Felony Court Chief

General Description

The purpose of this class is to perform difficult professional work trying cases, providing legal counsel to the court, prosecuting criminal cases and performs other complex legal functions.

Duties and Responsibilities

The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class.  Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the class as necessary.

• Supervise, train, and evaluate subordinate prosecutor(s).
• Review law enforcement search warrants and assist in their drafting.
• Maintain Felony docket of most serious criminal cases including homicides, assaults, and public interest prosecutions.
• Prepares criminal cases for trial; locates and interviews witnesses and victims; gathers and reviews evidence; obtain copies of video and audio tapes, 911 calls and statements; visits crime scenes; plans jury trials; reviews pertinent case law; creates visual aids; interviews police officers.
• Represents the state in drafting indictments, motions, responses, and other documents in relation to the prosecution of criminal cases.
• Represents the state in criminal trials; picks juries, makes opening statements, questions witnesses, introduces evidence, argues before a judge and jury, and delivers closing arguments.
• Handles daily felony docket; negotiates dispositions and discovery issues.
• Reviews criminal cases for appropriate disposition.
• Represents the state in motion hearings.
• Performs a variety of complex, independent duties in conjunction with prosecution of criminal cases to final disposition, including performing discovery, evaluating legal theories and principles, performing research, etc.
• Ensures that information related to cases is disseminated appropriately to the defense attorney of record and to securely store this information appropriately.
• Counsel law enforcement during felony arrests and throughout criminal investigations.
• Assist law enforcement during major investigations including attending crime scenes, reviewing evidence, and advising crime scene investigators on legal issues.
• Performs related work as assigned by supervisors.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Requires graduation from an accredited Law School and admitted to the practice of law in the State of Texas.
• As a candidate for Felony Court Chief, five years of experience in the practice of law, litigation, jury trials or closely related experience is also required.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.

Unavoidable hazards refer to the job conditions that may lead to injury or health hazards even though precautions have been taken.

The work is typically performed sitting at a desk or table or while intermittently sitting, standing, bending, crouching, or stooping. The employee occasionally lifts light and heavy objects.

The work is typically performed in an office or courtroom.

Emergency Preparedness Tier Level:  4

Special Certifications and Licenses:

Requires a member of good standing with the State Bar of Texas

Department: District Attorney's Office

Salary: $135,000.00

The County of Galveston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.