Senior Deputy State's Attorney

About the position

The role of a Deputy State's Attorney is to work collaboratively with law enforcement in enforcing the laws in the jurisdiction of Pennington County. They represent the State of South Dakota in all stages of court proceedings.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing law enforcement reports.
• Making criminal charging decisions.
• Presenting evidence at probable cause hearings, whether before the Court or Grand Jury.
• Representing the State of South Dakota at Initial Appearances and Arraignments.
• Representing the State of South Dakota at Status and Motion Hearings.
• Representing the State of South Dakota at Evidentiary Hearings.
• Making bond arguments at hearings before the Court.
• Conducting legal research and writing, and motion preparation.
• Abiding by all victims' rights and assisting victims through the criminal justice system.
• Meeting with victims and other witnesses throughout the prosecution of cases.
• Preparing law enforcement officers, witnesses and victims for courtroom testimony.
• Preparation for and presentation of evidence at court and jury trials.
• Fielding phone calls from citizens and interested parties about criminal prosecutions.
• Updating and training law enforcement on relevant areas of the law.
• Representing the State of South Dakota at involuntary mental commitments, involuntary drug and alcohol commitments and fugitive proceedings.
• Handling appeals from magistrate to circuit court, and initial habeas filings at the State level.
• Acting as a liaison to the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative Committee (JDAI) and meeting daily with this group.
• Collaborating with the Juvenile Services Center, the Department of Corrections and Court Services for juvenile offenders.
• Representing the Department of Social Services (DSS) in civil proceedings against parents and guardians accused of abuse or neglect.
• Handling planning and zoning cases in the Civil Division.
• Responsible for the training component involving non-senior attorneys.
• Handling a caseload consisting of higher level or more complex cases.
• Assisting in office administration duties as requested.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited University.
• Juris Doctorate Degree from an accredited University.
• Membership in the State Bar of South Dakota.
• Minimum of 3 years of prosecutorial experience or equivalent.