Deputy State Public Defender, Appellate Divisio...

Closing Date: 30th April, 2024

Description:

Position Information:
*This is a courtesy posting for the Office of the Public Defender*

Mission Statement
Colorado's Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) maintains a reputation as one of the top organizations in the nation specializing in the delivery of indigent criminal defense. We operate as an independent agency within the Judicial Branch of Colorado State Government with about 1,000 dedicated employees assigned to twenty-one Regional Trial Offices, a centralized Appellate Division, and a centralized Administrative Office. The mission of OSPD is to defend and protect the rights, liberties and dignity of those accused of crimes who cannot afford to retain counsel. We do so by providing constitutionally and statutorily mandated representation that is effective, zealous, inspired and compassionate.

We seek to hire professionals who are dedicated to furthering our mission and demonstrate compassion in their service to our clients. We are a fast paced, team-oriented environment, where self-motivation and a personal commitment to high performance are important attributes for success.

OSPD's Appellate Division, nearly 60 people strong, handles appeals of felony convictions and post-conviction rulings from across the State of Colorado.

Statement of Duties
OSPD appellate attorneys demonstrate compassion, commitment to public service, and a desire to advocate on behalf of the poor. We are team-oriented, but we are also self-directed. We believe personal commitment to high performance is an important attribute for success. We are highly skilled at research, legal analysis, writing, and oral advocacy. We manage our time effectively, we pay strong attention to detail, and we believe in the Oxford comma.

Essential Functions:
Typical responsibilities for Appellate Division attorneys include:

• Reviewing trial court records and transcripts in order to identify potential issues for appeal;
• Conducting legal research to evaluate relative strengths and weaknesses of issues identified for appeal;
• Writing well-reasoned and persuasive briefs based on evidence in the appellate record and supported by accurate statements of relevant law;
• Promptly initiating and maintaining regular contact with clients throughout an appeal via in person and virtual prison visits, by phone, and through written correspondence. This includes responding promptly and professionally to client calls and correspondence;
• Establishing positive, productive, and respectful working relationships with clients and their families, consistent with ethical obligations;
• Managing caseload and time to maximize personal effectiveness and to provide vigorous and effective representation to all clients.
• Analyzing caseload to ensure sufficient time to carefully review the appellate record, consider and discuss potential issues, conduct all necessary research, and edit and proofread all briefs;
• Presenting oral argument in the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court
• Developing professional, cooperative, productive, and respectful relationships with all members of the Public Defender system, including administrative staff, investigators, paralegals, social workers, and attorneys;
• Traveling with some frequency to, and performing duties in, correctional institutions, courts, and jails

Minimum Qualifications:
Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school; license to practice law in the State of Colorado.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must have exceptional written and oral communication skills;
• Must be able to conduct incisive legal research, including with an online legal research database
• Must be able to review appellate records, which may include graphic visual depictions of evidence and crime scenes;
• Must be able to process and retain large amounts of information;
• Must be able to handle interruptions as well as challenging calls and letters;
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and manage confidential information.

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