What are the responsibilities and job description for the Maverick County Chief Public Defender - Operation Lone Star position at Texas Rio Grande Public Defender?

Job Description

Salary : $125,000 - $160,000 including incentives

Applicants must be willing to live in or near Eagle Pass, TX. TRGPD offers incentives to live in or near Eagle Pass, TX, including a sign-on bonus, moving expenses up to $2,500 and a $25,000 salary increase .

TRGPD seeks a Chief Public Defender for the management and administration of the Maverick County Regional Public Defender Office, serving the counties of Maverick, Dimmit and Zavala. This office accepts felony cases under Operation Lone Star. Operation Lone Star is a state initiative that attempts to militarize the border, criminalize those seeking asylum, and create a separate and unequal criminal justice system targeting migrants.

Texas RioGrande Public Defender (TRGPD) serves seven (7) rural Texas counties and indigent defendants charged under Operation Lone Star. Currently, TRGPD has public defender offices in San Antonio, Goliad, Beeville, Eagle Pass, and Raymondville. Each of these offices provides indigent defense for one or more of the counties near the office locations. TRGPD offices are located near various natural and cultural attractions. They are also within reasonable driving distance from metro areas with international airports.We are frontline advocates who have engaged in the movement to transform the criminal justice system and challenge the injustices faced by indigent defendants in rural south Texas for over a decade.

We provide complete, vertical representation from intake to resolution. Except for cases involving a conflict of interest or the death penalty, we represent persons accused of crimes from initial arrest to final appeal.We deliver client-centered services to address unique needs and limited resources available to clients residing in rural and border communities. Special initiatives within the program include advice on the immigration consequences of a criminal conviction, trauma-informed and mental health advocacy, assistance with applying for government aid and / or housing, and assistance with substance abuse as alternative solutions to incarceration.With caseload controls, staff investigators, mental health and substance abuse caseworkers, and a litigation budget, TRGPD is deeply committed to zealous, high-quality representation in rural South Texas. We offer the advantage of having robust staff support with a 2-1 attorney-to-support staff ratio, and the flexibility and willingness to support employee growth.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS : Salary is commensurate with experience and includes an excellent fringe benefits package, including law school loan repayment, generous paid leave, healthcare insurance, a retirement plan, and training & travel stipends. TRGPD defenders train with the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Gideons Promise, the National Association for Public Defense, and other associations that are committed to the transformation of indigent defense and criminal justice reform.

QUALIFICATIONS AND PREFERENCES :

TRGPD is looking for attorneys who aspire to become leaders both within the division and in the larger public defender community.

Must be licensed to practice law in Texas, able to waive into the Texas bar, or willing to take the next available bar exam.

At least five (5) years criminal litigation experience;

At least three (3) felony jury trials as lead counsel or equivalent experience;

Demonstrated management and leadership skills;

Proficiency in Office 365, legal research software, and other case management systems.

Professional fluency in Spanish (highly preferred);

Preferred applicants will demonstrate a commitment to indigent defense and criminal justice reform; have worked or interned in a public defender office; have strong academic credentials; are solution-oriented and creative; are able to work efficiently independently and in a team environment; can assess and prioritize multiple tasks and work effectively in high-stress situations; and want to live and work in communities where TRGPD clients have the greatest needs;

Must reside in / near Eagle Pass, TX.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES :

Supervise and direct the work of all staff assigned to the Maverick Regional Public Defender office;

Report to the TRGPD Director of Operations;

Manage attorney teams on their cases from intake to final resolution, including pretrial, trial, appeals, and additional motion practice, as needed;

Identify systemic issues within their service area and assist the Executive Management Team in developing creative solutions and ways to engage the community stakeholders;

Mentor and train staff attorneys office-wide, by conducting file reviews, developing trainings, attending court hearings with their attorneys, and serving as lead counsel or co-counsel on trials with new lawyers, as needed;

Maintain a supportive and positive work environment for their team; and

Contribute to the progress and development of TRGPD as a whole.

Carry a reduced caseload while providing zealous and holistic defense for indigent persons accused of criminal charges ranging from serious level felonies, misdemeanors, and juvenile cases;

Review case facts, examine videos and physical case evidence for legal sufficiency,

Prepare, draft, and review motions and other legal documents that conform to current statutes, legislation, and case law;

Confer with prosecutors, law enforcement, and witnesses regarding any necessary case investigation and trial preparation;

Litigate appointed cases from intake to final resolution, including pretrial, trial, appeals, and additional motion practice, as needed;

Manage confidential legal information and documents;

Participate in the agency, division, and program meetings and training;

Maintain case files and documentation in accordance with agency and division policies;

Follow current trends and innovations in indigent defense;

Provide client-centered, trauma-informed advocacy; and

Collaborate with colleagues in their team, program, and division to contribute to a supportive work environment.

TRGPD is committed to offering fair and equal employment opportunities to all job applicants and employees. We strictly prohibit any form of discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Salary : $125,000 - $160,000

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