Assistant City Prosecutor

About the role

The purpose of this position is 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. The Assistant City Prosecutor performs professional legal work in preparing and prosecuting criminal, civil traffic and non-traffic violations committed in the City of Spokane.

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, 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 and membership in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association.

Skills

• 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.
• 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.
• Ability to apply and argue the law in specific cases.
• Ability to communicate and deal with the public, sometimes under stressful circumstances.
• Ability to conduct a high-volume caseload in a fast paced and noisy team environment.
• Ability to conduct research on complex legal problems and work collaboratively with colleagues.