is the Trial Court Administrator’s Office which includes the Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Unit.

The Civil Division hears cases in which a plaintiff claims that he or she has been injured by the actions of a defendant. There are many types of civil cases but the most common are auto, personal injury, contract dispute and medical malpractice.

The Civil Division handles lawsuits where the demand amount exceeds $15,000. The Special Civil Part handles cases where the demand is $15,000 or less. The most common matters handled in the Special Civil part involve landlord/tenant actions, small claims, contract, consumer complaints, and tort actions.

The Family Division handles cases that involve disputes regarding children, spouses or domestic partners. Most Family Court cases involve divorce, adoption, juvenile delinquency, child abuse, child support, or domestic violence.

The Criminal Division handles cases in which a defendant is charged with a serious crime, such as robbery, theft, drug possession or murder.

In some cases judges will impose a sentence of probation, which will allow an offender to serve his or her sentence in the community under the supervision of a probation officer.

The Probation Division is staffed by professionals whose main function is to enforce court orders either by monitoring compliance or, when necessary, taking measures to obtain compliance. Probation Officers work in the two major areas of Child Support Enforcement and Community-Based Offender Supervision, providing investigation, enforcement and supervision services.

Getting a Job with the New Jersey Courts

Judiciary Employees

The New Jersey Judiciary has a workforce of about 9,000 state employees.

There are over 400 Superior Court judges who employ about 400 law clerks every year. An additional 500 judges and approximately 2,000 non-judge personnel are employed with the 539 municipal courts throughout the state. Municipal court employees are not state employees.

The Hudson Vicinage employs about 614 employees and 30 judges. Almost half of these employees are support staff personnel. Approximately 30% are Probation Division employees, such as investigators and probation officers. Managers make up about 3% of vicinage employees. Finally, the balance of the employees falls into the professional category.

Typical job titles in the professional category include: Team Leader, Family Counseling Specialist, Substance Abuse Evaluator, Accountant, Court Interpreter, and Program Coordinator. Most of the professional staff jobs require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and one to three years of prior administrative experience. With some positions, experience may be substituted for the education.

The Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and therefore prohibits discrimination in recruitment or employment practices.

Careers in the Judiciary are wide and varied and fall into 10 major job bands. These job bands generally have entry, mid, and higher level positions, each of which require increasing levels of competencies to meet the requirements of the next level. Minimum requirements are subject to change. Applicants are encouraged to refer to the requirements as listed on the Notice of Vacancy. (See the chart below.)

Band, and Levels/Titles Chart for Vicinage Job Groups

Band Levels/Titles Sample Job Functions Minimum Requirements for Entry-Level Positions Entry Level Salary
as of January 5, 2008

Support Staff (Classified)

Level 1: Court Services Representative, Judiciary Clerk 1, Judiciary Clerk Driver

Perform clerical, administrative, and supportive tasks in connection with proceedings instituted before the court or programs administered under supervision of the court.

Without Keyboarding: Must pass Department of Personnel administered civil service exam

$22,952.08

Level 2: Judiciary Account Clerk 1, Judiciary Clerk 2   With Keyboarding: Must pass Department of Personnel administered civil service exam & keyboarding test at 25 wpm. $24,244.05
Level 3: Judiciary Clerk 3/Court Clerk, Judiciary Account Clerk 2, Judiciary Clerk 3, Judiciary Secretary 1, Judiciary Secretary 1 (Confidential)     $32,641.94
Level 4: Clerk to the Grand Jury, Administrative Specialist 1 (Confidential), Judiciary Clerk 4, Judiciary Secretary 2 (Confidential)     $35,871.90

Case Processing (Classified)

Level 1a : Investigator

 

Conduct pre-disposition investigations and prepare reports; collect court-ordered payments; monitor and enforce conditions of probation or court order; provide access to social services; assist in calendar coordination.

Must pass Department of Personnel administered civil service exam; Investigator jobs require two years caseworker experience or 60 college credits; Probation Officer jobs require B.A. in behavioral or social sciences; all other positions require B.A. or equivalent para-professional or professional experience

$33,287.96

 
Level 1b : Court Services Officer Trainee     $35,871.90
Level 2a : Court Services Officer 1     $38,455.87
Level 2b : Probation Officer     $39,521.58
Level 3b : Senior Probation Officer     $47,028.16
Level 3c : Substance Abuse Evaluator     $47,028.16
Level 4a : Master Probation Officer     $52,196.09

Administrative Professional

Level 1 : Administrative Specialist 2, Financial Specialist

Separated into two tracks: Administrative and Financial Services. Sample titles include Training Coordinator, Accountant, Purchasing Agent; Law Librarian

B.A. and at least one year para-professional experience in the area of specialty specific to the job function being performed; Finance jobs require B.A. including or supplemented by 21 credit hours in accounting.

