Full-Time Magistrate Judge

Magistrate Judge Full Announcement 2024 (PDF)

Magistrate Judge Application 2024 (Word document)

Magistrate Judge Application Instructions 2024 (PDF)

Instructions on Submitting Letters in Support (PDF)

Learn more about duties and selection process of a District of Minnesota Magistrate Judge here:  https://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/becoming-magistrate-judge

Notice of Comment Period on the Reappointment of U.S. Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz

Date: February 13, 2024
Contact: Deborah Morse, (612) 664-5440

United States Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz's current term of office is set to expire on February 6, 2025. The United States District Court, District of Minnesota invites comments from members of the bar and public as to whether incumbent Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz should be recommended for reappointment. Comments should be received by 5:00 p.m. (CST) on Thursday, March 14, 2024, and may be directed to:

U.S. District Court Clerk's Office
ATTN: Deborah Morse, Human Resources Manager
300 South Fourth Street, Room 360
Minneapolis, MN 55415
meritselectionpanel@mnd.uscourts.gov

As required by law, the United States District Court, District of Minnesota will establish a Merit Selection Panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz to a new eight-year term. The Court will publicly announce the Merit Selection Panel members at a later date.

The duties of the position include presiding over initial proceedings in criminal cases; trials of misdemeanor cases, including petty offenses; pretrial matters and other proceedings in civil and criminal cases; conducting civil settlement conferences; and disposition of civil cases with the consent of the parties. The basic authority of a United States Magistrate Judge is specified in 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Local Rule 72.1. Full-time Magistrate Judges are appointed by the United States District Court for eight-year terms and may be reappointed to successive terms.

Applications are only accepted when a position vacancy exists and is posted to this website.

Court Reporter (posted 4/11/2024) 

Human Resources Department:

The Human Resources Department for the District of Minnesota recruits for all vacancies for the U.S. District Court Clerk's Office. Please follow the application procedures noted on specific vacancy announcements when submitting application materials.

AO-78 (required for Clerk’s Office vacancies)

Conditions of Employment

• The Court is not authorized to reimburse travel expenses for interviews.
• All judicial employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct.
• Applicants must be United States citizens or lawful permanent residents currently seeking citizenship or intending to become a citizen after meeting the eligibility requirement as outlined in 8 U.S.C § 1324b(a)(3)(B).
• False statements or omissions of information on any application materials or the inability to meet conditions of employment may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed.
• All information is subject to verification and background investigation.
• An FBI fingerprint and background check is required for all individuals appointed to positions in the U.S. Courts.  New employees are considered "provisional hires" pending the successful completion of the FBI background check. 
• Employees of the United States Courts serve under “Excepted Appointments” and are considered “at will” employees.  As such, employment can be terminated at any time.  Furthermore, Federal Civil Service classifications do not apply.
• Employees are subject to mandatory participation in electronic funds transfer (EFT) for payment of net pay (i.e., Direct Deposit).
• The Court reserves the right to modify the conditions of posted job announcements or to withdraw an announcement entirely, either of which may occur without prior written or other notice.

Citizenship Requirements

Employees of the United States Courts must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident seeking U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens must execute an affidavit indicating their intent to apply for citizenship when they become eligible to do so.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Employees of the United States District Court are not included in the Government’s Civil Service classification, but rather are considered “at-will” Excepted Service employees of the Judiciary.

Judiciary employees are entitled to benefits similar to other federal government employees and also enjoy enhanced “judiciary only” benefits.

Employee benefits are dependent on the type of appointment. Full benefits are typically available for full-time or part-time appointments expected to last for at least one year and one day. Limited benefits may be available for temporary full-time or part-time appointments of less than one year and for term law clerk appointments.

Depending on the type of appointment and the expected length of employment, Judiciary benefits include:

Insurance (optional elections)

• Wide choice of health insurance plans, both PPO and HMO (pre-tax payroll deduction available). Dental and vision insurance.
• Group life insurance.
• Long term care insurance (nursing home, extended personal care) for employee and other eligible family members.
• Flexible spending accounts:  health care, dependent care, and commuter expenses (pretax payroll deduction).

Retirement

• Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) – if applicable, mandatory participation.
• Optional Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), similar to 401K, with government matching funds when eligible (pre-tax payroll deduction).

Paid Time Off

• Employees with less than 3 years of federal service accrue 13 days of annual leave (vacation) each year.  Employees with more than 3 years but less than 15 years of federal service accrue 20 days of annual leave each year.  Employees with at least 15 years of federal service accrue 26 days of annual leave each year.
• Accrue 13 days of sick leave per year for instances of personal or family illness.
• Paid leave for military purposes and civic duties such as jury service.
• Paid leave for volunteering.
• Eleven paid federal holidays
• Twelve weeks of Paid Parental Leave (when FML eligible).

