Assistant United States Attorney (Appellate)

Summary

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma is seeking experienced, motivated attorneys to join our Criminal Division. This announcement is used to fill immediate vacancies with multiple cut-off dates, and may be used to fill other permanent appointments and vacancies. This announcement is open thru Wednesday Dec 16, 2026. First cutoff Tuesday Sept 22, 2026, and as needed until positions are filled or cutoff date is met. This position is located in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Duties

The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma (USAOKE) is seeking an experienced, motivated, and prosecution-minded attorney to join the Appellate team in our Criminal Division. This United States Attorney's Office serves as the chief federal law enforcement office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and is accountable to the citizens of the Eastern District for pursuing justice, ensuring public safety, enforcing the law, protecting the interests of the United States, and exercising stewardship of the government's resources. The Eastern District is comprised of 26 counties in eastern and southern Oklahoma, ranging from southeast of Tulsa, Oklahoma to the Texas border and from the Arkansas border to Carter County on the west. The headquarters of the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole) are located in the District. Due to the 2020 Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma and its progeny, the entire Eastern District of Oklahoma is Indian Country and the USAOKE has jurisdiction to prosecute major crimes committed by or against members of a federally recognized Indian tribe. Appellate Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) litigate appeals and post-conviction matters in all criminal cases prosecuted in the office, including cases involving organized crime and gangs; public corruption; sophisticated white collar crime; violent crime; major drug offenses; child exploitation; criminal immigration offenses; and violent crime occurring within Indian Country. Appellate AUSAs draft appellate briefs and responses to post-conviction motions, argue appeals in the Tenth Circuit; consult with and advise Criminal Division AUSAs on issues arising in the pretrial and trial phases; review and edit documents drafted by others; assist in preparing other AUSAs for oral argument; research legal issues; and prepare appeal recommendations from adverse district court decisions for review by the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress. Residency Requirements: Assistant United States Attorneys generally must reside in the district to which he or she is appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district-specific information. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and have at least 1* year post-J.D. legal or other relevant experience. United States citizenship is required. Preferred Qualifications: Ideal candidates will have 3 or more years of post-J.D. experience, including criminal prosecution experience and appellate clerkship, outstanding academic record, and prior AUSA experience are preferred but not required. Candidates should be able to demonstrate proficiency and excellence in drafting briefs, researching and analyzing complex legal issues, and arguing cases in trial and appellate courts. Ideal candidates will also have strong background in issues commonly arising in federal criminal cases and collateral proceedings, to include constitutional challenges arising under the Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Amendments: 28 U.S.C. § 2255; applicable rules of evidence and criminal procedure; discovery and disclosure doctrine; sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines; and U.S. Supreme Court and Tenth Circuit precedent in these areas. Appellate AUSAs are expected to have superior organizational and public presentation abilities, to be motivated by a strong commitment to public service, and to contribute to the training and professional development of other AUSAs. You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.

Education

Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree