Superior Court Commissioner (Temporary - SB 129)

Summary

Superior Court Commissioner (Temporary - SB 129)

This vacancy resides in the Metropolitan Division, Kern County. Kern County Superior Court Commissioners are expected to serve at any of the court locations in Kern County. $7,978.77 biweekly, plus 10% Kern Flex This recruitment will close on September 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Under general direction of the Presiding Judge and Judge(s), this professional level position performs various judicial functions as prescribed by law or conferred by the court. The power and authority of court commissioners are specified by statute. Commissioners have the same jurisdiction and exercise the same powers and duties as the judges of the Superior Court with respect to infractions and small claims actions, and in other matters pursuant to stipulation of the parties.

Representative titles for this position may include Traffic Trial Commissioner, Child Support Commissioner, Family Law Commissioner, Juvenile Referee, Regional Court Commissioner, and Probate Commissioner. This position will be assigned full-time to the Metropolitan Division in Bakersfield, California.

This professional level class performs judicial functions for the Superior Court, assisting the courts in the management and disposition of cases and calendars, and other duties as assigned, related to the administration of justice, including acting as a temporary judge in certain case types, including criminal, civil, family law, juvenile dependency, juvenile justice, probate, and traffic. It is distinguished from the position of judge in that it is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the judges and acts only as a temporary judge, presiding over cases as directed by the Presiding Judge.

Essential Functions

Representative duties include:

1. Acts as a temporary judge in court cases pursuant to the stipulation of counsel or parties when required; manages daily court calendar, presides over hearings, proceedings and trials; makes rulings, findings, judgements, and orders.
2. Presides over felony, misdemeanor and traffic arraignments and trials, civil and small claims actions, probate proceedings, family law proceedings and juvenile court proceedings.
3. Arraigns defendants; rules on requests for continuance; hears, reviews, and rules on petitions, motions, and other requests for judicial relief; presides over evidentiary hearings; makes findings or recommends appropriate court orders; accepts pleas and imposes sentences; sets cases for hearing and trial; conducts court and jury trials.
4. Reviews court files, evidence, legal briefs, and related materials; prepares court findings, orders, rulings, and other written materials pertaining to cases.
5. Presides over cases and calendars in multi-divisional courts (regional courts) and night court on a rotational basis.

Minimum Qualifications

A qualified candidate must have active membership in the State Bar of California and have been admitted to practice for a period of at least ten years. Experience in civil, criminal, child support, family, traffic, juvenile, probate, and/or law and motion litigation is recommended. Commissioners must be United States citizens and cannot engage in the active practice of law during employment with the court in this capacity.

This professional level class works independently under general direction of the judges of the court as a temporary judge in accordance with state law. Commissioners are responsible for interpreting, applying, and enforcing current laws. Actions to be taken and decisions to be made include researching specified legal issues, and issuing judgments, orders, etc. Erroneous decisions could result in failure to achieve critical goals, open the court to possible litigation, and seriously affect the lives of parties involved.

Selection Procedures

All applicants are required to submit an online application. Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of the required application. Interviews will be scheduled with some or all of the applicants. You will be notified by email through the governmentjobs.com site during the process of this recruitment. Some email accounts have been known to place these emails in the spam/junk file. Please check your email folders and/or accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com and kern.courts.ca.gov. If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closed during Court holidays.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Description

Superior Court Commissioner (Temporary - SB 129)

This vacancy resides in the Metropolitan Division, Kern County. Kern County Superior Court Commissioners are expected to serve at any of the court locations in Kern County. $7,978.77 biweekly, plus 10% Kern Flex This recruitment will close on September 30, 2026, at 5:00 PM.

Under general direction of the Presiding Judge and Judge(s), this professional level position performs various judicial functions as prescribed by law or conferred by the court. The power and authority of court commissioners are specified by statute. Commissioners have the same jurisdiction and exercise the same powers and duties as the judges of the Superior Court with respect to infractions and small claims actions, and in other matters pursuant to stipulation of the parties.

Representative titles for this position may include Traffic Trial Commissioner, Child Support Commissioner, Family Law Commissioner, Juvenile Referee, Regional Court Commissioner, and Probate Commissioner. This position will be assigned full-time to the Metropolitan Division in Bakersfield, California.

This professional level class performs judicial functions for the Superior Court, assisting the courts in the management and disposition of cases and calendars, and other duties as assigned, related to the administration of justice, including acting as a temporary judge in certain case types, including criminal, civil, family law, juvenile dependency, juvenile justice, probate, and traffic. It is distinguished from the position of judge in that it is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the judges and acts only as a temporary judge, presiding over cases as directed by the Presiding Judge.

Essential Functions

Representative duties include:

1. Acts as a temporary judge in court cases pursuant to the stipulation of counsel or parties when required; manages daily court calendar, presides over hearings, proceedings and trials; makes rulings, findings, judgements, and orders.
2. Presides over felony, misdemeanor and traffic arraignments and trials, civil and small claims actions, probate proceedings, family law proceedings and juvenile court proceedings.
3. Arraigns defendants; rules on requests for continuance; hears, reviews, and rules on petitions, motions, and other requests for judicial relief; presides over evidentiary hearings; makes findings or recommends appropriate court orders; accepts pleas and imposes sentences; sets cases for hearing and trial; conducts court and jury trials.
4. Reviews court files, evidence, legal briefs, and related materials; prepares court findings, orders, rulings, and other written materials pertaining to cases.
5. Presides over cases and calendars in multi-divisional courts (regional courts) and night court on a rotational basis.

Minimum Qualifications

A qualified candidate must have active membership in the State Bar of California and have been admitted to practice for a period of at least ten years. Experience in civil, criminal, child support, family, traffic, juvenile, probate, and/or law and motion litigation is recommended. Commissioners must be United States citizens and cannot engage in the active practice of law during employment with the court in this capacity.

This professional level class works independently under general direction of the judges of the court as a temporary judge in accordance with state law. Commissioners are responsible for interpreting, applying, and enforcing current laws. Actions to be taken and decisions to be made include researching specified legal issues, and issuing judgments, orders, etc. Erroneous decisions could result in failure to achieve critical goals, open the court to possible litigation, and seriously affect the lives of parties involved.

Selection Procedures

All applicants are required to submit an online application. Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of the required application. Interviews will be scheduled with some or all of the applicants. You will be notified by email through the governmentjobs.com site during the process of this recruitment. Some email accounts have been known to place these emails in the spam/junk file. Please check your email folders and/or accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com and kern.courts.ca.gov. If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closed during Court holidays.

Equal Opportunity Employer