Special Tribal Prosecutor/Special Assistant United States Attorney

Summary of Functions

This is a grant position awarded to the Kalispel Tribe from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women. This position will serve as a Special Tribal Prosecutor (“STP”) in Kalispel Tribal Court and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney (“SAUSA”) through the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington (“USAO”). Under the direction of the USAO, this position will prosecute targeted federal crimes on the Kalispel, Spokane, and Colville Tribal Reservations. The targeted cases will include the investigation and prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, stalking, and domestic violence firearms cases. The SAUSA/STP will also be responsible for prosecuting the identified targeted offenses, and related work, within the jurisdiction of the Kalispel Tribal Court. The Position will be employed by the Kalispel Tribe through its Legal Department and cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney working under the supervision of the USAO. It is anticipated that the time will be divided between the Kalispel Tribe and USAO.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Enhance the resources of the USAO and the Tribal Legal Department to ensure the prosecution of target crimes.
• The target criminal caseload will consist of the investigation and prosecution of the following crimes: domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, stalking, and domestic violence firearms cases.
• Serve as a special Tribal prosecutor for the Kalispel Tribe, prosecuting targeted crimes on the Kalispel Reservation in Kalispel Tribal Court.
• Serve as a criminal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Washington, under the supervision of the USAO, prosecuting targeted crimes occurring on the Kalispel, Colville, and Spokane Reservations.
• Advise and provide training to federal and tribal law enforcement agencies.
• Interview and prepare witnesses, review police reports and all discovery to make appropriate charging and other decisions, exercise good judgment and strong ethics regarding the disposition of cases.
• Communicate effectively and be available for after-hour advice by telephone to tribal and federal law enforcement officers, assist with coordinate with Washington State prosecution and law enforcement partners.
• Present cases to the grand jury and try criminal cases in the U.S. District Court and Kalispel Tribal Court.
• Complete legal research, draft and file legal documents such as pleadings, charging documents, briefs, and sentencing memoranda.
• Actively participate in Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal and tribal partners.
• Handle all stages of litigation, including negotiations, mediation, legal research, discovery, motion practice, oral argument, trial and appeal.
• Work closely and collaborate with the Kalispel Tribal Prosecutor, the Kalispel Tribe’s Victim Assistance Services Program, and Kalispel Tribal Court programs to enhance the implementation of best practices regarding victim safety and offender accountability and reduce recidivism.
• Propose improvements and modifications to the Kalispel Tribal Law and Order Code, Tribal regulations, policies and procedures, and professional development training relating to the targeted crimes.
• Prepare legal analysis of proposed statutes, regulations, and manuals and interprets legal concepts, laws, rulings, and regulations. 
• Keep abreast of current court decisions and pending legislation affecting the prosecution of targeted crimes and make recommendations to implement best practices.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervise, as necessary, assigned paralegal(s), legal assistant(s) and legal intern(s) and other staff. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with Tribal policies and applicable laws. Supervision may include tasks such as directing work, evaluating and coaching employees, and addressing complaints and resolving issues.

Other

The above duties and responsibilities are not an all-inclusive list but rather a general representation of the duties and responsibilities associated with this position. The duties and responsibilities will be subject to change based on organizational needs and/or as deemed necessary by the supervisor.

Education

• Requires a Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited law school.

Experience

• License to Practice Law in the State of Washington; in good standing.
• Preferred 5+ years as a licensed practicing attorney.
• Preferred experience as a Tribal In-house Attorney or other direct work with Tribes, with a focus on criminal prosecution preferred.
• Preferred experience in Federal Indian Law including a demonstrated working knowledge of the laws regarding tribal court systems, criminal prosecutions, sovereign rights of an Indian Tribe, and working and negotiating with federal and state agencies.
• Minimum three (3) years’ experience litigating felony cases.
• Demonstrated experience in trial and litigation practice.

Skills

• Possess superior oral and written communication skills as well as strong interpersonal skills, exhibit good judgment and have demonstrated the capacity to function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment.
• Excellent legal research and writing.
• Knowledge and working experience of regulations relevant to behavioral health programs.
• Knowledge and working experience with Public Law 280 in the State of WA.
• Willingness to travel locally on a frequent basis and occasionally out-of-town.
• Demonstrate superior oral and writing skills, strong research and interpersonal skills, and good judgment.
• Possess excellent communication and courtroom skills; exhibit the ability to work in a supportive and professional manner with other attorneys, support staff, and MDT Task-Force member Tribes.
• Demonstrate a capacity to function, with minimal guidance, in a highly demanding environment and in the highest ethical manner.
• Ability to conduct independent legal research and writing; be substantially self-sufficient in preparing day-to-day correspondence and pleadings.
• Demonstrate excellent computer literacy skills to include experience with automated research on the Internet, electronic court filing, and electronic e-mail, word processing and database systems.
• Experience in preparation of appellate briefs and presentation of appellate arguments.
• Be of good moral character and fitness and will be required to frequently travel within and occasionally outside of the district.

Other Requirements

• Responsible for maintaining consistent, regular good attendance.
• Work nights, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Obtain and maintain a work permit level 3.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to ten (10) pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.