$38,455.87

 
Level 2 : Administrative Specialist 3, Judiciary Coordinator 1, Librarian 1, Financial Specialist 1     $43,623.80
Level 3 : Administrative Specialist 4, Judiciary Coordinator 2     $57,835.61

Information Technology

Level 1 : Information Systems Technician 1

Plan, design, develop, acquire, document, test, implement, integrate, maintain, modify, or operate information processing systems.

One year experience in the operation of a general-purpose electronic computer and peripheral equipment, network operations, and/or information technology support

$32,641.94

Level 2 : Information Systems Technician 2, Information Technology Technician     $35,871.90
Level 3 : Information Technology Analyst 1     $43,623.80
Level 4: Information Technology Analyst 2     $50,083.70
Level 5 : Information Technology Analyst 3     $66,879.50

Court Interpreter

Level 1 : Court Interpreter 1 Conditionally Approved/Trainee

Convey spoken, written, or signed communications between two languages.

Three years legal interpreting experience and ability to pass written and oral translation tests.

$46,323.58
Level 2 : Court Interpreter 1-Journey     $54,440.43
Level 3 :Court Interpreter 2 Master     $57,706.85

Official Court Reporter

* Not recruiting for this band.

Produce an accurate verbatim record of court proceedings.

Possession of a valid Certified Court Reporter License issued by the New Jersey State Board of Court Reporting. Three years of full-time experience producing verbatim records of proceedings in a court or court-related environment.

$33,521.42

Legal

Level 1 : Law Clerk

Perform legal work in preparing cases for trial or review; legal research.

Law clerks must be non-practicing law graduates of an American Bar Association approved law school.

$39,179.00

Support Staff Supervisory (Classified)

*Not recruiting for this band

Monitor, assign, evaluate, and lead the work activities and staff resources of a team or work unit.

Must pass Department of Personnel administered civil service exam; five years experience in an office environment.

$39,747.85

Professional Supervisory

Level 1 : Administrative Supervisor 1, Court Services Supervisor 1

Monitor, assign, evaluate, and lead the work activities and staff resources of a team or work unit consisting of professional, para-professional, or support staff employees.

B.A. and three years of increasingly responsible experience, one year of which shall have included experience in a field related to the technical, administrative or case processing competency being supervised.

$47,499.74
Level 2 : Administrative Supervisor 2, Court Services Supervisor 2     $50,083.70
Level 3 : Administrative Supervisor 3 (Confidential), Court Services Supervisor 3     $60,419.57

Court Executive

Level 1 : Court Executive 1a, Court Executive 1b

Oversee court operations; formulate and direct implementation of Judiciary plans, programs, policies and procedures; manage Judiciary resources.

B.A. and three years administrative experience, including experience in a field related to the one being managed.

$49,268.29

 
Level 2 : Court Executive 2b     $65,691.06
Level 3 : Court Executive 3b     $76,639.57
$93,062.34

Classified Service versus Unclassified Service

Many jobs in the New Jersey Courts are “classified,” meaning that you will have to take and pass a qualifying Department of Personnel civil service exam in order to hold a permanent title in that job. Under certain situations, you may be appointed provisionally in a title until you take the qualifying exam.

Jobs in the Support Staff, Case Processing and Support Staff Supervisory bands are classified. Individuals seeking entry-level positions in these bands are required to pass a New Jersey State Department of Personnel administered civil service exam to receive a permanent appointment. In addition, these career service bands provide advancement or promotional opportunities for judiciary employees. As a consequence, many of the job opportunities within these bands are offered to current employees before any applicant from a civil service list is considered. These bands cover the clerical, investigator and probation officer job titles.

Individuals interested in entry-level investigator or probation officer jobs should watch for announcements from the New Jersey State Department of Personnel regarding the scheduling of those civil service exams. This information is available at New Jersey State Employment Offices through the ALEX (Automated Labor Exchange) system. You may also visit the Department of Personnel website for additional information. Classified jobs may, at times, be restricted to New Jersey State residents.

Clerical Assessment Program

All openings for entry-level support staff jobs are filled under the Clerical Assessment Program (CAP) of the New Jersey State Department of Personnel (DOP). After taking this clerical examination, you will be considered, for a period of one year for any future clerical job openings for which you meet the requirements. These requirements may include residency, experience, special skills, job location preferences, minimum salary and test scores.

