Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney

Our client, a well-established county government legal office in the Pacific Northwest, is seeking an experienced criminal law attorney for a senior, hands-on criminal prosecution leadership role in a small, tight-knit county justice office. Based in one of the most beautiful and safe island communities in the Pacific Northwest, this role offers real ownership, genuine trial volume, and the chance to shape how justice is delivered.

About the role

Reporting to the elected Prosecuting Attorney, you will be a visible, trusted leader who builds strong relationships with the sheriff and other law enforcement officials, court staff, defense counsel, and community partners. This is a permanent, onsite appointment.

Responsibilities

• Review police reports and evidence for legal and factual sufficiency, and make sound charging decisions across felonies and higher-level crimes.
• Independently prosecute the county's felony caseload from charging through verdict and sentencing, including trial strategy, motions, and evidentiary decisions.
• Carry cases across district, superior, and juvenile courts, and handle criminal appeals as needed.
• Conduct plea negotiations and make sentencing recommendations with sound prosecutorial judgment.
• Prepare and try felony jury and bench trials, examining witnesses and applying the law in real time under adversarial conditions.
• Train deputy sheriffs and other officers on substantive, procedural, and evidentiary law as applied to criminal investigations.
• Supervise and direct legal support staff, victim/witness coordinators, a junior district court deputy prosecutor, and interns.
• Protect victims', survivors', and witnesses' rights throughout case handling, coordinating trauma-informed support and communication.
• Advise investigators on charging standards, search and seizure, evidence handling, and report quality to strengthen outcomes.
• Build and maintain credible relationships with law enforcement agencies, court staff, defense counsel, and community partners.
• Maintain current knowledge of Washington substantive, procedural, and evidentiary law, monitoring new appellate decisions affecting charging and trial strategy.
• Travel occasionally to crime scenes, witness interviews and depositions, and out-of-county proceedings and trainings.

Requirements

• Active member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association and admitted to practice law in Washington.
• At least six years of criminal law practice through prosecution, criminal defense, criminal appellate, or closely related criminal litigation.
• Significant experience trying felony cases, with demonstrated ability to take serious criminal matters to jury trial independently.
• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school, or completion of an approved legal clerk training program sufficient for Washington bar admission.
• Experience supervising legal staff, such as legal assistants, paralegals, advocates, or junior attorneys.
• Experience training law enforcement officers, or closely analogous experience such as academy instruction, recurring legal updates, or advising investigators on charging and evidence.
• Strong courtroom advocacy skills, including the ability to listen, analyze, communicate, and apply the law effectively under pressure.
• Strong ethics, professionalism, and public-sector judgment consistent with RCW 42.52, including conflicts awareness, confidentiality, and victim/witness sensitivity.
• Ability to complete Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) training within the required timeframe.
• Holds, or can obtain, a valid Washington State Driver's License to support occasional travel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior public-sector or prosecutor's office experience, such as a deputy or chief criminal deputy from another Washington county.
• Broad criminal case ownership across district, superior, juvenile, and appellate forums, including small-jurisdiction practice requiring hands-on ownership across case types.
• Victim-centered, trauma-informed prosecution experience, including prosecution of victim-intensive crimes or collaboration with victim/witness programs.
• Appellate experience researching, preparing memoranda, and arguing before appellate courts.
• Ability to start within the county's continuity window with limited ramp-up.

Benefits

• Annual base salary of $150,000 to $195,000, based on experience.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life insurance and long-term disability (LTD).
• State retirement plan.
• Paid holidays and paid leave accrual.
• Temporary housing relocation assistance.