Job Opportunity – Special Master

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Special Master – Arizona General Stream Adjudications

 $41.83 – $62.74 Hourly
(Part time, 20 hours per week or more)

First review of applications will be conducted 4/30/2015

The Position:
Under orders of reference from the Superior Court, the Special Master oversees the litigation of objections to reports of the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), issues of broad legal importance, and procedural matters arising in the course of litigation.

Essential Job Tasks:

  • Reviews hydrological survey and technical reports prepared by ADWR.

  • Oversees the litigation of objections to reports of ADWR.

  • Organizes objections to hydrological survey reports into contested cases and holds hearings.

  • Files reports that contain findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations that determine the relative water rights of each claimant or resolve issues of broad legal importance.

  • Determines legal and factual issues related to the adjudication of federal non-Indian and Indian reserved water rights.

  • Litigates contested cases currently in process and initiates new cases.

  • Resolves procedural matters arising in the course of litigation that are referred to the Special Master.

  • Supervises the preparation, maintenance, distribution, and online publication of the Court approved mailing lists.

  • Maintains a website that contains rulings, orders, appellate decisions, rules, and information.

  • Drafts, edits, and publishes an online newsletter three times a year.

  • Reviews all proposed amendments to rules of the Court as they might apply to the adjudications.

  • Prepares the annual office budget.

  • Consults with the Finance Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) concerning the accurate and timely reporting of revenue and expenses.

  • Monitors the administration and management of the two funds of filing fees and consults with the Clerks of the Superior Court of Apache and Maricopa Counties and the Treasurers of both counties.

  • Prepares proposed orders for the transfer of funds from the Apache County and Maricopa County Treasurers to AOC.

  • Maintains records based upon applicable storage and retention policies.

Position Qualifications:

A candidate for this position must be a resident of the state of Arizona, a duly licensed member of the State Bar of Arizona, and shall have engaged in the active general practice of law for a period of time not less than five years immediately preceding his or her appointment.  Candidates must not have any disciplinary matters pending before the State Bar Disciplinary Board.

Preferred Qualifications: 

Education or experience in natural resource law or policy, particularly water rights including general stream adjudications, a substantive knowledge of Arizona and federal water law, and litigation experience.

Location Address: 
125 W Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Benefits:
The Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) provides benefits for this position.  This position is Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) eligible.

How to Apply:
Interested applicants may go to http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/CourtInformation/employmentOps.asp. All applications may be submitted via email, fax, mail or in-person:

Chad Morton
Recruiting Analyst
Judicial Branch Human Resources
101 W Jefferson
ECB-LL, 3rd Floor, Suite A
Phoenix, AZ 85003
(P) 602-372-0588
(F) 602-506-2280
Email: mortonc002@superiorcourt.maricopa.gov