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Montgomery County Assitant District Attorney- Appelate Division Captain

EXEMPT:  Yes
DEPARTMENT:  District Attorney
POSITION REPORTING:  CHIEF, APPELLATE DIVISION
SALARY RANGE: $77,158-$102,877, depending on experience.
LAST UPDATE:  08/2024

SUMMARY:

Working directly under the Chief of the Appellate Division, the Captain of the Appellate Division assists the Chief with the management and supervision of all professional personnel assigned to the Division, and the operation of the Division within the structure of office policy, criminal rules of procedure, appellate rules or procedure and constitutional requirements. The Captain assists the Chief in monitoring the performance of assigned personnel, as well as providing assistance, guidance, training, and mentoring to Appellate Division Assistant District Attorneys. The Captain is also responsible for the preparation and presentation of criminal cases before the state appellate courts of Pennsylvania, the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. More specifically, the Chief drafts briefs and other legal memoranda; argues cases before the state trial and appellate courts and the federal trial and appellate courts; handles post-conviction evidentiary hearings cases in both state and federal courts; and, at the direct of the Division Chief, edits briefs and post-conviction responses prepared and filed by Appellate Division attorneys.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Drafting appellate briefs in all types of criminal matters and arguing the cases before the Pennsylvania Superior Court, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
  • Preparing responses, arguing, and litigating evidentiary hearings in opposition to Post Conviction Relief Act petitions on behalf of the Commonwealth in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County.
  • Preparing responses, arguing, and litigating evidentiary hearings in opposition to petitions for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of the Commonwealth in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Philadelphia.
  • Assigning appeals and post-conviction matters to Appellate Division Assistant District Attorneys, as directed by the Appellate Division Chief.
  • Monitoring performance of Appellate Division Attorneys and providing guidance as needed.
  • Conducting Legal research.
  • Providing guidance to trial prosecutors regarding legal issues that arise before, during, or after trial to ensure a record is adequately preserved to ensure Commonwealth’s success in the event of an appeal or post-conviction action.
  • Reviewing new court decisions and new court rules and recommending internal changes to meet requirements.
  • Regularly reviewing both the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure and the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure to ensure that all prosecutors are in compliance with those rules.
  • Advising the District Attorney on potential Commonwealth appeals in the state and federal appellate courts and litigating those appeals when pursued by the Commonwealth.
  • Researching legislative issues.
  • Reviewing applications for clemency and requests for pardons filed with the Board of Pardons and recommending dispositions.
  • Assisting with maintaining case statistics; preparing and filing division reports as required.
  • Reviewing defendants’ filings to ensure the integrity of the conviction.
  • Summarize recent case law for Law Enforcement Newsletter distributed to local police departments.
  • Conducting legal research and preparing legal memoranda offering guidance to attorneys throughout the Office.
  • Conducting legal trainings.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.

  • Law Degree and Pennsylvania Bar admission
  • Supervisory/Management experience
  • Minimum of three years’ criminal prosecution experience
  • Good communications skills, both oral and written
  • Strong decision-making skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Strong research and writing skills
  • Appellate advocacy skills
  • Trial advocacy skills
  • Knowledge of the criminal justice system
  • Knowledge of Pennsylvania legal and ethical standards applicable to prosecutors
  • Familiarity with District Attorney’s Office structure, mission and policies
  • Ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks
  • Time management skills

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; and talk and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands or arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Please send resumes to Adrienne.Jappe@montgomerycountypa.gov.