Deputy District Attorney

Douglas County Government (CO); Golden (CO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Douglas County Government (CO) seeks a Deputy District Attorney for the Special Victims and Domestic Violence Unit to prosecute complex cases involving children, sexual offenses, and felony DV, from intake through trial. The role may be assigned exclusively to SVU, DV, or a blended caseload, depending on the office's needs and the candidate's experience.

You will supervise investigations with law enforcement, apply trauma-informed practices, and collaborate with advocates and federal/state

Qualifications

• Active Colorado law license and successful bar admission.
• Minimum 1 year prosecutorial experience.
• Strong knowledge of criminal procedure and rules of evidence.
• Ability to handle preliminary hearings and trials in felony cases.
• Excellent written and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders and trauma-informed practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead prosecution of SVU, DV, child exploitation and related cases from intake to trial.
• Manage discovery, pretrial motions, and court presentations.
• Coordinate with law enforcement, digital forensics, child advocacy groups, and community partners.
• Respond to after-hours inquiries and review affidavits for arrest/search warrants.
• Train prosecutors and collaborate with multi-agency task forces and legislative bodies.

Skills

Litigation excellence

Oral & written advocacy

Trauma-informed practice

Case management

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school

Tools

Courtroom technology

Digital evidence presentation

Job description

The Deputy District Attorney - Special Victims and Domestic Violence Unit is a docket district attorney role within the 23rd Judicial District's Special Victims and Domestic Violence Unit responsible for the prosecution and investigation of complex cases involving felony crimes against children, adult sexual assaults, and felony domestic violence. The role requires expert litigation skills, trauma-informed practices, and a commitment to victim-centered justice. Depending on the needs of the office and the interests and experience of the selected candidate, this position may be assigned exclusively to special victims unit cases, exclusively to felony domestic violence cases, or to a blended caseload encompassing both types of cases listed.

Key Responsibilities

Prosecution of SVU and DV Cases:

• Lead the prosecution of cases involving child exploitation, sexual offenses, felony domestic violence and physical child abuse from intake through trial, including grand jury proceedings and post-conviction litigation.
• Litigate pretrial motions, manage discovery, and present compelling arguments in court.

Investigation and Case Development:

• Direct and support complex investigations in collaboration with law enforcement, digital forensic experts, child advocacy professionals, and community partners.
• Guide the use of subpoenas, search warrants, forensic interviews, and electronic evidence in building prosecutable cases.
• Act 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; and reviews affidavits for probable cause for arrest and search warrants prior to submission to judicial officers.
• Assist with the organization of operations specific to investigating human trafficking and child exploitation cases in collaboration with both federal and state law enforcement partners.

Victim Advocacy and Support:

• Ensure trauma-informed and culturally competent interaction with victims and survivors throughout the justice process.
• Coordinate with victim advocates, child protection agencies, and community partners to support victim needs and safety planning.

Training and Community Engagement:

• Train and mentor prosecutors, law enforcement, and community partners on domestic violence, crimes against children, sexual assault, and trauma-informed practices.
• Participate in local, state, and federal task forces, inter-agency collaborations, and legislative advocacy related to child abuse and human trafficking cases.
• Represent the office at public forums, community meetings, and professional conferences as approved by the District Attorney.

Qualifications

Required:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in Colorado.
• Minimum 1 year of prosecutorial experience
• 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 criminal 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 assess cases for strengths versus weaknesses and aggravators versus mitigators to determine just and ethical dispositions
• 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.
• This position requires successful completion of a criminal background check including fingerprinting through a national database.
• Must possess a valid Colorado Driver's License upon hire, with complying insurance. Review of motor vehicle record is required at time of hire and periodically throughout employment.

Preferred:

• Specialized training or experience in sex crimes, crimes against children, or domestic violence.
• 2 years prosecutorial experience
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and victim advocacy organizations.
• Familiarity and coordination with federal agencies (e.g., FBI, HSI) and local agencies in Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln Counties
• Experience with courtroom technology and digital evidence presentation.

Core Competencies:

• Strong ethical judgment and legal acumen
• Excellent oral and written advocacy
• Organizational and case management skills
• Commitment to victim-centered, justice-driven prosecution

Work Environment

• Office and courtroom settings, with some travel for investigations, training, and community engagement.
• Frequent exposure to sensitive and graphic content related to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child exploitation.