Deputy District Attorney – Appellate Unit

The mission of the District Attorney’s Office is to keep the community safe and to make the criminal justice system better through the fair and ethical prosecution of criminal offenders, while seeking justice for victims of crime.

The Deputy District Attorney performs professional legal work in the litigation of appeals in the Adams and Broomfield District Courts, Colorado Court of Appeals, and Colorado Supreme Court, acting on behalf of the District Attorney and representing the People of the State of Colorado in appellate, postconviction, and civil proceedings.  The Deputy District Attorney is a licensed attorney with 2-5 years of experience prosecuting criminal cases, handling a docket of misdemeanor and felony appellate cases, as well as misdemeanor and felony postconviction cases on a part-time basis. 

Part-time hours range from 20-29 hours per week.

A range of experience for this vacancy will be considered and a candidate’s qualifications will determine the level at which they are hired:

Senior Deputy District Attorney $122,483.45 to $177,601.00 ($58.886 to $85.385 hourly)

• Litigates misdemeanor and traffic appeals arising from County Court cases and felony appeals from District Court cases.
• Reviews court records and transcripts and conducts legal research to effectively litigate appeals.
• Litigates postconviction motions pursuant to Crim. P. 35(c) in misdemeanor and traffic cases in County Court and felony cases in District Court, including drafting and filing responsive briefs and motions, and appearing in court for postconviction evidentiary hearings.  
• Evaluates court records, transcripts, and attorney files in litigating Crim. P. 35(c) motions.
• Litigates various criminal-law-adjacent civil matters including asset forfeitures, petitions to deregister, and sealing of criminal justice records.
• Assists the office’s trial attorneys with legal research and writing on an as-needed basis.
• Prepares and presents trainings for the office’s attorneys on various criminal-law issues.
• Assists victims of crime through the criminal justice system and communicates with victims and witnesses on cases in which they are involved.
• Provides legal advice to law enforcement agencies.
• Performs related work as required.
  
  

• Licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado
• Knowledge of Colorado criminal case law statutes and relevant case law 
• Commitment to protecting the public and making the criminal justice system better
• Commitment to working collaboratively in a team environment 
• Responsible for reviewing criminal case files and preparing said files for appeal.
• Ability to prepare for and effectively manage an appellate and postconviction caseload, including appearing for oral argument and evidentiary hearings when necessary.
• Skill in researching and drafting legal pleadings and briefs necessary for the successful prosecution and defense of appeals.  
• Ability to comply with all Victims' Rights mandates, to include victim notification and/or consultation at all critical stages of a case
• Strong critical thinking skills, writing skills, and ability to think on one’s feet in a high stress environment.
• Skill in appellate courtroom presentation
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Ability to work independently and efficiently to meet statutory deadlines.
• Ability to learn and utilize computer case management software programs.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees, supervisors, court officials, law enforcement, the public and other government agencies

Must possess a Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado
Must possess or have the ability to obtain a valid Colorado Driver's License
Must pass a criminal background check

Cover Letter, Resume, and Writing Sample: To be considered for this position, a cover letter, resume, and writing sample MUST be attached to the application.

This posting will remain open until the position is filled.

This is a part-time position, with hours from 20-29 per week.

Adams County complies with Colorado’s Job Application Fairness Act (“JAFA”). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications and transcripts containing this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant’s age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.