Misdemeanor Prosecutor II - District Attorney

About the role

The Misdemeanor Prosecutor II performs professional legal work and administrative services for the legal department of assignment. Work involves prosecuting jury and non-jury trials and/or negotiating settlements, and preparing various briefs, motions, and other legal devices, as necessary.

Responsibilities

• Attends daily docket call, consulting weekly docket list and obtaining and reviewing appropriate case files; advises courtroom of docket call procedures.
• Answers phones and inquiries regarding witness issues and case status.
• Performs various administrative duties associated with managing a docket of active cases, including docket management and new case management.
• Prepares and conducts hearings on probation revocations and adjudications of guilt; prepares and conducts open plea hearings, motions to suppress, and other hearings scheduled in the assigned court.
• Participates in all phases of court trial, including the opening statement, the presentation of the State's case, rebut of the defense's case if one is presented, and the punishment phase of the trial.
• Advises unrepresented defendants of rights and plea options; completes paperwork for pleas; obtains pleas or requests for appointed attorneys from defendants, as appropriate.
• Prepares and requests bond forfeiture and arrest warrants for defendants not appearing as scheduled in court.
• Prepares misdemeanor cases for trial, including reviewing case files, advising and negotiating, providing discovery, conferring with law enforcement and judicial personnel, following up with witnesses after trial to inform them of outcome and ways to improve testimony, locating witnesses and defendants, interviewing victims and witnesses, performing legal research, conferring with victims and their families, investigating incidents, visiting crime scenes, and examining physical evidence.
• Requests preparation of jury charges; prepares voir dire examination; reviews jury list and conducts jury selection.
• Participates in mental hearings as necessary.
• Performs a variety of administrative duties in support of the court and department; oversees process for new case intake as necessary.

  Requirements

  • Doctorate degree required for this position.
  • Must possess a license to practice law in the State of Texas.
  • Must be able to pass a State Criminal History background check.

  Qualifications

  • Performing other related duties as required.

  Skills

  • Legal research.
  • Writing and drafting legal documents.
  • Managing court dockets.
  • Interacting with law enforcement and judicial personnel.
  • Handling witness issues and case status.
  • Preparing and conducting hearings.
  • Assisting in the preparation and management of court dockets.
  • Managing and overseeing new case intake processes.

  Benefits

  Denton County offers a full range of employee benefit programs for eligible employees, retirees, and their families. These programs include group health plans for medical and dental coverage; an Employee Assistance Program (EAP); life; disability, and long term care insurance; and flexible spending accounts for health care and dependent care reimbursements. The County also provides retirement benefits. Full time employees participate in the Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS), and employees may also participate in a retirement savings program (Deferred Compensation).

  Pay

  Details about pay are not specified in the job posting.

  Schedule

  Details about the schedule are not specified in the job posting.