The Dane County (Wisconsin) District Attorney’s Office, located in Madison, Wisconsin, has an immediate opening for an Assistant District Attorney (“ADA”). This is a full-time position offering a full state benefit package and is in the unclassified service.
The Dane County District Attorney’s Office values a diverse workforce and encourages female, ethnically and racially diverse, and disabled candidates to apply!
Candidates must also show that they are aware of the impact of racial disparities within the criminal justice system but are still committed to the prosecutor’s role in protecting the public.
Position Summary: Consistent with Chapter 978 and other relevant provisions of the Wisconsin Statutes, ADAs have responsibilities that include reviewing referrals from law enforcement agencies and issuing or declining criminal charges consistent with ethical and legal standards; adhering to Chapter 950 requirements and other relevant provisions that relate to notification and treatment of crime victims; prosecuting cases in a professional and ethical manner, which includes the duties as a minister of justice to zealously pursue the truth in court and present facts with candor to courts and juries. Assigned work of an ADA can include juvenile delinquency, forfeiture actions, criminal misdemeanors, traffic, and felonies. Other job duties include providing guidance to law enforcement agencies, social workers, and others that relate to potential or pending prosecutions, including participation in training sessions. This assistance also includes reviewing draft subpoenas and search warrants as prepared by law enforcement.
In addition to salary, the Dane County District Attorney’s Office is able to provide parking at a cost of approximately $22 per month in a nearby ramp. The office provides in-house continuing legal education and provides financial support to allow ADAs to attend at least one semi-annual statewide prosecutors’ conference, funded by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, each year. The Dane County Board of Supervisors has chosen to pay ADAs’ bar dues in past years and that benefit is expected to continue.
Attorneys currently employed by the State of Wisconsin are encouraged to apply and may be able to transfer at their current pay rate. Attorneys who have left the position of Wisconsin elected District Attorney or ADA within the last 5 years may be able to be hired at a wage rate higher than the range listed above.
Please send a cover letter, a resume with three references, and a short writing sample (six pages or less) to Alexandra Fischer at Alexandra.Fischer@da.wi.gov . Please include in the cover letter a brief statement that demonstrates your knowledge and understanding of racial disparities in the criminal justice system and specifically how you believe a prosecutor should address those disparities. The total application should be all one file in Word or Adobe PDF.
Applications will be accepted until this position has been filled.