STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, 17TH CIRCUIT- ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT- 21013654

Requisition No: 840230 

Agency: Justice Administrative Commission

Working Title: STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, 17TH CIRCUIT- ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY CONVICTION REVIEW UNIT- 21013654

 Pay Plan: St.AttorneysJAC PIB

Position Number: 21013654 

Salary:  $83,000.00 to $100,000.00 

Posting Closing Date: 11/29/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Office of the State Attorney, 17th Circuit

Position Opening – Assistant State Attorney Conviction Review Unit

Location:  Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Salary Range:  $83,000 to $100,000 / Grant Funded

Full Time Position plus Benefits

Job Purpose:

The Conviction Review Unit (CRU) will require an experienced criminal law attorney with a special emphasis on trial work and/or criminal investigations. They must possess a passion for smart criminal justice reform and a desire to take part in a collaborative case-acceptance decision-making process as a member of the CRU team. As part of a 2024 Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA grant) we want to diversify our team and include someone with particular defense experience. We are the unit of “last resort.” Petitioners have to have exhausted their appeals and be serving long prison sentences for serious offenses. On average, our cases span from the 1980’s to the early 2000’s. We have strict criteria for cases to even begin the process of review.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Have a minimum of 4 years of criminal defense experience;
• Solve problems with creative resolutions;
• Be flexible with shifting priorities;
• View each case and complaint with an open mind;
• Work with the Innocence Project, Innocence Organizations, and Defense Attorneys in a collaborative manner;
• Maintain all required data for reporting and grant applications;
• Assist in convening meetings of the Independent Review Panel, or any internal panels;
• Review and draft case-review memoranda;
• Research and summarize relevant issues and case law;
• Decide on whether to accept or reject a case for review; 
• Direct any fact investigation and expert services—including but not limited to DNA testing, expert case review, forensic analysis or reanalysis of evidence;
• Work with and supervise investigators to perform necessary investigation;
• Draft all necessary pleadings;
• Prepare for and litigate hearings and oral arguments;
• Maintain documents to successfully manage workflow and ensure compliance with all time requirements in all cases;
• Maintain organized physical and digital case files;
• Travel as necessary to complete these and other case-related tasks;
• Represent the CRU at legislative hearings and civic events, including giving oral presentations, as assigned;
• Possess a passion for smart criminal justice reform;
• This particular grant is related to misidentification. Any special training or experience in misidentification is beneficial;
• Attend training and professional development programs.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have a strong desire to operate as part of a team and handle challenging cases. They must be able to think creatively and self-motivate.

• At least 4 years’ experience with criminal defense work
• With a special emphasis on witness misidentification
• Excellent reading, researching and writing skills are required. You will need to dig deeper and be able to truly reinvestigate as an attorney these unique cases
• This is not a trial division. If you want to do trial work, this unit is not for you. This is a research, writing and investigation division. Cases may take up to several years to work through. However, you will be afforded unique opportunities, such as testifying before the legislature as it relates to claims bills, working closely with our grant staff, and training various stakeholders on the (very new) area of conviction review.    

To apply, please visit our website at www.browardsao.com

and complete the on-line State of Florida Employment Application

and submit it along with a cover letter and resume to

employment@sao17.state.fl.us.

The State Attorney, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family Medical Leave Act

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS at 1-844-377-1888 on how your current benefits may be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida.  Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.