Program Administrator

WHO WE ARE

The Charter County of Wayne is Michigan's largest county. We are home to 34 cities and nine townships. From Rockwood to Livonia, from Sumpter Township to the Grosse Pointes, each community in Wayne County offers residents and businesses a unique blend of opportunity to live, work, play and raise families. Headquartered in Detroit, our largest city and the automotive capital of the world, Wayne County offers a diversified economy and high standards for our residents' quality of life. Our history is rich and we take pride in being one of the most diverse communities that values culture, arts, and world-class amenities. Wayne County provides leadership that ensures the County operates efficiently, effectively, and responsibly. We provide transparently while building a stronger County inclusive of collaborations, innovation, and a clear focus on serving our residents.

Wayne County Indigent Defense Services Department (IDSD)

Wayne County's Indigent Defense Services Department is developing a staff of dedicated professionals who are committed to excellence in criminal defense representation at the trial court level, and equal access to justice. The IDSD launched in August of 2020 with the hiring of its Director, and a staff of fifteen employees is anticipated in FY 2023. The IDSD is state-funded through annual grants from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC).

The IDSD manages the transition and will assume responsibility for the entire indigent defense system in Wayne County's Third Circuit Court, Michigan's largest trial court handling more than 15,000 assignments of counsel in felony cases that originate in the county's numerous district courts. In 2022, approximately 65% of the assignments were handled by more than 200 private assigned counsel who were qualified by the IDSD Attorney Assignment Committee to handle cases in four Tiers, or categories, of cases. The remaining 35% of assignments went to the Neighborhood Defender Service Detroit (NDSD), Wayne County's public defender vendor.

Working under the supervision of the Assignment Coordinator, the Executive Assistant 1, functioning as the Assistant Assignment Coordinator, will assist in the facilitation of the assignment of counsel in felony cases and facilitate access to resources needed by counsel to effectively represent clients after case assignment, including discovery, location of clients, jail visits, investigator and expert services, training, service voucher review, and legal research.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Wayne County's Indigent Defense Services Department is developing a staff of dedicated professionals who are committed to excellence in criminal defense representation at the trial court level, and equal access to justice. IDSD is state-funded through annual grants from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC). IDSD will manage the transition and then assume responsibility for the entire indigent defense system in Wayne County's Third Circuit Court, Michigan's largest trial court handling more than 16,000 assignments of counsel in felony cases that originate in the county's numerous district courts.

In 2020, approximately 75% of the assignments were handled by about 200 private assigned counsel who were qualified by the Court to handle cases in four Tiers, or categories, of cases. The remaining 25% of assignments went to the Neighborhood Defender Service Detroit (NDSD), Wayne County's new public defender office.

Reporting to the IDSD Assigned Counsel Administrator, the Program Administrator of the Investigator and Expert Program will manage access to MIDC funding for investigators and experts by assigned criminal defense counsel handling felony cases in the Third Judicial Circuit. Nearly 16,000 assigned cases are eligible for the services following appointment of counsel, who encouraged to start immediately following district court arraignments on the warrant. As with its predecessor Pilot Project, the Program places approval of investigator and expert service in the hands of Program Administrator, themselves experienced criminal defense attorneys. The Program Administrator consult with assigned counsel on needs of individual cases, provide resources enabling counsel's selection of particular investigators and experts, and approve use and payment according to a schedule of fees. Investigators are available for all cases handled by private assigned counsel (the Neighborhood Defender Services employs staff investigators), and experts are available for all assigned cases. Requests for services and any discussion taking place between counsel and the Program Administrator is privileged and protected from disclosure except in anonymous summary form.

REQUIRED TASKS

• Understands and uses Tyler Eagle Recorder.
• Accurately records documents in compliance with Michigan statutes.
• Correctly determines appropriate fees and taxes.
• Performs cashier services and reconciles cash drawer daily.
• Conducts searches in Tyler Eagle Recorder and in the tract books.
• Prepares "Rejection Letters".
• Provides acceptable customer service to customers in the office and on the telephone.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Educational/Experience Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney.
  • Preferred:
    • Prior work in a role supporting assigned criminal defense counsel.

Salary : $63,716 - $101,526