Other

• Transit subsidy.
• On-site fitness centers in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
• Opportunities for training and career development.
• Work in a diverse and congenial atmosphere.
• Live in an area with many cosmopolitan, cultural, and community activities.
• The opportunity to serve in a rewarding public service position.
• Telework, alternative work schedules, and other workplace flexibilities.
• Eligibility for periodic salary increases.
• Availability of Federal Employee Assistance Program.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

For further information on career and employment opportunities with the U.S. District Clerk's Office - District of Minnesota, please contact the Human Resources Office.

U.S. District Court- District of Minnesota
Human Resources Office
300 South Fourth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Phone: 612-664-5440
Email: HR-USDC@mnd.uscourts.gov

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Clerk’s Office positions are primarily in Minneapolis and St. Paul, with offices also in Duluth and Fergus Falls.  Vacancy announcements specify office location.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Contact chambers to learn whether or not applications are being accepted. https://www.mnd.uscourts.gov/chambers-contact-information

Law clerks are typically hired for a one or two-year term, with hiring decisions usually made one-two years prior to an intended employment date.

Value of Federal Law Clerk Experience
A judicial clerkship provides direct insight into the judicial process and is a valuable and enriching experience. A law clerk gains practical experience by attending judicial proceedings, performing legal research, and providing other assistance to the judge. Law clerks are exposed to the methods and customs of practitioners and learn the level of professional behavior expected of lawyers. Many former law clerks find the prestige and experience associated with service as a federal judicial law clerk broadens their future employment opportunities.

Duties of Federal Law Clerks
The duties and functions of a federal judicial law clerk are determined by the employing judge.  In most chambers, law clerks concentrate on legal research and writing. Typically, the broad range of duties assigned to a law clerk includes conducting legal research, preparing bench memos, drafting orders and opinions, proofreading the judge’s orders and opinions, verifying citations, communicating with counsel regarding case management and procedural requirements, and assisting the judge during courtroom proceedings. Some judges also may assign maintaining the chambers library and other administrative duties to the law clerk.

Judicial law clerks are also expected to work cooperatively with chambers staff and court personnel. The employing judge must be confident in the law clerk’s professionalism in interacting with counsel, litigants and the public. A law clerk is bound by the ethical standards established by the judge and the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.

Types of Appointments and Benefits
There are different types of law clerk appointments in the federal judiciary.

• Term Appointment is the most common. Term law clerks serve an appointment less than four years, generally one- or two-year appointments. Individuals who hold this job title are covered by Social Security and are eligible to participate in health and life insurance programs including long-term care insurance, and pre-tax health and dependent care supplemental insurance programs. Term law clerks are not eligible to participate in the retirement system or Thrift Savings Plan.
• Career Appointment includes an expectation that employment will last for four or more years. Career law clerks are entitled to participate in all benefit programs offered including health and life insurance, long-term care insurance, pre-tax health and dependent care supplemental insurance, retirement system and the Thrift Savings Plan. A chambers may only employ one career law clerk.

Law Clerk Benefits Grid

Law Clerk Qualifications and Salary
The salary available to a law clerk depends upon legal work experience subsequent to graduation from law school and bar membership.

• JSP Grade 11:  Law school graduates (or those certified as having completed all law school studies and requirements and merely awaiting conferment of degree) with high academic achievement.
• JSP Grade 12:  In addition to the above qualifications, one full year of post-graduate legal experience and bar membership.
• JSP Grade 13:  In addition to the qualifications for Grade 11, at least two full years of post-graduate legal experience and bar membership.
• JSP Grade 14:  At least three full years of post-graduate work experience which includes at least two full-time years as a federal judicial law clerk.  A chambers may only employ one full-time law clerk at the JSP Grade 14 pay rate.

Law Clerk Salary Matrix

Some federal judge use an online system called OSCAR to collect resumes.  More information at the OSCAR link:

Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR)

https://www.uscourts.gov/careers/who-works-judiciary/legal-careers

District of Minnesota Probation and Pretrial Services applications are typically accepted through their on-line application system, NEOGOV. U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office site: https://www.mnp.uscourts.gov/content/careers.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

The U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, has adopted an Employment Dispute Resolution Plan which provides the dispute resolution mechanism for rights and protections enumerated under the Plan to ensure equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual harassment and sexual orientation), national origin, age (at least 40 years of age at the time of the alleged discrimination) or disability.

Employment Dispute Resolution Plan

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer