Los Angeles County / 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 1,297 employees with median total compensation of $178,093; the highest distinct record was $714,318.
What the records show
These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.
How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 1,297 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($178,093) — 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 $346,409 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $55,488. 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.
Record list
Highest-paid first / page 1
Public Defender/Public Defender
Ricardo Garcia holds the role of Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $714,318.
Chief Deputy Public Defender (Uc)/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Justine Esack serves as a Chief Deputy Public Defender (Uc). Their 2025 pay totaled $630,886.
Division Chf,Public Def/Public Defender
Luis Rodriguez works as a Division Chf,Public Def for Public Defender. Luis earned $569,960 in 2025.
Assistant Public Defender (Uc)/Public Defender
Robert Kayne works as a Assistant Public Defender (Uc) for Public Defender. Robert earned $567,946 in 2025.
Assistant Public Defender (Uc)/Public Defender
Marco Saenz works as a Assistant Public Defender (Uc) for Public Defender. Marco earned $564,062 in 2025.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Albert Menaster works as a Head Deputy,Public Defender for Public Defender. Albert earned $557,679 in 2025.
Assistant Public Defender (Uc)/Public Defender
Candis Glover works as a Assistant Public Defender (Uc) for Public Defender. Candis earned $532,016 in 2025.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Casey Lilienfeld serves as a Head Deputy,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $518,064.
Assistant Public Defender (Uc)/Public Defender
Graciela Martinez is a Assistant Public Defender (Uc) at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $517,864.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Sean Mc Donald works as a Head Deputy,Public Defender for Public Defender. Sean earned $515,171 in 2025.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Gregory Mc Cambridge serves as a Head Deputy,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $511,182.
Assistant Public Defender (Uc)/Public Defender
Traci Blackburn holds the role of Assistant Public Defender (Uc) at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $509,311.
Division Chief, Public Defender (Uc)/Public Defender
Monnica Thelen works as a Division Chief, Public Defender (Uc) for Public Defender. Monnica earned $498,941 in 2025.
Assistant Public Defender (Uc)/Public Defender
Haydeh Takasugi is a Assistant Public Defender (Uc) at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $494,676.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Sanders Smith is a Head Deputy,Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $492,909.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Crisostomo Mercurio Jr. holds the role of Head Deputy,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $477,407.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Debra Werbel works as a Head Deputy,Public Defender for Public Defender. Debra earned $475,083 in 2025.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Mary Tennant works as a Head Deputy,Public Defender for Public Defender. Mary earned $470,476 in 2025.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Kimberly Canter holds the role of Head Deputy,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $465,458.
Assistant Public Defender (Uc)/Public Defender
John Mathews is a Assistant Public Defender (Uc) at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $465,113.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Kristoffer Mc Farren holds the role of Head Deputy,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $464,230.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Christina Behle serves as a Head Deputy,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $455,929.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Marcus Huntley holds the role of Head Deputy,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $446,294.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Jacques Cain holds the role of Head Deputy,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $445,633.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Aparna Voleti holds the role of Head Deputy,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $444,216.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Julia Knox serves as a Head Deputy,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $440,491.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Kelly O'Brien serves as a Head Deputy,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $438,123.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Angela Cheung serves as a Head Deputy,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $429,452.
Special Counsel,District Attorney/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Shelan Joseph serves as a Special Counsel,District Attorney. Their 2025 pay totaled $424,954.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Reema Khan is a Head Deputy,Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $424,755.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Rodolfo Navarro holds the role of Head Deputy,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $422,755.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Jacqueline Giedzinski is a Head Deputy,Public Defender at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $417,220.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Samuel Leonard serves as a Head Deputy,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $416,036.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
Johan El-Farra holds the role of Head Deputy,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $409,683.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Robin Ginsburg serves as a Head Deputy,Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $396,887.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
John Henderson is a Deputy Public Defender IV at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $391,757.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Kimberly Greene holds the role of Deputy Public Defender IV at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $391,006.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Todd Montrose holds the role of Deputy Public Defender IV at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $390,140.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Maceo Lewis works as a Deputy Public Defender IV for Public Defender. Maceo earned $390,086 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender IV/Public Defender
Gregory Hoegee is a Deputy Public Defender IV at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $389,873.