Assistant District Attorney Post-Conviction Bureau

Salary: 93,100 -149,635

Location: Houston, TX

Job Type: Regular Full-time

Department: Harris County District Attorney's Office

Position Description

An Assistant District Attorney in the Post-Conviction Bureau represents the State of Texas in the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals for the First and Fourteenth District, and the various Harris County trial courts. Assistant District Attorneys also provide support to trial prosecutors through research and assistance with trial court motions and responses in complex litigation.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Preparing appellate briefs, motions for rehearing, petitions for discretionary review, petitions for writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, and responses to such petitions.
2. Presenting oral arguments in the appellate courts including the First Court of Appeals, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Texas Supreme Court.
3. Preparing motions related to direct appeals in the trial and appellate courts.
4. Investigating and responding to applications of writs of habeas corpus, including preparing Answers and Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
5. Participating in evidentiary hearings involving allegations raised in writs of habeas corpus.
6. Providing legal research assistance to trial prosecutors and occasional argument on legal issues in the Harris County criminal trial courts.

Education and Experience:

1. A Juris Doctorate degree and a current license to practice law with the State Bar of Texas are required.
2. Excellent research and persuasive writing abilities.
3. Previous appellate or post-conviction writ experience strongly preferred.

Please email resumes and writings samples to:

Jessica Caird (caird_jessica@dao.hctx.net); Andrew Smith (smith_andrew@dao.hctx.net); and Aimee Bolletino (bolletino_aimee@dao.hctx.net).

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.