District Court Deputy Da

Mesa County•Grand Junction, CO

19h•Onsite

About The Position

Participates in the prosecution of criminal law violations in the judicial district. Conducts criminal felony trials. Drafts and responds to legal motions. Researches legal issues. Analyzes cases for prosecution. Prepares and presents witnesses at preliminary hearings. Reviews criminal cases for proper disposition. Presents facts to support appropriateness of sentencing. Prosecutes probation violations on behalf of the State. Represents the State on post-conviction remedy motions. Researches and prepares appellate briefs for the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: (The following duty statements are illustrative of the essential functions of the job and do not include other non-essential or marginal duties that may be required. Mesa County reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of this job at any time. All responsibilities may not be performed by all incumbents.) Analyze self-defense claims for credibility of witnesses and other facts in case; make plea offers. Ensure that victims are properly notified of court hearings, and that their input is solicited on case dispositions pursuant to the Victim Rights Act. Draft deferred judgment and sentence plea agreements. Review new cases filed and evaluate factual situations and apply legal principles to determine if the facts constitute a crime. Prepares for criminal felony trials, including jury selection, preparation, presentation, and cross-examination of witnesses, presentation and argument of instructions of law to the courts and juries, and argument of cases to juries. Drafts and responds to legal motions; represents the State in contested hearings on felony criminal cases; argues factual issues as well as constitutional issues and presents law supporting the arguments; prepares and presents witnesses in support of facts and legal issues. Researches legal issues involved in the arrest and prosecution of criminal offenders; researches arrest issues, search and seizure issues, and issues involving the constitutional rights of citizens and the authority of law enforcement; also researches procedural issues for processing criminal offenders through the judicial system to conviction. Analyzes cases presented by law enforcement in terms of factual strength and whether or not legal issues will result in the loss of evidence; determines what, if any, investigation is needed to prove the case legally and factually and ensures that investigation is completed; drafts charges and files in court. Prepares and presents witnesses at preliminary hearings; makes arguments concerning facts and laws to support further prosecution of charges. Reviews and evaluates victim impact statements to determine if restitution is owed and if so, the amount; computes invoices for property and medical damages; represent and argue on behalf of victims at restitution hearings. Endorse witnesses for trials and subpoena witnesses for trials. Reviews criminal cases to make decisions on disposition; reviews files, talks to witnesses and victims to determine the appropriateness of disposition based on the strength of the case, individual defendant's conduct and background, and the impact of the conduct on the victim and society. Presents facts to support appropriateness of a sentence in court; researches and presents laws to support the legality of a sentence; obtains victim impact statements and accumulates evidence to support restitution to the victim. Prosecutes probation violations on behalf of the State Probation Department; presents evidence to prove violations; represents the State on post-conviction remedy motions by researching and presenting arguments in court to support the legality of conviction and sentence. Prosecute cases at jury or court trial; assist in jury selection. Participate in the sentencing of criminal defendants. Represent Department of Revenue for all Department of Motor Vehicle appeals. Researches and prepares appellate briefs for the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court concerning legal issues that were resolved in a lower court (not appellate review). Analyzes individual cases for appropriateness of bond; argues and presents facts and law in support of bond; argues and presents law to forfeit bond in favor of the State when appropriate; argues law and facts in support of revocation of bond when appropriate; prepares legal pleadings and documents appropriate for court action in all areas. Meets with judges, law enforcement, probation, and the general public to identify and, where possible, resolve judicial system problems. Supervise support personnel. Occasionally assists law enforcement agencies by serving on promotional review boards. Trains and offers legal advice to law enforcement officers involving issues of arrest, search and seizure, procedure, drafting search warrants, reviewing warrant requests and processing charges. Serves on 24 hour call for questions and advice on rotational basis. Attends related ongoing continuing education opportunities. Oral and written communications must be clear and effective. Performs other related duties as assigned. District Court Deputy District Attorney II: The employee has achieved proficiency in the District Court Deputy District Attorney position. Demonstrate professionalism, composure, and appropriate interpersonal skills during performance of tasks, duties and responsibilities that take place in this adversarial system. This adversarial system includes contentious dealings (in person, by phone, electronically, or by written correspondence) with opposing counsel, upset individuals that may be defendants, victims, witnesses, law enforcement, or other members of the public, often resulting in mental and physical stresses. Demonstrate professionalism, composure, and appropriate interpersonal skills in reviewing and/or discussing information pertaining to criminal cases. These criminal cases require frequent exposure to assaults and murders, including, but not limited to, physical assaults, verbal abuse, sexual assaults (upon adults and children), and child abuse. The discovery in the cases will also require frequent exposure to gruesome, disturbing, and/or sexually explicit photographs, images and recordings. District Court Deputy District Attorney assigned to Juvenile Court: Identify high-risk offenders and/or high stakes cases for purposes of utilizing detention and commitment beds. Communicate regularly with community stakeholders relevant to juvenile offenders/cases. Seek modifications/improvements in the Court process. Participate in community partnerships relevant to juvenile prosecution. Teach or assist in teaching Children’s Code at WSCC Police Academy. Create working relationship with paralegal and victim specialist on appropriate cases.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate
Three (3) years of related experience
Current Colorado Supreme Court license to practice law
Demonstrate professionalism, composure, and appropriate interpersonal skills during performance of tasks, duties and responsibilities that take place in this adversarial system
Demonstrate professionalism, composure, and appropriate interpersonal skills in reviewing and/or discussing information pertaining to criminal cases

