POSITION: Chief Public Defender
DEPARTMENT: Public Defender
WORK SCHEDULE: As Assigned
JOB CATEGORY: SO (Special Occupation)
STATUS: Full-time
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function of the position satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Steuben County provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with known disabilities who require accommodation to complete the application process or perform essential functions of the job unless the accommodation would present an undue hardship.
Incumbent serves as Chief Public Defender for the Steuben County Public Defender’s Office, responsible for overseeing department operations and providing legal representation and services to individuals as assigned by Courts.
** DUTIES** :
Oversees general operations of the Public Defender’s Office, including but not limited to monitoring case assignments and caseloads attending Court, meeting with prosecutor, and communicating with Public Defenders regarding strategy and current trends in the law.
Supervises and directs assigned staff, including analyzing workloads, reviewing position documentation, interviewing job candidates, making hiring decisions, orienting new staff, planning and delegating work assignments, evaluating performance, providing ethics and quality control, reviewing salaries, keeping assigned staff informed of organizational developments, and maintaining discipline.
Prepares and submits Department budget and supplemental budget requests, including managing budget and financial resources efficiently and effectively to provide high quality representation to clients. Ensures request for reimbursements are submitted and payments sent to Auditor’s Office.
Develops and implements policies and procedures to comply with standards and guidelines.
Represents indigent persons charged with major felony and juvenile offenses in Steuben County. Serves as main trial attorney and litigator on all major cases.
Prepares for hearings by sending subpoenas, preparing exhibits, viewing evidence, gathering pertinent information, preparing questions and arguments, determining trial strategy, and preparing defendants and witnesses for trial. Presents and argues cases before the Court.
Drafts motions, petitions, pleadings, legal memorandums, and briefs, including briefs submitted to both the Indiana Appellate and Supreme Courts. Prepares a wide variety of correspondence, court documents, and letters to clients, the Court, prosecutors, and witnesses.
Serves as liaison to County justice agencies and appropriate County boards and commissions.
Performs related duties as assigned and/or required by law.
I. JOB REQUIREMENTS :
Doctor of Jurisprudence with license to practice law in the State of Indiana, with five (5) years of experience with criminal law. Must be an admitted member in good standing with the Indiana Supreme Court.
Thorough knowledge of and comprehension understanding of how to find and research Federal and State statutes and State and local rules relating to defense of indigent clients.
Practical knowledge of standard procedures and practices of Department and County courts, with ability to effectively prepare and argue cases before the court.
Practical knowledge of Public Defender’s Office goals, objectives, and operational requirements, with ability to effectively develop and implement appropriate procedures accordingly.
Working knowledge of and ability to apply Federal, State, and local laws and ordinances to a wide variety of individual situations and circumstances for the preparation of cases and defense of clients before the Court and/or jury.
Working knowledge of client centered representation principles and values, structures, and processes necessary to implement principles in Public Defender Office.
Working knowledge of and ability to understand ABA Criminal Justice Standards for the Defense Function (4th edition), National Association of Public Defense Foundational Principles, Standards and Guidelines of Indiana Public Defender Commission, and Performance Standards of Indiana Public Defender Council.
Working knowledge of and ability to prepare and administer budgets, and accurately complete financial and statistical reports and documents as required.
Working knowledge of standard office procedures and computer software programs used by the Public Defender’s Office, with ability to apply such knowledge to a variety of interrelated processes, tasks, and operations.
Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and ability to maintain complete and accurate files and prepare court/legal documents and reports within established deadlines.
Ability to supervise assigned staff, including analyzing workloads, reviewing position documentation, interviewing job candidates, making hiring decisions, orienting new staff, planning and delegating work assignments, evaluating performance, providing ethics and quality control, reviewing salaries, keeping assigned staff informed of organizational developments, and maintaining discipline.
Ability and willingness to effectively and fairly represent clients amidst potential controversy, unpopularity, and lack of support from the public.
Ability to be committed to public defense and principles that underlie the effective assistance of counsel, including equal protection and due process.
Ability to conduct legal research and interview and/or investigate clients, witnesses, crime scenes, and other persons/areas as individual cases demand.
Ability to maintain accurate and organized files.
Ability to properly operate standard office equipment, including a computer, calculator, printer, and telephone.
Ability to perform job duties in compliance with the Indiana Code of Professional Conduct.
Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment, rapidly for long periods, on several tasks at the same time, and under time pressure.
Ability to plan and make public speaking presentations.
Ability to compare or observe similarities and differences between data, people or things.
Ability to analyze, observe, investigate and evaluate data, and coordinate, place, make determinations, and act based on data analysis.
Ability to compute and perform arithmetic calculations.
Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, clients, other County departments, Federal and state departments, Court officials/personnel, judges of various courts, attorneys, law enforcement, community corrections, victims of crime, County Commissioners and Council, and the public in a courteous and tactful manner, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.
Shall comply with all employer and Department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.
Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of Department information and records according to state requirements.
Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions and present findings in oral or written form.
Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with irate/hostile persons.
Ability to regularly work extended hours, evenings, and weekends, and occasionally travel out of town sometimes overnight.
Incumbent applies a broad scope of rules and regulations in overseeing department operations and supervising personnel. Incumbent exercises independent judgment in developing effective approaches for representing clients and presenting cases before the court and/or jury and in adapting basic guidelines and accepted procedures to meet specific situations and fit complex or contradictory circumstances.
Incumbent makes a major contribution to administration and implementation of Department policies and legal actions. Objectives of incumbent’s work are known, with highly sensitive and/or unusual cases discussed with Public Defender Advisory Board and/or professional peers as needed. Work is reviewed primarily for soundness of judgment and compliance with legal requirements. Incumbent regularly makes decisions in the absence of policy and is subject only to guidance from the administrative board.
Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, clients, other County departments, Federal and state departments, Court officials/personnel, judges of various courts, attorneys, law enforcement, community corrections, victims of crime, County Commissioners and Council, and the public for the purpose of exchanging and explaining information, research, and defending cases.
Incumbent reports directly to Public Defender Board of the County.
Incumbent performs a majority of duties in a courtroom or a standard office environment involving, sitting/standing/walking at will, sitting for long periods, lifting/carrying objects weighing up to 25 pounds, keyboarding, driving, speaking clearly, and hearing sounds/communications.
Incumbent is regularly required to work extended hours, occasionally works evening and/or weekend hours, and occasionally travel out of town sometimes overnight.