Assistant Public Defender II

Overview

The Regional Public Defender Office (RPDO) specializes in trial-level capital indigent defense. The Assistant Public Defender II, appointed by the Chief Public Defender, provides legal representation for capital defendants facing criminal charges, ensuring their constitutional rights are vigorously protected. This role may serve as lead counsel in several cases and ensures compliance with the American Bar Association guidelines and State Bar of Texas standards regarding death penalty defense.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support and embody the RPDO's mission, vision, and core values.
• Collaborate effectively within a team-oriented environment essential to RPDO operations.
• Provide comprehensive legal counsel to clients, including interviewing clients and witnesses to gather defense information.
• Continuously investigate potential intellectual disability issues unless conclusively ruled out.
• Engage in plea negotiations with prosecuting attorneys and advise clients regarding offers, options, and trial prospects or other case resolutions.
• Coordinate case preparation alongside fact investigators, mitigation specialists, and legal assistants for both guilt/innocence and penalty phases.
• Document work product meticulously through memos, trial notebooks, emails, and relevant case files.
• Request court funding for expert witnesses required for defense strategies.
• Conduct thorough legal research and review case records and documents relevant to case considerations.
• Obtain necessary documents via subpoenas and other discovery methods promptly upon receipt.
• Draft legal materials including briefs, motions, orders, subpoenas, correspondence, and reports.
• Identify applicable defenses and tactical procedures to support client cases.
• Prepare trial cases from date of appointment, including comprehensive trial notebook compilation.
• Pursue negotiated case resolutions that achieve sentences less than the death penalty continuously during trial preparation.
• Maintain detailed client file entries reflecting opinions, factual impressions, and case developments.
• Preserve records for appellate review and emerging constitutional law issues related to capital punishment.
• Counsel clients on constitutional rights and implications of guilty pleas, especially regarding immigration consequences for non-citizens.
• Conduct jury selection, witness examination and cross-examination, jury instruction drafting, and trial argument presentation.
• Provide support to additional office cases as assigned, collaborating with colleagues and staff.
• Respond professionally and promptly to communications from client families, district attorneys, courts, and court personnel.
• Commit to teamwork and cooperative case management from appointment through resolution.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) or LL.B. from an accredited law school.
• Membership in good standing with the State Bar of Texas or ability to obtain Texas license within 6 months of hire.
• Proven trial expertise and a strong commitment to delivering superior client representation.
• Experience with mental health or forensic expert witness usage and challenges.
• Preferred experience in mitigation investigation and presentation for penalty phases in death penalty trials.
• Minimum of five years’ criminal law experience demonstrating comprehensive knowledge and skills for representing capital felony defendants, with thorough preparation.
• Lead counsel experience trying a substantial number of felony trials, including homicides and first- or second-degree felonies, preferably capital cases.
• Participation in continuing legal education focused on criminal defense and willingness to attend death penalty-related courses.
• Submission of a list of death penalty trials tried to verdict and documentation of felony trial experience is required.

Skills and Abilities

• Deep knowledge of applicable state, federal, and international criminal law, both procedural and substantive, and a dedication to continual learning on capital case law.
• Effective interviewing skills to obtain relevant information from diverse individuals.
• Capability to develop and implement robust defense strategies and legal analysis with clear written and verbal communication.
• Proficiency in court advocacy, trial preparation, and maintaining the appellate record and habeas corpus documentation.
• Competency in managing complex negotiations and litigation processes.
• Advanced legal research and document drafting skills.
• Experienced oral advocate skilled in cross-examination, jury management, and expert witness utilization.
• Experienced in forensic evidence understanding, including fingerprinting, ballistics, pathology, and DNA.
• Skillful in investigating and presenting mitigating evidence in felony trials.
• Ability to manage multiple cases concurrently under stressful conditions.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills suitable for interaction with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
• Competency with personal computer use, Microsoft Office Suite, and standard office technology.
• Initiative, self-motivation, and cooperative team spirit with positive professional demeanor, time management, and attendance reliability.
• Willingness to travel overnight, including extended durations during trials.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

This position requires the ability to occasionally lift or carry weights up to 25 pounds, alongside necessary visual acuity, speech, hearing, hand-eye coordination, and manual dexterity for computer and office equipment operation. The role involves sitting, standing, walking, reaching, and handling to fulfill essential job functions. Candidates must hold a valid driver's license with required liability insurance and safely operate a vehicle as needed for job performance.

Application Instructions

• Submit a resume, three professional references, and a detailed felony trial list including court and cause numbers.
• Include a statement of interest expressing a commitment to death penalty defense work.

Contact communications: Regional Public Defenders for Capital Cases, PO Box 2097, Lubbock, Texas 79408. Phone: (806) 696-3740. Fax: (806) 696-3750.