IV - District Court

Arapahoe County•Greenwood Village, CO

About The Position

The Arapahoe County government serves its communities in ways both obvious and obscure. As the beating heart of local and regional government, we’re here for our neighbors on their best days—and their worst. We share our residents’ goals of preserving our quality of life and strive to be the place we’re proud to call home. The Deputy District Attorney performs a variety of professional legal and docket management functions to intake and prosecute felony offenses in the 18th Judicial District. Note: This posting is hiring for a Deputy District Attorney I/II/III/IV - District Court comensurate with experience.

Requirements

Considerable to extensive knowledge of the rules of criminal procedure and the rules of evidence; ability to effectively apply same in a docket/hearing/preliminary hearing/trial setting related to felony offenses. Considerable knowledge of state statutes and general knowledge of substantive case law related to felony offenses. Ability to advocate and/or present legal/factual scenarios in a clear and persuasive manner to persons of highly varying legal, educational, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Ability to effectively process and dispose of felony criminal case filings while maintaining a balance of equal justice between victims, the People of the State of Colorado, and affected defendants; ability to assess cases for strengths versus weaknesses and aggravators versus mitigators to determine just and ethical dispositions that are within policies promulgated by the District Attorney.
Ability to react quickly and appropriately in court to defense objections, oral motions, court inquiries and rulings, and presentations/responses from defense attorneys and witnesses. Ability to write in a succinct and well-reasoned manner.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, co-workers, defense attorneys, victims, judges, court staff, police officers, witnesses, related agencies' personnel, and the general public; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with same.
Accountability
Accessibility
Inclusivity
Integrity
Graduation from law school as provided under Rule 205.1 of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
3 + years litigation experience or 1 year County Court (misdemeanor) Deputy DA experience.
Licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado.
Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check.
Possession of a valid Class “R” Colorado Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within two weeks of appointment.
Security clearance required: will require fingerprinting and a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) background check.
Licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado.

Responsibilities

Review and file felony charges, including evaluating evidence, determining appropriate charges, preparing filing documents, providing discovery, and ensuring victim notifications.
Advise and support law enforcement on criminal law issues, warrant requirements, investigative questions, and case development.
Assess defendants and case readiness, including reviewing criminal history, evaluating bond considerations, identifying witnesses, and preparing victims and witnesses for hearings and trial.
Represent the prosecution at hearings, including initial advisements, bond hearings, preliminary hearings, and arraignments; establish probable cause and manage case scheduling.
Manage plea negotiations, prepare plea paperwork, communicate plea offers, and present factual bases for court acceptance.
Litigate felony cases at trial, including voir dire, opening statements, direct/cross examinations, objections, evidentiary presentation, jury instructions, and closing arguments.
Research, draft, and argue motions and legal briefs for both prosecution-initiated and defense-initiated motions.
Provide on-call legal guidance for law enforcement after hours, review and coordinate warrant approvals, and respond to crime scenes when needed.
Prepare case-related correspondence, including exculpatory disclosures and requests for additional investigation.
Participate in training and community outreach, including attending required CLEs, delivering internal trainings, and presenting to schools or community groups.