Assistant Attorney General - Criminal Appeals

State of Oklahoma•Oklahoma City, OK

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Criminal Appeals Unit represents the state in the criminal appeals process to ensure that the lawful decisions rendered by judges and juries are upheld in the appellate courts. This is a full-time, regular position.

Requirements

Must be, or be eligible to become, a licensed attorney in the State of Oklahoma.
Strong writing, research, and oral advocacy skills are required.
2026 graduates are permitted to apply but any offer will be contingent on passing the July 2026 bar examination.
All applicants must agree in writing to complete, and satisfactorily pass, a background investigation.

Nice To Haves

Willingness to accept and work on a variety of types of case assignments with a positive attitude.

Responsibilities

Agree to participate and cooperate in the Criminal Appeals Unit’s multiple-level review process, which includes review by the capital director, unit deputy, and (for all capital matters) the Solicitor General
Make edits as directed during the review process
Meet all internal deadlines for peer review—specifically, briefs and other pleadings should be submitted to the capital director at least one week prior to the deadline
Complete all assigned cases such that cases do not have to be reassigned
Correctly analyze, interpret, and apply case law
Write briefs coherently and at the standard required by the Criminal Appeals Unit leadership
Meet or exceed the unit’s average productivity level—for non-capital matters, three briefs or one special assignment (such as an oral argument) per month; for capital matters, one brief or one special assignment (such as an oral argument or clemency packet) per month.
Represent the State in criminal appellate cases before the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals
Represent prison wardens in federal habeas actions
Complete other special projects as assigned
Maintain integrity and confidentiality of information of the Attorney General’s Office