Assistant City Prosecutor

Position Scope

Embrace the New - Do Right - Lend a Hand - Find a Way - Enjoy our Work - Celebrate Uniqueness

GENERAL PURPOSE: acts as Assistant City Prosecutor for the City Attorney's Office (CAO); assists in prosecuting criminal misdemeanor cases, civil traffic offenses and city code violations; helps determine whether legal charges should be prosecuted or declined, based on the facts of law and evidence, and City Attorney’s Office policy guidelines.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Represents the City Attorney's Office (CAO) in prosecuting misdemeanor criminal and civil offenses and City code violations and Administrative Code Violations.
• Reviews and evaluates charges, citations, motions and other law enforcement documents for jurisdictional and statutory conditions; gathers facts and data; conducts legal analysis to determine whether charges should be filed or if additional investigation is needed.
• Ensures compliance with applicable statutory requirements, constitutional provisions, and ethical standards, including DUI legal requirements, victim's rights, and professional responsibility principles.
• Reviews legislation, makes legal interpretations, and determines how it will impact criminal prosecutions; assists with drafting criminal ordinances.
• Assists in advising City departments, including Police Department and Code Enforcement of new laws, cases, and legal challenges, and conducts training for city departments to ensure proper investigation, documentation and presentation in City Court
• Meets with Courts, Police, and Code Enforcement to eliminate or mitigate problems, delays or issues in criminal justice system.
• Helps to develop administrative and operational policies and procedures; sets guidelines for plea offers; monitors case management.
• Reviews and responds to motions, appeals, special actions, petitions for review, and trial and pretrial practices to ensure appropriate ethical and equitable case adjudication.
• Creates legal documents, and compiles and presents evidence; brings cases before the court and argues facts of the case in relation to points of law, case law and legal precedent. Assists with cases or issues by performing research, writing, and oral argument in court.
• Initiates charges involving civil, criminal, or probation violations by reviewing police enforcement reports and other information.
• Assists in providing notice to victims of their rights, preparing and filing charging documents with the court, and ensuring proper service of summons to the defendants and case dispositions to law enforcement.
• Assists with the preparation of cases for trial by ensuring service of subpoenas to witnesses; obtains and evaluates physical evidence; discusses case and trial procedures with staff, victims, police and witnesses; anticipates legal problems or objections.
• Reviews cases for arraignments, pre-trial conferences, or probation violation hearings by reviewing reports and plea offers for legal sufficiency; preparing amendments or allegations; reviews defendants' prior criminal histories; contacts victims and gathers input for possible plea offers; and monitors defendants' progress on probation.
• Attends arraignments, pre-trial conferences, and other hearings. Interacts with judges, attorneys, victims, witnesses, and defendants. Participates in plea negotiations and presents arguments in court for ethical and just case dispositions, ensures defendants and victims understand legal rights and alternatives; determines if mental health competency hearings are necessary; and evaluates the potential danger defendants pose to victims and/or society.
• Participates in competency hearings in Superior Court by reviewing psychiatric reports, preparing/reviewing legal motions, staffing cases with City Attorney and City Court, and notifying victims of proceedings.
• Assists in preparing and managing operating budgets, compiling statistics, identifying and justifying the need for additional resources and support.
• Assists in overseeing the work activities of legal support staff, stressing a commitment to quality, customer service, justice, and continuous improvement.
• Supports the relationship between the City and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with citizens, community members, visitors, and City staff; and complies with all City policies and procedures.
• Maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues and City information.
• Performs other assignments as needed.

12-Month Goals:

• Proactively review criminal cases to assess factual and legal merits of each case, issue appropriate plea offers, and where necessary, ensure that crime victims’ rights are scrupulously adhered to in managing a large caseload.
• Represent the State in criminal bench and jury trials in the Buckeye Municipal Court.
• Assist with department projects including training Buckeye Police Department officers regarding relevant City Code ordinances, Arizona Revised Statues, and Rules of Criminal Procedure.
• Fulfill State Bar requirements for continuing legal education.

Minimum Qualifications & Position Requirements

Education and Experience:
Juris Doctorate Degree is required; AND three year's experience in a public sector legal practice, including trial experience; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Membership in good standing in the State Bar of Arizona. Admission to the US District Court, District of Arizona.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of:

• City organization, operations, policies and procedures, laws, and ordinances.
• State of Arizona criminal and civil statutes, rules, administrative orders, policies and procedures, and applicable Federal rules and regulations.
• Arizona judicial procedures and rules of evidence.
• The duties, powers, authorities and limitations of a municipal attorney.
• Principles and protocols for the evidentiary gathering of information, documents, financial records and other data that may be used in court.
• Procedures and protocols for trial court, arraignment, and other public legal proceedings.
• Legal precedents and court decisions impacting municipal government.
• Legal, ethical, and professional rules of conduct for a prosecutor, including rules of professional conduct and standards for ethical behavior.
• Legal research methods, techniques, sources, and databases.
• Legal case management procedures, ethics and techniques.

Skill in:

• Operating a computer and related software applications.
• PbK case management software.
• Managing and coordinating prosecutions for the City Attorney's Office.
• Interpreting and explaining legal standards and procedures, applicable Federal and state rules and regulations, and City policies and procedures.
• Prosecuting cases, developing strategies, presenting legal arguments, negotiating agreements, and managing adversarial situations.
• Prosecuting and litigating cases in courtrooms and administrative hearings.
• Analyzing and applying criminal laws to information, evidence and other data compiled.
• Using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines.
• Researching and identifying precedence in case law.
• Verbal and written communication and exercising judgment and discretion in decision making.
• Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with attorneys, law enforcement agencies and other participants in the criminal justice process.

Ability to:

• Work independently and with teams.
• Understand, interpret and apply detailed and complex information.
• Manage multiple projects and initiatives in a fast-paced work environment.
• Demonstrate leadership in analyzing and solving complex problems by using a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy.
• Develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Demonstrate integrity, ingenuity and inventiveness in the performance of assigned tasks.
• Communicate and use interpersonal skills to interact with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc., to sufficiently exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.
• Cultivate inclusive and respectful working relationships that support a sense of belonging for all employees and community members.
• Learn quickly and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology.

Additional Information

Hiring Range: $98,072 - $122,657

Salary range is the entire compensation range for the position classification.

Hiring range is an estimate of the compensation amount for the selected candidate. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and equity amongst other City employees in a similar position.

Employee Benefits & Wellness

The City offers a comprehensive benefits package to full-time classified and management employees. Part-time classified employees may be eligible for select benefits where defined.

For complete Benefit Plan & Wellness Information, please visit the City website at:
Benefits & Wellness

City benefit plans are subject to change at any time.

Closing Date/Time: 2/6/2025 11:59 PM Mountain

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• City of Buckeye, AZ

• 623-349-6000

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