Assistant Public Defender

Job Purpose or Objective(s): You will defend all indigent clients in felony, misdemeanor, and traffic cases that are punishable by incarceration in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma District Court. You will report to the Public Defender Director.

Primary Tasks:

1. You will manage caseloads, which includes interviewing and advising clients of their legal rights and obligations. Interviewing witnesses and potential witnesses, including police officers and expert witnesses.

2. Prepare cases, appear in Tribal Court, and represent clients charged with Tribal offenses at Tribal Court hearing, preliminary hearings, bench trials, and jury trials.

3. Argue special actions and appeals.

4. Recommend additional legislation necessary to upgrade the Office of Public Defender or to improve the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma justice system.

5. Review assignment of indigency status to identify clients who have available resources, collecting costs of representation when possible.

6. Perform responsibilities according to the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma law.

Requirements:

• Juris Doctorate from accredited law school
• Licensed to practice law by a State within the United States
• Experience with criminal, juvenile, and/or deprived case procedures.
• Application of professional knowledge and ability by possessing strong judgment and evaluation skills
• Jury trial experience in felony, misdemeanor and/or deprived custody cases
• Willingness to understand, learn and appreciate Choctaw culture and tradition and cultural differences of clients.
• Five [5] years of criminal defense experience in state, federal, and/or tribal court