Overview
Job Summary:
The Public Defender will be responsible for management of the Public Defender’s Office and staff including administrative and budgeting duties and supervision of staff in representing and counseling eligible Tribal Members.
Duties & Functions:
Responsibilities include representation of Tribal member adults and juveniles, in criminal actions before the Tribal Court.
The Public Defender carries a full adult criminal caseload in Tribal Court and may also handle juvenile proceedings (Child Offender (CO) and Child-in-Need of Care (CNC) cases) under the Tribes’ Domestic Relations Code in some instances.
The Public Defender may also be called on to take civil conflict cases referred by the Tribes’ Legal Aid Office.
Other duties may be assigned at the discretion of the Tribal Council or designee to fulfill the Department’s needs, objectives and/or goals.
Follow established Tribal policies and those outlined in the Colorado River Indian Tribes Employee Handbook.
Required Skills and Abilities:
Must have knowledge and experience working with principles of Federal Indian Law, Tribal Law and/or administrative law.
Applicant must have ability to work cooperatively with officers and attorneys of the court, even in adversarial relationships.
Dependable, punctual and able to communicate in a professional and pleasant manner.
Applicant should have demonstrable familiarity with criminal law and procedure along with concern and interest in Indian Affairs.
Education & Experience Requirements:
High School Diploma or G.E.D.
Graduate from an ABA accredited law school
Be admitted to Tribal, State or Federal Bar or pending admission preferred.
Employees may be required to submit to fingerprinting and criminal background check.
Must possess a current valid driver’s license throughout employment.
Physical Requirement:
Must successfully complete a drug screening test prior to appointment.
Physically able to perform duties assigned.
Occasionally work extended shifts as assigned, some weekends and holiday.
About Colorado River Indian Tribes
The Colorado River Indian Tribes include four distinct Tribes - the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi and Navajo. There are currently about 4,277 active Tribal members.
The CRIT Reservation was created in 1865 by the Federal Government for “Indians of the Colorado River and its tributaries,” originally for the Mohave and Chemehuevi, who had inhabited the area for centuries. People of the Hopi and Navajo Tribes were relocated to the reservation in later years.
The reservation stretches along the Colorado River on both the Arizona and California side. It includes almost 300,000 acres of land, with the river serving as the focal point and lifeblood of the area.
The primary community in the CRIT Reservation is Parker, Arizona, which is located on a combination of Tribal land, leased land that is owned by CRIT and land owned by non-Native Americans. There are other, smaller communities on the reservation, including Poston, located 10 miles south of Parker.
