About the Department

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE

Position Duties

The following Responsibilities and Requirements are functions the individual who holds or desires the position must be able to perform unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the prosecutor on assigned cases and represents the City for offenses that are filed in Spokane Municipal Court.
• Search for, interpret, and apply laws, court decisions, and other legal authorities in both written briefs and oral argument.
• Analyze case evidence, pertinent legal decisions and office policies to determine appropriate offers for case resolution. Authorize and drafts criminal complaints and other legal documents in support of filing criminal charges.
• Interview and consult with involved officers, witnesses and victims.
• Prepare and present cases at preliminary hearings, including but not limited to, pretrial, show cause, arraignment, first appearance, bench warrant recall, diversion and administrative review hearings.
• Prepare preliminary motions, exhibits, voir dire, witness examination, cross examination, jury instructions, legal arguments, and coordinate with witnesses and victims in preparation for trial.
• Argues motions, conduct voir dire, present opening statement, present gathered evidence through witness testimony and exhibits, raise and respond to legal objections, and conduct closing argument and rebuttal at trial. Prepare and argue sentencing upon criminal conviction.
• Confer and negotiate with defense attorneys and/or defendants at the pre-trial stage.
• Participate in therapeutic court staffing and hearings.
• Train and supervise legal Rule 9 interns in compliance with Admission to Practice Rules.
• Work closely with the City Prosecutor, Chief Assistant Prosecutor, Municipal court and staff, defense attorneys and other City departments.
• Prepare and manage assigned conflict cases.
• Prepare, attend and argue civil traffic and non-traffic infraction hearings.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctorate. A member in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in a City office and court room environment with travel to and from various locations. It involves frequent sitting or standing for extended periods of time. And, the operation of a variety of standard office equipment including a computer, telephone, copy and fax machines requiring continuous and repetitive arm, hand, and eye movements.

Other Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Microsoft Office products, and the ability to learn and use other relevant technologies including the City Prosecutor's case management system.
• Principles and practices of civil and criminal law including Criminal Rules of Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (CrRLJ), the Infraction Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (IRLJ), the local court rules (SPMCrRLJ and SPMIRLJ) and the Revised Code of Washington, the rules of Evidence and the ethics rules.
• Spokane Municipal Code and the Revised Code of Washington, and the Rules of Evidence and the ethics rules.
• Principles and practices of investigations.
• Methods of legal research and reporting methods, techniques and procedures.
• Procedures and practices followed in special program areas such as domestic violence, victims' rights, driving under the influence (DUI) and the Relicensing program.

• Analyze, appraise and organize facts, evidence, and case law, and to effectively present such materials in a clear and logical manner both verbally and in writing.
• Apply and argue the law in specific cases.
• Communicate and deal with the general public, sometimes under stressful circumstances.
• Conduct a high-volume caseload in a fast paced and noisy team environment.
• Conduct research on complex legal problems
• Work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Function effectively in an adversarial system while maintaining a courteous and professional demeanor.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and officials, the judicial branch of municipal government and the general public.
• Analyze and understand applicable victim's rights.
• Proficiently learn and utilize Microsoft Office, Outlook applications and the City's Prosecutor's case management system.