Capital Habeas Unit Chief

Summary

The Capital Habeas Unit Chief leads all Unit operations strategic initiatives and litigation functions while contemporaneously serving as a senior leader and personal advisor to the Federal Public Defender. The Chief must combine outstanding legal judgment with strong leadership abilities build cohesion within the Unit and strengthen collaboration with the Trial Unit so that the office operates with greater unity shared purpose and institutional trust.

Duties

Core Responsibilities

The selected candidate will:

• Lead and oversee all Capital Habeas Unit operations and strategic initiatives.
• Supervise mentor and evaluate attorneys and professional staff.
• Foster a collaborative inclusive high-performing workplace culture and maintain an ethical professional and respectful work environment.
• Manage staffing and case assignments to ensure effective workload distribution and high-quality representation.
• Serve as lead counsel or co-counsel in complex capital habeas and related proceedings.
• Direct litigation strategy claim development factual investigation mitigation efforts and expert coordination across Unit cases.
• Review and provide strategic guidance on petitions motions briefs and appellate filings.
• Advocate in hearings oral arguments clemency proceedings and other high stakes matters.
• Monitor and advise on developments involving Chapter 154 opt-in procedures under 28 U.S.C. 2261-2266 including the strategic and operational implications for Ohio capital habeas practice.
• Ensure exceptional legal analysis writing and advocacy at every stage of representation.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with Federal Defender offices defense partners experts and the national capital habeas community.
• Promote professional development accountability and employee engagement.
• Advance coordination and trust between the Capital Habeas Unit and Trial Unit to reduce silos and strengthen office-wide advocacy.

Leadership Profile

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Strategic legal judgment in capital habeas litigation including a firm grasp of AEDPA 28 U.S.C. 2254 practice Chapter 154 opt-in issues under 28 U.S.C. 2261-2266 and the ability to identify viable avenues for relief in a demanding and increasingly restrictive legal environment
• A profound appreciation for the finality of death as punishment reflected in disciplined decision-making intellectual honesty and an unwavering commitment to person-centered representation.
• The maturity and presence to lead highly accomplished attorneys and staff with strong personalities independent judgment and longstanding client relationships.
• A leadership style that is firm fair candid and respectful; one that promotes trust accountability and cohesion without diminishing professional autonomy.
• The ability to unify an interdisciplinary team of lawyers mitigation specialists investigators and paralegals around common standards shared mission and collective excellence.
• A demonstrated commitment to mentorship talent development and the growth of less-experienced lawyers in complex post-conviction practice.
• Institutional leadership skills that support collaboration across units and reinforce shared purpose throughout the office.
• Sound judgment resilience initiative and the temperament to lead effectively in high-pressure emotionally demanding matters.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Notice

Employees are at-will and are not covered by the Civil Service Reform Act. Employment is subject to the availability of funds successful completion of a background check and United States citizenship or eligibility to work in the United States. The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Ohio is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualifications

Because we occasionally litigate in state court Ohio bar admission or a willingness to seek admission to the Ohio Bar is an advantage.

Applicants must also be admitted to or seek admission to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Qualified applicants should also have:

• Experience supervising attorneys and professional staff.
• At least ten years of criminal law experience preferably including substantial federal criminal trial appellate post-conviction and capital habeas experience.
• Prior capital habeas experience or employment with another Capital Habeas Units is an advantage.
• Strong relationships within the federal defender and capital habeas communities.
• A demonstrably firm grasp of litigation under AEDPA and 28 U.S.C. 2254.

Preferred qualifications include education training or practical experience in mitigation work or related fields such as mental health sociology psychology childhood trauma or social work.

Education

Applicants must be graduates of an accredited law school and members in good standing of any state bar.

Additional information

Professional Growth and National Engagement

This role is designed for an experienced lawyer who wants both impact and influence. The Chief will have the opportunity to lead major litigation mentor and develop other advocates help set office-wide standards and maintain strong ties with the broader federal defender and capital habeas communities.

The position also offers meaningful professional stature leadership within a nationally recognized area of practice ongoing engagement with complex and consequential litigation and the ability to contribute to the continued development of a strong institutional defense culture.

Other Qualifications

Applicants must be graduates of an accredited law school and members in good standing of any state bar. Because we occasionally litigate in state court Ohio bar admission or a willingness to seek admission to the Ohio Bar is an advantage. Applicants must also be admitted to or seek admission to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government passionate about the ideals of our American republic and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Required Experience:

Chief