To register for the clerical exam you must be a resident of the United States. You must register by sending a postcard to the DOP. Information on where to send the postcard can be obtained through the DOP web site or by calling the DOP at (609) 292-4144. You may also obtain information by calling or writing the Hudson Vicinage EEO/AA unit.

Most entry-level clerical jobs in the court system require that you pass a typing test at 25 wpm or more. You will need to pass a typing test before you can be considered for a job vacancy. It is important to note that when you register for the clerical exam, you are not registering for one particular title or job location. You are registering to be on a statewide civil service list. Be sure to indicate on your application that you are interested in working in Hudson County if you want to be eligible for a Hudson Vicinage vacancy.

Unclassified Service

Many jobs in the courts, however, are not subject to civil service exams. These are “unclassified” positions. Jobs in the Administrative Professional, Information Technology, Court Interpreter, Legal, Official Court Reporter, Professional Supervisory, and Court Executive bands are unclassified positions. Jobs for which we usually recruit external applicants most often fall in the Administrative Professional, Professional Supervisory and Court Executive bands.

How to Find Out About Job Vacancies

Visit the Job Announcements link on this web page to see the most current statewide job vacancies. You can call, write or visit the Human Resources Manager or Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer in the vicinage in which you are interested in working to get more information about a specific vacancy. Click to access a list of Regional EEO/AA Officers or a list of Vicinage EEO/AA Officers. Jobs in the court system are also listed with New Jersey State Employment offices. In addition, notices of job vacancies in the Hudson Vicinage are sent to all area colleges and universities. College students should check with their college’s career services office. However, the most current job listings are on the web site.

How to apply for a job with the New Jersey Courts

To apply for a job with the New Jersey Courts, send a resume with a cover letter to the address listed on the Job Vacancy Announcement or to the Human Resources Manager of the vicinage in which the vacancy occurs. Be sure to read the announcement carefully, including the minimum requirements for the job, so that you can ensure that your resume speaks to those requirements. Your resume should include dates and a description of your job duties for each position you’ve held. Finally, be sure to send your resume so that it arrives before the closing date noted on the job vacancy announcement. In the Hudson Vicinage, late resumes are not considered if there is already an overwhelming response to a job posting.

For information on career opportunities with the Superior Court of New Jersey Hudson Vicinage, contact:

Pauline D. Daniels, Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Officer
Superior Court of New Jersey
595 Newark Avenue, Room 408
Jersey City, New Jersey 07306
201 795-6610; Fax: 201-795-6603; TTY: 201-217-5404
E-mail:
or
Andrea Caviness, Human Resources Division Manager
Superior Court of New Jersey
595 Newark Avenue, Room 403
Jersey City, New Jersey 07306
201 217-5202; FAX: 201-795-6110; TTY: 201-217-5404
E-mail:

For information on statewide Judiciary career opportunities and law clerk recruitment, contact:

Kimberly Brown Douglas, Esq., Affirmative Action Officer
Administrative Office of the Courts
Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
25 Market Street, PO Box 037
Trenton, New Jersey 08625
609 984-9361; FAX: 609-292-3057; TDD: 609-633-6537
E-mail: Kimberly Douglas

Vicinage Internship Program For College Level Students

The Superior Court of New Jersey, Hudson Vicinage, conducts an internship program, the purposes of which are to enhance our visibility as a potential employer and to offer a positive experiential learning opportunity to college students in the communities we serve.

This page contains information about the internship program and the court divisions in which the internship opportunities exist.

The interns will be selected by a Division Manager or committee of members from the division or unit in which the internship exists. All selected interns will be subject to a criminal background check and confidentiality agreement.

The division supervisor is committed to providing a positive learning experience for the intern. Additionally, they will make themselves available to the intern for questions and to provide coaching as well as an oral and written evaluation of the intern's performance.

Because there are limited funds for the Court for the internship program, paid internship opportunities are limited and competitive. We encourage all students seeking a paid internship to submit their application as early as possible, e.g. by May for an internship in the fall semester. We also encourage applcations from students who are able to exchange this experience for educational credits (such as through the college's Cooperative Education Program) or are willing to donate their time in exchange for the experience, recognition and potential job reference. We believe the experience will be worth the effort.

Internships are generally available in the following court divisions and/or units (these include paid and non-paid positions):

  • Family Division
  • Finance Division  
  • Court Interpreters' Unit 
  • Probation Division
  • Civil Division
  • EEO/AA Program
  • Ombudsman Program

For descriptions of the available internships and for information about the application process contact Lillian Diego at or call 201-459-2101

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