Capital Habeas Unit Chief

About the role

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.

What you will do

• 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

• 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.

Education

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

How you will be evaluated

The selection process will consider the candidate's demonstrated qualifications, experience, and ability to meet the requirements of the position.

Documents you must provide

• Letter of interest, resume, completed AO 78 Application for Judicial Employment, a writing sample of no more than 20 pages, and three references.

Benefits

Compensation, Benefits, and Quality of Life This position offers a salary range of $80,138 to $197,100, dependent on education and years of relevant experience consistent with federal guidelines and regulations.

Benefits include health, dental, vision, life insurance, the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS), Social Security, Thrift Savings Plan, transit subsidy, free parking, 11 federal holidays, annual leave, sick leave, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Cleveland and Northeast Ohio also offer an appealing quality of life for experienced professionals and families.

The region combines major-league sports, a nationally respected orchestra, a renowned arts community, lakefront living, and ready access to hiking, biking, kayaking, and fishing, including the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, with a more manageable daily life and more affordable cost of living than many larger legal markets.

What to expect next

First review of applications will occur on Monday, August 3, 2026. While the position will remain open until filled, applicants who submit their materials on or before the first review date will receive preference.

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.