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 30
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Valentin Rada is a Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $57,767.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Terri Foster is a Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $57,728.
Head Deputy,Public Defender/Public Defender
John Alan works as a Head Deputy,Public Defender for Public Defender. John earned $56,766 in 2025.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Ronald Slack holds the role of Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $55,731.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Laine Kontos serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $55,663.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Gabriel Martinez holds the role of Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $55,488.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Russell Moore holds the role of Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $54,124.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Evan Franzel holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $53,699.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Vu Trinh holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $51,510.
Student Professional Worker, Information Technician/Public Defender
Issac Kim works as a Student Professional Worker, Information Technician for Public Defender. Issac earned $51,013 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Cynthia Hollos-Henkin holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $50,845.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Diane Wiseman serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $50,770.
Mental Health Clinical Supervisor/Public Defender
Haidee Cuasim is a Mental Health Clinical Supervisor at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $48,698.
Intermediate Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Rafael Ruelas serves as a Intermediate Typist-Clerk. Their 2025 pay totaled $47,456.
Senior Paralegal/Public Defender
Oxana Kotler is a Senior Paralegal at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $46,488.
Senior Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
Valerie Robinson is a Senior Legal Office Support Assistant at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $46,141.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Paul Golub holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $45,876.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Roger Whitenhill serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $45,876.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Ara Injejikian holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $44,798.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Hope Vannorsdall holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $44,393.
Legal Office Support Assistant I/Public Defender
Erkan Terzioglu works as a Legal Office Support Assistant I for Public Defender. Erkan earned $44,209 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Jennifer Toole serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $43,053.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Alexander Mark works as a Deputy Public Defender II for Public Defender. Alexander earned $41,611 in 2025.
Student Professional Worker I/Public Defender
Yesenia Coronado is a Student Professional Worker I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $41,588.
Intermediate Typist-Clerk/Public Defender
Lorraine Lira works as a Intermediate Typist-Clerk for Public Defender. Lorraine earned $40,740 in 2025.
Student Professional Worker I/Public Defender
Briana Rubio works as a Student Professional Worker I for Public Defender. Briana earned $40,449 in 2025.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Mariapaola Santacruz Castro serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $39,747.
Investigator III, Public Defender/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Jay Komosinski serves as a Investigator III, Public Defender. Their 2025 pay totaled $39,046.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Eric Linzer serves as a Deputy Public Defender II. Their 2025 pay totaled $37,959.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Desirae Ibarra works as a Deputy Public Defender I for Public Defender. Desirae earned $36,203 in 2025.
Student Professional Worker I/Public Defender
Clarissa Alvarez is a Student Professional Worker I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $36,077.
Deputy Public Defender II/Public Defender
Dana Plummer holds the role of Deputy Public Defender II at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $35,478.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
Mumbi Ngugi is a Deputy Public Defender I at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $34,131.
Senior Law Clerk/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Donald Bullock serves as a Senior Law Clerk. Their 2025 pay totaled $33,313.
Student Professional Worker, Information Technician/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Bavley Mobarak serves as a Student Professional Worker, Information Technician. Their 2025 pay totaled $32,912.
Investigator Ii,Public Defender/Public Defender
Carolyn Mehrtens holds the role of Investigator Ii,Public Defender at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $30,743.
Deputy Public Defender III/Public Defender
Marianna Sinanyan holds the role of Deputy Public Defender III at Public Defender. In 2025, their total compensation was $30,448.
Deputy Public Defender I/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Jenna Won serves as a Deputy Public Defender I. Their 2025 pay totaled $30,338.
Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant/Public Defender
At Public Defender, Felisa Dizon serves as a Supvg Legal Office Support Assistant. Their 2025 pay totaled $30,114.
Law Clerk/Public Defender
Karen Khukoyan is a Law Clerk at Public Defender. 2025 total compensation came to $29,441.