The Georgia Capital Defender Office has an opening for a Lead Counsel Appellate Attorney in death penalty cases located in the Georgia Public Defender’s Central Office in Atlanta, Georgia. This position focuses on representing indigent clients in death penalty appeals and may also include trial-level work as co-counsel in capital cases, as well as non-capital appellate work when needed. Candidates must have a strong interest in capital defense, appellate advocacy, and client-centered representation.
Applicants should meet the Unified Appeal Procedure minimum qualifications for Appellate Lead Counsel in death penalty cases:
(1) must be a member in good standing of the State Bar or admitted to practice pro hac vice and must have at least five years criminal litigation experience as a criminal defense attorney or a prosecuting attorney; and
(2) must have been co-counsel, or have actively assisted in the direct appeal of at least one death penalty case and have been counsel of record in at least three felony appeals; and
(3) must have attended within twelve months previous to appointment at least ten hours of specialized training or educational programs relating to post-conviction appeals and appellate procedures relating to post-conviction appeals or, upon appointment, agree to take ten hours of such training or educational programs and maintain annually during the pendency of the case ten hours of such training or educational programs. This requirement may be met by viewing video recorded instruction and written materials and certifying to the trial court that the materials have been reviewed.
Interested applicants should apply on Team Georgia Careers and submit a resume, cover letter addressing the minimum qualifications and explaining how each requirement is met, and a list of felony appeals to Nathanial Studelska at nstudelska@gacapdef.org.
Description of Duties: The Assistant Public Defender IV, Lead Counsel Appellate Attorney will provide competent and zealous representation to indigent defendants in death penalty appeals. Responsibilities include handling complex and high-profile appellate litigation, assisting with capital trial representation as co-counsel when assigned, conducting legal research and brief writing, as well as presenting oral arguments. Performs other related duties as assigned.
