The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is a federally funded, independent organization; governed by an eleven-member Board of Trustees, PDS provides legal representation to individuals facing a loss of freedom in criminal, delinquency, and mental health matters in the District of Columbia. PDS’s approximately 200 attorneys, social workers, investigators, and administrative and technical staff collaborate with each other to advance the PDS mission. PDS’s main office is located at 633 3rd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. District of Columbia residency is not a requirement for employment. PDS is funded by federal appropriations, and all employees are entitled to participate in the federal health and life insurance plans, the federal retirement plans, and the Thrift Savings Plan. Transferring employees will receive recognition of creditable federal service for leave accrual and retirement purposes. Employment at the Public Defender Service is neither federal nor District of Columbia government employment, and all employees are at-will.

A major portion of the work of PDS consists of representing individuals in the District of Columbia’s local criminal legal system who are charged with committing serious criminal acts and who are eligible for court-appointed counsel. In the District of Columbia, public defense services are provided primarily by PDS (the “institutional defender”) and a panel of private attorneys, known as Criminal Justice Act (CJA) attorneys, who are screened for membership on the panel and paid on a case-by-case basis by the D.C. courts. Because of its resources, well-regarded training program, and institutional practice knowledge, PDS lawyers handle the most serious criminal cases consistent with the best practices of the legal profession.

Staff attorneys in the Trial Division zealously represent adults in criminal proceedings in the District of Columbia Superior Court (Superior Court) and children in delinquency matters. Attorneys are assigned to specific levels of cases, based on experience and performance. Those case levels are juvenile, general felony, serious felony, and felony I. Most trial attorneys with less than three years of experience will spend their first year representing juvenile clients.

As specialists who participate in complex litigation, PDS trial attorneys are expected to handle all phases of litigation in the D.C. Superior Court, including demanding and reviewing discovery, conducting legal research and analysis, writing briefs, motions, and other legal documents, attending court conferences,  arguing motions, and conducting trials. As part of their work, attorneys communicate regularly with clients, both in the community and at the D.C. Jail and Central Treatment Facility. Trial attorneys work on individual and co-counseled cases and direct teams that include investigators, interns, and law clerks. Because of the nature of the work, trial attorneys often must work nights, weekends, and other non-traditional schedules.
This is not a remote location position

Starting salary range $90,239 - $125,065 DOE

Applicants must submit: (1) a cover letter; (2) a resume; (3) a list of three references (name, e-mail address, telephone number, and a brief statement of how each reference is able to evaluate your skills); (4) an unofficial law school transcript ; (5) a response to the question “Why do you want to be a public defender?” (Include a discussion of your background and/or any personal experience significantly contributing to your desire to do this work, no more than two pages, single- or double-spaced), and (6) a motion based on the fact pattern below, no more than three pages, single- or double-spaced). Submit all materials online as a single consolidated PDF document below. 

Fact Pattern

Gerstein Affidavit

On July 4, 2026, at approximately 2000 hours, members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Crime Suppression Team (CST) were working alongside federal agents as part of the Make DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force. The Task Force was actively patrolling the 1200 block of Kennedy Street Northwest.

Officers observed a gray Nissan SUV with a somewhat obscured license plate make an abrupt right turn onto 9th St Northwest. Officers pulled into the 5400 block of 9th Street Northwest to attempt to make contact with the driver. Officers observed the vehicle parked on the right-hand side of the street. Officers then observed a black male attired in a black shirt and black pants in close proximity to the vehicle. Due to officers’ training and experience within the Kennedy Street neighborhood, individuals who commonly carry and/or transport illegal firearms within the District of Columbia will often attempt to distance themselves from their mode of transportation prior to police contact in an effort to avoid potential discovery of firearm(s). Undersigned then voiced to assisting units in the area to contact the black male who was walking away from the vehicle.

Officer Smith and assisting units attempted to contact the male on the sidewalk in front of 830 Kennedy St Northwest, where he had joined a group of 3 other males. Officers called out to the male asking him to answer a few questions. As officers approached, the male started to distance himself from the group by walking quickly toward an alley on the far side of the building. Officers called to the male to stop, at which point he broke into a run and turned into the side alley. Officers followed the male into the alley. Three additional officers, including the undersigned officer, were notified of the male’s flight. This group of additional officers positioned themselves at the opposite mouth of the alley from where the male entered. 

The undersigned officer initiated a citizen contact with the male and restrained him inside of the alley. The undersigned officer informed him that he was stopped because the officers intended to conduct a traffic stop on his vehicle based on his observed vehicle operation. The officers then asked the male if the vehicle in question was his car, to which the male nodded and stated he had just gotten off work and was here to see his people. 

Officers then walked the male back towards the parked vehicle. The male was then asked if he had any identification, and he stated that he did. Officer Smith then retrieved a District of Columbia Driver’s License from the male, who confirmed that the identification was his. The male was then identified by a District of Columbia driver’s license as Jaden Brown, who will be referred to herein as the suspect. 

Further investigation at the scene revealed that the vehicle was registered to the suspect and that the front license plate also had an aftermarket cover affixed, which inhibited the officers’ ability to identify the vehicle. Officers photographed the vehicle's exterior, including both license plates. Officers then placed the suspect under arrest for the offense of “Use of unidentified vehicle.” After waiting for half an hour for a transport vehicle, the suspect was transported to the Fourth District for processing.

Following the suspect’s transport to the Fourth District, officers on scene requested the assistance of a firearms-trained K9 and handler to conduct a sweep of the vehicle. MPD K9 #4 responded to the scene at 2030 hours with K9 partner Felix to assist. MPD #4 and K9 partner Felix then conducted a sweep of the vehicle, during which K9 Felix gave a trained alert for the presence of firearm-related materials.

Based upon the positive alert, officers on scene had probable cause to search the suspect’s vehicle. Officers obtained the suspect’s vehicle keys from his prisoner’s property. Officers used the fob to unlock the vehicle. The vehicle’s interior was then photographed, and a search was conducted.

During the search of the vehicle, Officer Smith opened the center armrest and observed a black handgun concealed inside. The firearm was photographed in place and was then recovered with a gloved hand by Officer Smith, who secured the firearm for transport to the Fourth District Station for initial processing. A further search of the vehicle revealed a Virginia registration confirming that the vehicle was registered to the suspect. Based upon the discovery of the firearm in the center console of the suspect’s vehicle, the suspect was additionally charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (Prior Felony).