PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, SECOND CIRCUIT - CAPITAL DEFENDER - 21000874

Requisition No: 820532 

Agency: Justice Administrative Commission

Working Title: PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, SECOND CIRCUIT - CAPITAL DEFENDER - 21000874

 Pay Plan: Pub.DefndrsJAC PIB

Position Number: 21000874 

Salary:  Negotiable 

Posting Closing Date: 11/30/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

CAPITAL DEFENDER

The Work You Will Do

The Public Defender's Office seeks applicants for the full-time position of Capital Defender. The Capital Defender provides trial representation to indigent defendants charged with death penalty eligible offenses.  Preference will be given to attorneys who meet qualifications under Rule 3.112 Fla.R.Crim.P. The office is committed to providing effective assistance of counsel in accordance with the ABA guidelines for the appointment and performance of defense counsel in death penalty cases.  

The office is located in Tallahassee, and the Capital Defender handles cases throughout the Second Judicial Circuit (Wakulla, Jefferson, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin and Leon counties).  The selected applicant will be responsible for strategic litigation involved in the direct representation of Capital Defendants, beginning with “First Response” for murder arrests and detentions within the circuit.  Following a client’s indictment for murder, the Capital Defender will handle all litigation though the resolution of the case.  Additionally, the attorney will attend trainings relating to capital punishment and engaging in special projects relating to the death penalty.  

The applicant should have excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills, the ability to engage in complex legal analysis and fact finding, the ability to work with a wide range of people and foster a team environment with attorneys, mitigation specialists, investigators, and other staff.  Our team treats our clients, their families, and each other with kindness and respect.  We value one another as individuals bringing our various skills and competencies together for the benefit of our clients.  

The Capital Defender works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws in the State of Florida. 

Qualifications
•    Member of The Florida Bar in good standing.

•    The applicant should have a minimum of 5 years of criminal defense experience.  Lead Trial Counsel qualification is strongly preferred.  

•    Capital experience is preferred; demonstrated interest and desire to practice capital work is required.  

•    The applicant should be commitment to social and criminal justice and have a strong understanding of trauma, mental health issues, and capital mitigation generally.  Skilled collaboration, compassionate representation, and professionalism are among our values.  

Pay
•    Negotiable, commensurate with experience.

The Benefits of Working with the State of Florida
Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including:
•    Annual and Sick Leave benefits.
•    Paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year.
•    State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, and other supplemental insurance options.
•    Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com), 
•    Tuition waivers,
•    And more!

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.