5. Selection and Recruitment

5. Selection and Recruitment

   Each office of the Nebraska Court System shall take steps to ensure that employees within the system are recruited and selected based on an open and competitive basis. The necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities for the specific position shall be the principal factors considered in the selection process.Selection procedures shall be uniformly administered in making a final hiring decision.  Each office is responsible for documenting all required selection activities involved in the hiring process including the interview questions and any other screening device. A copy of the hiring procedure shall be sent to the Administrative Office of the Courts/Probation.  Applications and all other material used in the hiring process may be disposed of 3 years after the date of application. 

   When a vacancy occurs, permission to fill the vacancy must be obtained from the Administrative Office of the Courts/Probation. Job notices shall be advertised both internally and externally, except in the event that the nature of work and the business needs of a local office support a shift in the Office's job classifications from one type of job to another type of job (for example, when probation caseloads demand an increase in Specialized Officers and a decrease in Probation Officers, or court caseloads demand an increase in Records Clerks and a decrease in Cashiers), and the need for rebalancing has extended beyond a 6-month period. In those circumstances only, the local office shall submit a request to the Administrative Office of the Courts or Probation citing the business need and classifications affected. If approved, existing vacant positions will be reclassified, after which the Office may "post" any remaining reclassification opportunities internally amongst eligible employees within the District/County and, through a competitive selection process, assign the new job classification(s) to the most qualified candidate(s). Where the need for rebalancing will result in downward reclassification, candidates for reclassification will be identified based on performance. (See Job Reclassification.)

Amended 7-9-2015; amended 5-10-17. 

unanimous

A. Job Postings

A. Job Postings

   Job postings must be filed with the State Department of Personnel Jobs Website. Hiring Personnel may also post job openings in other local publications with the same language used in the State Posting. Notices placed in newspapers or publications that involve costs to the Supreme Court require prior approval from the Administrative Office. Positions shall be advertised for a minimum of 6 workdays.

   Applications shall only be accepted when a vacancy occurs.

   With prior approval, the Supreme Court may reimburse up to three applicants per position/vacancy for travel, meals, and lodging expenses incurred in traveling to and from the prospective job site/interview site.  The same policies as established for employee travel shall apply when determining the amounts to be reimbursed, and requests for reimbursement shall require the same documentation.

Amended 9-27-05; amended 7-9-15

unanimous

B. Veterans' Preference

B. Veterans' Preference

   Veterans and spouses of veterans determined eligible in accordance with Sec. 48-227(4) of the Nebraska Revised Statutes shall be given preference in hiring (Veteran's Preference).

   Veterans who obtain passing scores on all parts or phases of a hiring examination or numerical scoring tool shall have five percent added to their passing score if a claim for such preference is made on the application. An additional five percent shall be added to the passing score or numerical scoring of any disabled veteran. When no examination or numerical scoring is used, the preference shall be given to the qualifying veteran if two or more equally qualified candidates are being considered for the position. A veteran desiring to use a veterans preference shall provide the hiring authority with a copy of the veteran's Department of Defense Form 214, also known as the DD Form 214. A spouse of a veteran desiring to use a veterans preference shall provide the hiring authority with a copy of the veteran's Department of Defense Form 214, a copy of the veteran's disability verification from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs demonstrating a one hundred percent permanent disability rating, and proof of marriage to the veteran. Any marriage claimed for a veterans preference must be valid under Nebraska law. Within thirty days after filling a position, veterans who have applied and are not hired shall be notified that they have not been hired. Such notice also shall advise the veteran of any administrative appeal available.

Adopted 7-16-03; amended 7-9-15.

unanimous

C. Criminal History Screening

C. Criminal History Screening

 

   In accordance with procedures approved by the Nebraska Supreme Court, a criminal background check will be conducted after a conditional offer of employment is extended, with continued employment contingent upon a satisfactory result of the background check. The employee shall be required to sign a statement of understanding regarding the criminal background check and conditional job offer.

Adopted 7-16-03; amended 7-9-15.

unanimous