Allegheny County, Pennsylvania / Public Defender
Agency file
The Public Defender handles legal functions of government — prosecution, legal advice, and representing the state in court.
In 2025, this agency had 176 employees with median total compensation of $66,610; the highest distinct record was $119,612.
What the records show
These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.
How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 176 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($66,610) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.
What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.
The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $90,199 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $13,717. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).
The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.
Trend
How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 3 published years.
| Year | Total payroll | Employees | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $8.8M — | 160 — | $64,231 — |
| 2024 | $9.3M ▲ 5.0% | 161 ▲ 0.6% | $66,875 ▲ 4.1% |
| 2025 | $9.9M ▲ 6.5% | 176 ▲ 9.3% | $66,610 ▼ 0.4% |
Record list
Page 2
Manager-Trial/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Joshua R. Roberts is a Manager-Trial at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 3/14/2010. 2023 total compensation came to $80,074.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Sarah C Mcguire works as a Trial Defender 3 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 2/19/2019. Sarah earned $79,291 in 2025.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Joshua Guckert works as a Trial Defender 3 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 2/3/2020. Joshua earned $79,166 in 2025.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Michael M Finley serves as a Trial Defender 3. Records show a hire date of 3/11/2019. Their 2025 pay totaled $79,166.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Benjamin M Jackson holds the role of Trial Defender 3 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 8/5/2019. In 2025, their total compensation was $79,166.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Kevin Horne serves as a Trial Defender 3. Records show a hire date of 9/30/2019. Their 2025 pay totaled $79,166.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Luke J Wilson works as a Trial Defender 3 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 2/22/2016. Luke earned $79,166 in 2025.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Jeanne M Emhoff serves as a Trial Defender 3. Records show a hire date of 7/9/2018. Their 2025 pay totaled $79,166.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Taylor M Corn is a Trial Defender 3 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 6/23/2019. 2025 total compensation came to $79,166.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Bradley T Marscher works as a Trial Defender 3 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 6/5/2017. Bradley earned $79,166 in 2025.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Nicholas Weltz serves as a Trial Defender 4. Records show a hire date of 2/22/2021. Their 2025 pay totaled $79,112.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Rakeisha J. Martini serves as a Trial Defender 4. Records show a hire date of 1/19/2021. Their 2025 pay totaled $78,012.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Tirza Kyes holds the role of Trial Defender 3 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 12/21/2020. In 2025, their total compensation was $77,612.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Bobby Chambers holds the role of Trial Defender 3 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 3/22/2021. In 2025, their total compensation was $76,192.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Kevin W Lee holds the role of Trial Defender 3 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 12/2/2013. In 2023, their total compensation was $75,438.
Director/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Thomas M. Dugan holds the role of Director at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 2/20/2007. In 2023, their total compensation was $73,814.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Andrew Sherman is a Trial Defender 3 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 3/29/2021. 2025 total compensation came to $73,581.
Managing Attorney/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Brianna I Sulenski is a Managing Attorney at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 6/17/2019. 2023 total compensation came to $71,779.
Manager of Social Work/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Marcus Gaines-Cherry holds the role of Manager of Social Work at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 2/10/2025. In 2025, their total compensation was $71,278.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Alexa Glista is a Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 11/5/2023. 2025 total compensation came to $70,865.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Carissa A Davenport is a Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 10/24/2021. 2025 total compensation came to $70,590.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Sarah Hampton holds the role of Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 10/23/2022. In 2025, their total compensation was $70,465.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Lauren M Leiggi works as a Trial Defender 4 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 10/24/2021. Lauren earned $70,465 in 2025.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Megan M Shanklin works as a Trial Defender 4 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 11/5/2023. Megan earned $70,190 in 2025.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Cory Ricci serves as a Trial Defender 4. Records show a hire date of 5/22/2023. Their 2025 pay totaled $70,190.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Shala Barney is a Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 7/29/2024. 2025 total compensation came to $70,065.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Isabella Scassera works as a Trial Defender 4 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 10/21/2024. Isabella earned $70,065 in 2025.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Valerie Daigneault is a Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 11/5/2023. 2025 total compensation came to $69,790.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Isabella Bedard holds the role of Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 10/23/2022. In 2025, their total compensation was $69,665.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Theresa J. Mcevoy is a Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Records show a hire date of 12/3/2023. 2025 total compensation came to $69,665.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Annelise M Hanna serves as a Trial Defender 4. Records show a hire date of 10/24/2021. Their 2025 pay totaled $69,665.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Jayme Tocci holds the role of Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 10/21/2024. In 2025, their total compensation was $69,665.
Arraignment Attorney/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Reginald Bridges works as a Arraignment Attorney for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 4/22/2024. Reginald earned $69,615 in 2025.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Ashlynn S. Davis holds the role of Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 11/5/2023. In 2025, their total compensation was $69,265.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Felicia Dusha works as a Trial Defender 4 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 10/21/2024. Felicia earned $69,265 in 2025.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Kyle Donovan holds the role of Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 10/23/2022. In 2025, their total compensation was $69,265.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
At Public Defender, Celia M Dicarlo serves as a Trial Defender 4. Records show a hire date of 11/5/2023. Their 2025 pay totaled $68,990.
Trial Defender/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Rakeisha J. Foster works as a Trial Defender for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 1/19/2021. Rakeisha earned $68,928 in 2024.
Trial Defender 3/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Emily Balla works as a Trial Defender 3 for Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 9/23/2024. Emily earned $68,865 in 2025.
Trial Defender 4/Public Defender
Source-specific fields
Jordan Taylor holds the role of Trial Defender 4 at Public Defender. Their hire date on record is 12/19/2022. In 2025, their total compensation was $68,865.