Capital Habeas Attorney

Federal Public Defender, Central District of California•Los Angeles, CA

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About The Position

The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California is accepting applications for full-time attorney positions in its Capital Habeas Unit (CHU), stationed in Los Angeles or Santa Ana, California. The CHU advocates for the constitutional rights and inherent dignity of indigent persons sentenced to death. We provide the highest quality representation in post-conviction proceedings through diversity of experience, collaborative and thorough case development, focused litigation strategies, and skilled courtroom advocacy.

Requirements

Graduated from an accredited law school
Members in good standing of the California Bar or must be willing to sit for the next California Bar exam, if they are a member in good standing of another Bar.
United States citizens or permanent residents seeking citizenship

Nice To Haves

At least three years of experience in state and/or federal criminal law, complex civil litigation, death penalty litigation, or habeas corpus litigation, or applicants with state or federal judicial clerkship experience.

Responsibilities

Represent death-sentenced inmates from California and other states in their federal habeas corpus proceedings.
Work on all stages of capital habeas cases, from pre-petition investigation through Supreme Court proceedings and clemency.
Summarize trial transcripts
Draft habeas corpus petitions
Supervise teams of investigators and paralegals
Direct investigation
Work with experts
Conduct evidentiary hearings
Draft briefs
Present oral arguments
Draft clemency petitions
Represent noncapital habeas petitioners and federal criminal defendants.