Chief Deputy District Attorney

This position will remain open until filled. 

This position performs a variety of professional legal and supervisory functions to direct the work activities of a unit within the Office of the District Attorney.

GENERAL DUTIES:
(The following essential job functions and examples of duties are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive; positions assigned to this class may not perform all the duties listed.)
 

• Prepares criminal matters for and represents the State at trial, appeal, and related hearings; may have primary responsibility in areas of felony case assignment. 
• Screens criminal complaints brought to the District Attorney’s attention by private citizens and/or law enforcement personnel. 
• Assists the Chief Deputy, District Attorney or Assistant District Attorney in preparing or trying criminal or quasi-criminal cases and in administrative matters, when so requested.
• Interviews witnesses having pertinent information and conducts investigations to gather information necessary for criminal actions. 
• Presents cases to and questions witnesses before the grand jury; prepares criminal indictments and subpoenas witnesses as directed by the grand jury.
• Provides legal assistance and advice to law enforcement agencies in criminal matters; is available on-call at specified times for such advice and assistance. 
• Acts as team lead of any designated team.
• Reviews, prepares pleadings, negotiates, and tries court cases. 
• Conducts legal research necessary for case preparation and or office management to broaden legal background; keeps abreast of case law and legislation affecting state criminal laws.
• Presents and advocates prosecution case at trial; interviews witnesses to ascertain their testimony; as applicable, conducts voir dire of jury candidates and accepts or excuses jurors in light of perceived positions relevant to the victim, defendant, crime charged, and/or facts of the case; prepares and presents opening statement to provide finder of fact with overview of case theory and supporting evidence.
• Conducts direct and re-direct examination of prosecution witnesses to introduce physical and testimonial evidence to prove elements of crime(s) charged beyond a reasonable doubt within necessary foundations; offers objections to defense questions and statements to protect witnesses from abuse and/or to prevent introduction of irrelevant or inadmissible evidence.
• Advocates prosecution position in response to defense objections and/or court rulings to preserve an appellate record; conducts cross-examination of defense witnesses to scrutinize and/or impeach their testimony.
• Prepares jury instructions and advocates prosecution position to the defense and court to negotiate final version; prepares and presents closing and rebuttal arguments to review evidence and advocate for conviction.
• Researches and responds to a wide variety of defense motions, e.g. suppression of statements/evidence, motions in limine, request for sanctions for violation of procedural rules, etc.  
• Researches, prepares, and presents motions on behalf of the people, e.g. amend charges, add charges, 404(b) similar transactions, child hearsay, motions in limine, etc. 
• Researches, prepares, and presents briefs to the Court advocating the People's position regarding legal issues raised during motions practice.  
• Acts in an on-call (after hours) capacity to respond to police inquiries regarding search and seizure, probable cause to arrest, non-testimonial identification items, and related legal issues; reviews affidavits for probable cause for arrest and search warrants; contacts on-call judge to arrange time for affiant to sign affidavit in judge's presence.  
• May respond to crime scenes as requested, to offer suggestions to police regarding scope of investigation and preservation of evidence. 
• Prepares correspondence in instances where out of court communication requires documentation, e.g. advising defense of exculpatory evidence, requests to filing detective for further investigation.
• Attends monthly training meetings; may prepare and present lectures to attorneys on a variety of legal issues related to felony prosecution.
• May make presentations to schools and community groups to explain the functional aspects of the legal system and/or current issues related to felony matters.

REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES:

• Considerable to extensive knowledge of the rules of criminal procedure and the rules of evidence; ability to effectively apply same in a 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 and guidelines 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.

• Graduation from law school as provided under Rule 205.1 of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure. 
• Experience at the Senior Deputy District Attorney level or above required.

• Licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado. 
• Attainment of an overall satisfactory performance rating as county court and district court attorney. 
• Work in the class is accomplished through the application of legal theory, applicable state statutes, and broadly defined case settlement guidelines to a variety of case facts and circumstances and requires considerable legal and factual analysis on a diversity of issues. 
• Understands the state requirements with respect to victims’ rights, pursuant to statute and applicable case law.

COMPLEXITY/RESPONSIBILITY: 

• Work in the class is accomplished through the application of legal theory, applicable state statutes, and broadly defined case settlement guidelines to a variety of case facts. 
• Circumstances and requires considerable legal and factual analysis on a diversity of issues.

• Contacts are with superiors, co-workers, defense attorneys, pro-se defendants, victims and witnesses, judges, juries, court staff, law enforcement and related agencies' personnel, press/media reporters.
• The general public and involve the giving and receiving of factual and theoretical information, explanation of complex factual patterns, legal theory, statutory and case law. 
• Requirements/interpretation are required of the incumbent to persons with widely varying levels of legal education and/or understanding.

• Work is generally confined to a standard office environment and requires no more than normal physical abilities.

• Works under the supervision of the Senior Chief Deputy District Attorney, or under the general to broad supervision of other administrative superiors.

• Coordinates and reviews the work activities of personnel assigned to the unit, acts as a resource on substantive problems and legal issues.