Assistant City Prosecutor

Assistant City Prosecutor

To represent the interests of the people of the City of Spokane by the timely prosecution of individuals who violate the Revised Code of Washington and the Spokane Municipal Code.

Performs professional legal work in preparing and prosecuting criminal, civil traffic and non-traffic violations committed in the City of Spokane.

Work has a substantial amount of independence in the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Employee primarily works on assigned cases within the guidelines of established office policies, court procedures and the rules of evidence. Assistant Prosecutors may be responsible for one or more special program areas such as Domestic Violence and Driving Under the Influence (DUI) prosecutions, as well as supporting other designated program areas such as the Community Court.

The following Responsibilities and Requirements are functions the individual who holds or desires the position must be able to perform unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the prosecutor on assigned cases and represents the City for offenses that are filed in Spokane Municipal Court.
• Search for, interpret, and apply laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in both written briefs and oral arguments.
• Analyze case evidence, pertinent legal decisions, and office policies to determine appropriate offers for case resolution. Authorize and draft criminal complaints and other legal documents in support of filing criminal charges.
• Interview and consult with involved officers, witnesses, and victims.
• Prepare and present cases at preliminary hearings including, but not limited to, pretrial, show cause, arraignment, first appearance, bench warrant recall, diversion, and administrative review hearings.
• Prepare preliminary motions, exhibits, voir dire, witness examination, cross examination, jury instructions, legal arguments, and coordinate with witnesses and victims in preparation for trial.
• Argue motions, conduct voir dire, present opening statement, present gathered evidence through witness testimony and exhibits, raise and respond to legal objections, and conduct closing argument and rebuttal at trial. Prepare and argue sentencing upon criminal conviction.
• Confer and negotiate with defense attorneys and/or defendants at the pre-trial stage.
• Participate in therapeutic court staffing and hearings.
• Train and supervise legal Rule 9 interns in compliance with Admission to Practice Rules.
• Work closely with City Prosecutor, Chief Assistant Prosecutor, Municipal Court and staff, defense attorneys and other City departments.
• Prepare and manage assigned conflict cases.
• Prepare, attend, and argue civil traffic and non-traffic infraction hearings.

Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctorate.
• A member in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association.

Work is performed in a City office and court room environment with travel to and from various locations. It involves frequent sitting or standing for extended periods of time and the operation of a variety of standard office equipment including a computer, telephone, copy and fax machines requiring continuous repetitive arm, hand, and eye movements.

Knowledge of:

• Microsoft Office products, and the ability to learn and use other relevant technologies Including the City Prosecutor's case management system.
• Principles and practices of civil and criminal law including Criminal Rules of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CrRLJ), the Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (IRLJ), the local court rules (SPMCrRLJ and SPMIRLJ) and the Revised Code of Washington, the rules of Evidence and the ethics rules.
• Spokane Municipal Code and the Revised Code of Washington, and the Rules of Evidence and the ethics rules.
• Principles and practices of investigations.
• Methods of legal research and reporting methods, techniques and procedures.
• Procedures and practices followed in special program areas such as: domestic violence, victims' rights and driving under the influence (DUI).

Ability to:

• Analyze, appraise and organize facts, evidence, and case law, and effectively present such materials in a clear and logical manner both verbally and in writing.
• Apply and argue the law in specific cases.
• Communicate and deal with the public, sometimes under stressful circumstances.
• Conduct a high-volume caseload in a fast paced and noisy team environment.
• Conduct research on complex legal problems
• Work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Function effectively in an adversarial system while maintaining a courteous and professional demeanor.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and officials, the judicial branch of municipal government and the public.
• Analyze and understand applicable victim's rights.
• Proficiently learn and utilize Microsoft Office, Outlook applications and the City Prosecutor's case management system.

Behavioral Standards:

As an exempt employee of the City of Spokane, the Assistant City Prosecutor is subject to the City's Code of Ethics set forth in Chapter of the Spokane Municipal Code. As such, "it is the policy of the City of Spokane to uphold, promote, and demand the highest standards of ethics from all of its employees who shall maintain the utmost standards of responsibility, truthfulness, honesty and fairness in carrying out their public duties, avoid any improprieties in their role as a public servant including the appearance of impropriety, and never use their City position, authority or resources for personal gain."

EEO Statement:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity within our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, natural origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, genetic information, veteran/military status, or disability status.