Supervisor, Conviction Integrity Unit & Assistant District Attorney

Position: Supervisor, Conviction Integrity Unit & Assistant District Attorney

Unit: Conviction Integrity Unit

Manager: District Attorney

Company Description

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office is the largest prosecutor's office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives and support staff. Our Assistant District Attorneys are dedicated to public service, public safety, and justice for all involved in the criminal justice system.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office in particular is committed to several citywide collaborations aimed at reducing Philadelphia's jail population and improving the criminal justice system overall.

Please note that effective September 1, 2021, the City of Philadelphia requires all new employees to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

To attain a job with the city, you must be a city of Philadelphia resident within 6 months (180 days) of hire and able to work completely in the office.

Job Summary

The District Attorney's Office is seeking an experienced attorney to work as the Supervisor of the Conviction Integrity Unit ("CIU"). Following best practices established in this expanding field, the CIU reinvestigates and resolves credible claims of actual innocence or wrongful conviction arising out of past convictions. The CIU also reviews pardon and commutation applications.

Essential Functions

Conducting an internal investigation or supervising the internal investigation which; may include, but not limited to, reviewing agency files, court files, trial and hearing transcripts, appellate and post-conviction legal briefs, and post-conviction hearing transcripts.

Conducting an external investigation or supervising the external investigation which may include, but not limited to, visiting the crime scene location, interviewing past and/or new witnesses, convicted persons, and attorneys, re-testing (or testing) of DNA and other forensic evidence, and whatever other means are necessary to explore the claims of wrongful conviction.

Supervising the CIU's Assistant District Attorneys, paralegals, intelligence analyst, and victim/witness coordinator assigned to the CIU.

Communicating with the victim or family of the victim and the petitioner or petitioner's counsel.

Working with defense counsel and the community in resolving cases of actual innocence, wrongful conviction, and, where appropriate, unjust sentencing.

Writing detailed memoranda and pleadings relating to the investigation.

Making recommendations to the Elected District Attorney as to whether the conviction should stand.

Meeting with representatives of other prosecuting offices along with innocence organizations.

Providing enhanced training to prosecutors and investigators to help avoid the pitfalls that can lead to wrongful convictions.

Oversee the Brady Giglio database, and supervise CIU ADA's and paralegals in the appropriate maintenance of the database.

Serving as member of office-wide committees.

Skills & Qualifications

• All candidates must be admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or eligible to become admitted to practice in Pennsylvania.
• Candidates must have 10 or more years of criminal litigation experience involving homicides and/or other serious felonies, including the use of DNA and other forensic science following graduation from an accredited law school.
• A commitment to anti-corruption work is a must.
• Candidates must be highly motivated researchers, comfortable with document-driven cases that can take months or years to build.
• Candidates should have a track record of investigating and/or litigating cases involving violent crime - preference will be given to candidates who also have experience with forensic science specifically including the use of DNA. This experience can be as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, innocence organization attorney or other applicable area of practice concerning criminal law in any jurisdiction.
• Ability to analytically solve issues or problems from inception through conclusion.
• Excellent writing skills and attention to detail are required.
• Exhibit an ability to maintain the confidentiality of information, and work independently of the trial team prosecutors.
• A willingness to maintain open channels of communication with other participants in the field of wrongful convictions, including law school clinics, the public defender's offices, private counsel, victims or family of the victims, and defendants.
• A strong appreciation and commitment to consider criminal cases through the application of unbiased, objective standards.
• Candidates should have courtroom experience in trials or other evidentiary proceedings involving serious felonies, preferably homicides.
• Strong preference for candidates who have experience investigating or prosecuting cold cases and/or litigating fact-based post-conviction proceedings. experience handling domestic violence and…