Deputy District Attorney I/II/III/IV - Appeals
Job Number: 440
Salary: $84,565.00 - $179,796.24
Department/Office: District Attorney
Division: District Attorney's Office
Location: 6450 S. Revere Pkwy, Centennial, CO, 80111
Job Type : Salary Full-Time
Posting Date: 02/27/2026
Closing Date: 03/05/2026
The Arapahoe County government serves its communities in ways both obvious and obscure. As the beating heart of local and regional government, we're here for our neighbors on their best days-and their worst. We share our residents' goals of preserving our quality of life and strive to be the place we're proud to call home.
Note: This posting is hiring for a Deputy District Attorney I/II/III/IV - Appeals commensurate with experience.
The Deputy District Attorney - Appeals handles post-trial motions and appeals from County Court to District Court (including domestic violence cases) as well as in the Colorado Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. Also performs the following:
Researches and writes legal briefs in misdemeanor appeals in the District Court, driver's license revocation appeals in the District Court, prosecution-initiated felony appears in the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court, and certioriari appeals and C.A.R. 21 appeals in the Colorado Supreme Court. Conducts appellate oral arguments.
Provides legal support to trial deputies, including research, motion analysis, and assistance with extraditions, sealing petitions, criminal justice records requests, and related matters.
NOTE: Education and Experience Requirement for all levels I/II/III/IV are:
Graduation from law school as provided under Rule 205.1 of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
Licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado
Additional requirements and salary range for each level below are:
Deputy DA I
3 + years litigation experience or 1 year County Court (misdemeanor) Deputy DA experience.
The full salary range for the Deputy DA I is $84,565.00 - $135,083.00
Deputy DA II
5+ years litigation experience.
The full salary range for the Deputy DA II is $93,021.24 - $148,592.08
Deputy DA III
8+ years litigation experience
The full salary range for the Deputy DA III is $102,323.00 - $163,451.08
Deputy DA IV
12+ years litigation experience
The full salary range for the Deputy DA IV is $112,555.04 - $179,796.24
Note:
Please upload a recent writing sample (e.g., motion, brief, petition, etc.) that reflects your own work. If the work was co-authored, please indicate your contribution. Please ensure all confidential or identifying client information is redacted and, if necessary, obtain permission from former employers before submitting.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF JOB:
The Deputy District Attorney IV performs a variety of professional legal and docket management functions to intake and prosecute the most complex, high level felony offenses in the 18th Judicial District. The Deputy DA IV handles felony docket and is expected to first chair all class 1 felonies. May be assigned to the following units: Appeals, District, Domestic Violence, Economic Crimes, Intake, Juvenile Crimes, Organized Crimes, and Special Victims Unit.
DUTIES:
Review and file felony charges, including evaluating evidence, determining appropriate charges, preparing filing documents, providing discovery, and ensuring victim notifications.
Advise and support law enforcement on criminal law issues, warrant requirements, investigative questions, and case development.
Assess defendants and case readiness, including reviewing criminal history, evaluating bond considerations, identifying witnesses, and preparing victims and witnesses for hearings and trial.
Represent the prosecution at hearings, including initial advisements, bond hearings, preliminary hearings, and arraignments; establish probable cause and manage case scheduling.
Manage plea negotiations, prepare plea paperwork, communicate plea offers, and present factual bases for court acceptance.
Litigate felony cases at trial, including voir dire, opening statements, direct/cross examinations, objections, evidentiary presentation, jury instructions, and closing arguments.
Research, draft, and argue motions and legal briefs for both prosecution-initiated and defense-initiated motions.
Provide on-call legal guidance for law enforcement after hours, review and coordinate warrant approvals, and respond to crime scenes when needed.
Prepare case-related correspondence, including exculpatory disclosures and requests for additional investigation.
Participate in training and community outreach, including attending required CLEs, delivering internal trainings, and presenting to schools or community groups.
REQUIREMENTS:
Skills, Abilities and Competencies:
Considerable to extensive knowledge of the rules of criminal procedure and the rules of evidence; ability to effectively apply same in a docket/hearing/preliminary hearing/trial setting related to felony offenses. Considerable knowledge of state statutes and general knowledge of substantive case law related to felony offenses. Ability to advocate and/or present legal/factual scenarios in a clear and persuasive manner to persons of highly varying legal, educational, and socio-economic backgrounds.
Ability to effectively process and dispose of felony criminal case filings while maintaining a balance of equal justice between victims, the People of the State of Colorado, and affected defendants; ability to assess cases for strengths versus weaknesses and aggravators versus mitigators to determine just and ethical dispositions that are within policies promulgated by the District Attorney.
Ability to react quickly and appropriately in court to defense objections, oral motions, court inquiries and rulings, and presentations/responses from defense attorneys and witnesses. Ability to write in a succinct and well-reasoned manner.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, co-workers, defense attorneys, victims, judges, court staff, police officers, witnesses, related agencies' personnel, and the general public; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with same.
Behavioral Competencies (these are required for all positions at ACG):
Accountability
Accessibility
Inclusivity
Integrity
Education and Experience:
Graduation from law school as provided under Rule 205.1 of the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
12+ years litigation experience.
Licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado.
Any equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience that satisfy the requirements of the job may be considered at the discretion of the District Attorney.
Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:
Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check.
Possession of a valid Class "R" Colorado Driver's License or the ability to obtain one within two weeks of appointment.
Security clearance required: will require fingerprinting and a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) background check.
Licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Work is split between a standard office environment, attending court, responding to crime scenes, and meetings inside and outside of the office with law enforcement, victims, and witnesses in various settings.
Remote work may be permitted as provided by Office policies.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Spends 60% of the time sitting and 40% of the time either standing or walking.
Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 30 lbs.
Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 30 lbs.
Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment
Below, please list any special physical demands associated with this position. For instance, exposure to hazardous environments, blood borne pathogens, extreme heat/cold, use of power equipment or machinery, wearing of PPE (personal protective equipment).
Visits to crime scenes may involve exposure to hazardous environments or extreme heat/cold. Observation of autopsies may involve the wearing of PPE.
Definitions:
Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.
Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.
Constantly: Activity exists more than 2/3 of the time.
** Arapahoe County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation or any other status protected under the law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity in any term, condition, or privilege of employment and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors. Arapahoe County is committed to making employment accessible to persons with disabilities.
** In accordance with Senate Bill 23-058, applicants understand that Arapahoe County will not request or require the applicant to include their age, date of birth, or date of attendance/graduation date on the initial application. Applicants understand that Arapahoe County can request or require an individual to provide documentation including copies of certification, transcripts, and other materials created by a third party. The applicant understands that the applicant can redact, if they so choose, information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from an educational institution on those requested/required certification, transcripts and other materials created by a third party.
Employee Benefits Summary Brochure (https://files.arapahoeco.gov/Human%20Resources/Work%20for%20Arapahoe%20County/Benefit_Summary.pdf)
Nearest Major Market: Denver
