Chief Public Defender

Help change the justice system! Texas RioGrande Public Defender is opening a first-ever public defender’s office in Eagle Pass, Texas that will service Maverick, Dimmit and Zavala Counties. This is a transformative opportunity to establish gold-standard representation in an area that has never had consistent, systemic access to justice for poor people accused of crimes. After years of these jurisdictions’ failing to provide effective assistance of counsel, the Maverick Regional Public Defenders Office (“Maverick RPDO”) will alter the landscape of criminal justice in these critical border counties. TRGPD is looking for a zealous, client-centered, and visionary changemaker to spearhead justice in communities that have been left behind for too long. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to advance justice, for those who dare.

Chief Public Defender, Maverick Regional Public Defender

• Launch and lead a brand-new public defender’s office
• Establish a culture of client-centered, team-oriented advocacy that fights for clients
• Create, with support from Executive Leadership, gold-standard processes for advocates to follow in representing clients
• Effectively communicate with local stakeholders to build strong community relationships
• Assist in tracking data measuring the impact of the Maverick RPDO’s representation, including jail population and disposition data
• Monitor caseloads for Maverick RPDO attorneys in the ramp-up period and after achieving full staffing to ensure manageable workloads
• Work in partnership with Executive Leadership to implement key strategies and initiatives to achieve Maverick RPDO’s goals and objectives.
• Maintain a 40% caseload that includes high level felonies, misdemeanors and juvenile cases
• Mentor and train newly licensed attorneys within Maverick RPDO, by assisting in case file reviews, developing trainings, attending court hearings with young attorneys, and serving as lead counsel or cocounsel on trials with new lawyers, as needed
• Maintain a supportive and positive work environment for their team
• Contribute to the progress and development of TRGPD as a whole.

Qualifications:

• Licensed to practice law in Texas or willing to take the next available Texas bar exam;
• At least five years of criminal litigation experience as a licensed attorney;
• At least 5 trials before a jury as lead counsel;
• Demonstrated management and leadership skills;
• Proficiency in Office365, legal research software, and other case management systems;
• Professional fluency in Spanish (highly preferred)

Preferred applicants will demonstrate vision for advancing justice; a commitment to indigent defense and criminal justice reform; have worked in a public defender office; have exceptional advocacy, management, and leadership skills; are solution oriented and creative in their ideas on how to solve systemic issues within the criminal justice system; are passionate about the development and training of the new generation of the indigent defense attorneys; and want to live and work in communities where TRGPD clients have the greatest needs.