Nice To Haves

Proficiency in the District Court Deputy District Attorney position (for Deputy District Attorney II)
Cover letter to address why you are interested in prosecution and any ties you may have to Western Colorado

Responsibilities

Prosecution of criminal law violations
Conducting criminal felony trials
Drafting and responding to legal motions
Researching legal issues
Analyzing cases for prosecution
Preparing and presenting witnesses at preliminary hearings
Reviewing criminal cases for proper disposition
Presenting facts to support appropriateness of sentencing
Prosecuting probation violations on behalf of the State
Representing the State on post-conviction remedy motions
Researching and preparing appellate briefs
Analyzing self-defense claims for credibility of witnesses and other facts in case; make plea offers
Ensuring that victims are properly notified of court hearings, and that their input is solicited on case dispositions pursuant to the Victim Rights Act
Drafting deferred judgment and sentence plea agreements
Reviewing new cases filed and evaluating factual situations and applying legal principles to determine if the facts constitute a crime
Preparing for criminal felony trials, including jury selection, preparation, presentation, and cross-examination of witnesses, presentation and argument of instructions of law to the courts and juries, and argument of cases to juries
Drafting and responding to legal motions; representing the State in contested hearings on felony criminal cases; arguing factual issues as well as constitutional issues and presenting law supporting the arguments; preparing and presenting witnesses in support of facts and legal issues
Researching legal issues involved in the arrest and prosecution of criminal offenders; researching arrest issues, search and seizure issues, and issues involving the constitutional rights of citizens and the authority of law enforcement; also researching procedural issues for processing criminal offenders through the judicial system to conviction
Analyzing cases presented by law enforcement in terms of factual strength and whether or not legal issues will result in the loss of evidence; determining what, if any, investigation is needed to prove the case legally and factually and ensuring that investigation is completed; drafting charges and filing in court
Preparing and presenting witnesses at preliminary hearings; making arguments concerning facts and laws to support further prosecution of charges
Reviewing and evaluating victim impact statements to determine if restitution is owed and if so, the amount; computing invoices for property and medical damages; representing and arguing on behalf of victims at restitution hearings
Endorsing witnesses for trials and subpoenaing witnesses for trials
Reviewing criminal cases to make decisions on disposition; reviewing files, talking to witnesses and victims to determine the appropriateness of disposition based on the strength of the case, individual defendant's conduct and background, and the impact of the conduct on the victim and society
Presenting facts to support appropriateness of a sentence in court; researching and presenting laws to support the legality of a sentence; obtaining victim impact statements and accumulating evidence to support restitution to the victim
Prosecuting probation violations on behalf of the State Probation Department; presenting evidence to prove violations; representing the State on post-conviction remedy motions by researching and presenting arguments in court to support the legality of conviction and sentence
Prosecuting cases at jury or court trial; assisting in jury selection
Participating in the sentencing of criminal defendants
Representing Department of Revenue for all Department of Motor Vehicle appeals
Researching and preparing appellate briefs for the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court concerning legal issues that were resolved in a lower court (not appellate review)
Analyzing individual cases for appropriateness of bond; arguing and presenting facts and law in support of bond; arguing and presenting law to forfeit bond in favor of the State when appropriate; arguing law and facts in support of revocation of bond when appropriate; preparing legal pleadings and documents appropriate for court action in all areas
Meeting with judges, law enforcement, probation, and the general public to identify and, where possible, resolve judicial system problems
Supervising support personnel
Occasionally assisting law enforcement agencies by serving on promotional review boards
Training and offering legal advice to law enforcement officers involving issues of arrest, search and seizure, procedure, drafting search warrants, reviewing warrant requests and processing charges
Serving on 24-hour call for questions and advice on a rotational basis
Attending related ongoing continuing education opportunities
Identifying high-risk offenders and/or high stakes cases for purposes of utilizing detention and commitment beds (Juvenile Court)
Communicating regularly with community stakeholders relevant to juvenile offenders/cases (Juvenile Court)
Seeking modifications/improvements in the Court process (Juvenile Court)
Participating in community partnerships relevant to juvenile prosecution (Juvenile Court)
Teaching or assisting in teaching Children’s Code at WSCC Police Academy (Juvenile Court)
Creating a working relationship with paralegal and victim specialist on appropriate cases (Juvenile Court)