Chief Public Defender

SDCBA Resource Hub; Spokane (WA); Presencial; USD 120.000 - 170.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

City of Spokane seeks a capable Public Defender to lead the City Public Defender’s Office, overseeing staff, ensuring ethical representation of indigent clients, and coordinating with courts and boards. The role requires extensive criminal law expertise and supervisory experience.

The position involves budget duties, grant administration, and active engagement with City leadership, while upholding municipal ethics and diversity commitments.

Formación

• Experience in managing employee performance and staff development.
• Strong background in criminal law and courtroom advocacy, including research and writing.

Responsabilidades

• Provide oversight for all employment matters within the department.
• Prepare and administer department budget.
• Prepare and administer departmental grant applications and requirements.
• Maintain integrity of representation of indigent clients in the courts.
• Represent indigent clients’ and defenders’ interests on law-related boards and committees.
• Handle inquiries from City Administration, City Council, judges, agencies, and media.
• Assign, track and review caseloads with focus on state standards compliance.
• Perform related duties as required.

Conocimientos

Employee development

Performance management

Criminal law practice

Diversity & cultural competency

Educación

Juris Doctor

WA State Bar active member

Descripción del empleo

CLASS SUMMARY

RepresenteligiblepeoplefacingalossoflibertyfromcriminalchargeswithintheCityofSpokane.Beanindependent voicethatpromotesjusticeandequityforclientsandadvocatesfortheirobjectives,interests,anddignity.Seekto addressracialdisproportionalityinthelocalcriminallegalsystemonissuesofincarcerationandsentencing,eligibilityfor programmatic alternatives and case resolution.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE:

ProvideresponsiblesupervisoryworkintheadministrationanddirectionoftheCityPublicDefender’sOffice.Thisoffice handlesmisdemeanorsandgrossmisdemeanorschargedundertheSpokaneMunicipalCodeforpersonswhoare determined to be indigent and unable to afford to hire private counsel.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

WorkhasasubstantialamountofindependenceinthePublicDefender’sOffice.Employeeprovidessupervisiontopublic defenders, law clerks, legal interns, and clerical staff.

EXAMPLES OF JOB FUNCTIONS

ThefollowingResponsibilitiesandRequirementsarefunctionstheindividualwhoholdsordesiresthepositionmustbe able to perform unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provideoversightforallemploymentrelatedmatterswithinthedepartment.
• Prepareandadministerdepartmentalbudget.
• Prepareandadministerdepartmentalgrantapplicationsandrequirements.
• Maintaintheintegrityofrepresentationofindigentclientsinthecourts.
• Representindigentclients’anddefenders’interestsonvariouslawandlaw-relatedboardsandcommittees.
• HandleinquiriesfromCityAdministration,CityCouncil,judges,variousagencies,andthemedia.
• Assigns,tracks,andreviewscaseloadsofstaffwithparticularattentiontocompliancewithstatewidestandards.
• Performrelateddutiesasrequired.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• CriminallawandpracticesandproceduresofCitygovernment.
• PerformanceManagementconcepts,principals,andpracticesrelatedtoemployeeperformance.

ABILITY TO:

• Expresslegalconceptsinclearandconciselanguagetothemedia,CityCouncil,andPublic.
• Influence,motivate,andchallengeothers;adaptleadershipstylestoavarietyofsituations.
• Managemultipleprojects,meetdeadlines,andworkwellunderpressure.
• Adapttootherdutiesasassignedandprioritize,organize,andplanworkasneededtomeetobjectives.
• Workcooperativelywithothersandmaintainpositiverelationships.

SKILL IN:

• Employeedevelopmentandperformancemanagement.
• Criminal law practice to include courtroom advocacy, forensic and psychological experts and issues, and legal research and writing.
• Effectivelydealingwithpeoplefromvariedbackgroundsanddifferentsituationswhoaredifficult,hostile,or distressedwhilebeingsensitivetoculturaldiversity,race,gender,sexualorientation,disabilities,andother individual differences.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Anycombinationequivalenttotheexperienceandeducationthatwouldlikelyprovidetherelevantknowledgeand abilitieswouldbequalifying.Generally,thiswillinclude:

EDUCATION:

Juris Doctor or successful completion of WSBA Law Clerk Program

Active member of the WA State Bar Association in good standing

EXPERIENCE:

• 8yearsexperienceinthepracticeoflaw;and
• 3yearsofsupervisoryexperience
• 2 years of criminal defense experience

LISENSESAND CERTIFICATIONS:

• MemberingoodstandingoftheWashingtonStateBarAssociation.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Workisconductedprimarilyinanofficesetting.Frequentattendanceatmeetingstoincludesomeirregularhoursand potential out-of-town travel may be required. Incumbents in this position are expected to communicate verbally, in-personandbytelephoneandremotecomputeraccess.Acomputerterminalisusedandrequirestheuseofrepetitive arm movements.

BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS

AsanexemptemployeeoftheCityofSpokane,the Public Defender issubjectto theCity'sCodeofEthicssetforthinChapter1.04AoftheSpokaneMunicipalCode.Assuch,\"itisthepolicyoftheCityof Spokane to uphold, promote, and demand the highest standards of ethics from all of its employees who shall maintain the utmost standards of responsibility, trustworthiness, integrity, truthfulness, honesty and fairness in carrying out their publicduties,avoidanyimproprietiesintheirrolesasapublicservantincludingtheappearanceofimpropriety,andnever use their City position, authority or resources for personal gain.\"

Weareanequalopportunityemployerandvaluediversitywithinourorganization.Wedonotdiscriminateonthebasis ofrace,religion,color,nationalorigin,genderidentity,sexualorientation,age,maritalstatus,familialstatus,genetic information,veteran/militarystatusordisabilitystatus.AsaFairChanceemployer,CityofSpokanedoesnotconduct initial background screening for non-public safety positions.

EXAMINATION DETAILS

Employer

CityofSpokane

Phone

509.625.6160

Address

808W.SpokaneFallsBlvd. City Hall, 4th Floor

Spokane,Washington,99201

Website

http://my.spokanecity.org