Appellate Chief

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys•Sacramento, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California represents the Federal government in litigation involving the United States, including criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits, and actions to collect judgments and restitution. This position is located in Sacramento, California. The Appellate Chief supervises and personally handles some of the Office's criminal and civil matters before the Ninth Circuit. Criminal matters may involve constitutional challenges to convictions, statutory questions of first impression, Sentencing Guidelines issues, and post-conviction matters. Civil matters include litigation involving evolving constitutional, statutory, and regulatory issues in immigration law. Working directly with the U.S. Attorney, the Appellate Chief develops litigation strategy, considers possible arguments, and improves the Office's writing and oral advocacy. The Appellate Chief and a lean unit edit briefs prepared by line Assistant United States Attorneys and organize and attend moot courts for oral arguments. The Appellate Chief also advises prosecutors and civil litigators on difficult legal issues, including trial-level procedure and strategy, and prepares recommendations on appeals from adverse district court decisions for submission to Appellate Sections of various Main Justice divisions. This is a supervisory Assistant United States Attorney position with a term not to exceed four years. Supervisory AUSA appointments are temporary and at-will. The appointment may be extended or made permanent as an AUSA without further advertising. Responsibilities and assignment complexity increase as training and experience progress.

Requirements

United States citizenship or national status.
J.D. degree or equivalent.
Be licensed and authorized to practice law in a U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia, and be an active member in good standing of a bar in any jurisdiction.
At least 2 years of post-J.D. experience.
Reside in the appointed district or within 25 miles of it.
Meet applicable preemployment and continuing background adjudication requirements, including fingerprint, credit, tax, and drug checks.
Applicants born male after December 31, 1959 must certify Selective Service registration or exemption.
Strong oral argument, legal writing, research, interpersonal, communication, and time-management skills; good judgment and ability to respond quickly to shifting priorities.
Ability to draft high-quality pleadings and briefs efficiently under time constraints, analyze issues quickly and accurately, work in a demanding environment, take direction, and work with minimal guidance.

Nice To Haves

Federal judicial clerkship experience.
Three to five years of experience litigating criminal cases in federal court, preferably as an AUSA, with experience handling trials and appeals.
Appellate or other significant legal writing experience and oral advocacy experience, preferably before a federal court of appeals.
Past or present Department of Justice experience.

Responsibilities

Supervise the Office's criminal and civil matters before the Ninth Circuit and personally handle some of those matters.
Work with the U.S. Attorney to develop litigation strategy, consider arguments, and improve the Office's written and oral advocacy.
Edit briefs drafted by line Assistant United States Attorneys.
Organize and attend moot courts for oral arguments.
Advise prosecutors and civil litigators on difficult legal issues, including trial-level procedure and strategy.
Prepare recommendations for appeals from adverse district court decisions for submission to Appellate Sections of Main Justice divisions.