Arkansas / AR Public Defender Commission

Agency file

AR Public Defender Commission

Source file: Arkansas — State Employee Compensation / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The AR Public Defender Commission handles legal functions of government — prosecution, legal advice, and representing the state in court.

In 2026, this agency had 389 employees with median total compensation of $59,625; the highest distinct record was $182,485.

Year: 2026
Total payroll: $28.4M
Employees: 389
Median total: $59,625
Highest record: $182,485

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$21,486$151,435+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How 2026 total compensation is spread across the 389 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($59,625) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $72,981 (100%)
Overtime — $0 (0%)
Other — $0 (0%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

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.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$40,000

$51,343

$59,625

$88,790

$127,085

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $127,085 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $40,000. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Public Defender II

93 · $53,152

Public Defender I

74 · $47,245

Public Defender III

69 · $114,390

Legal Support Specialist

63 · $52,137

Chief Public Defender I

33 · $135,704

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

Employees

Page 1

Lott Iv

Chief Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$63,705

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $63,705
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $63,705
Hire date: 01-02-1998
Pay grade: Spc09
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095070

At AR Public Defender Commission, Lott Iv serves as a Chief Public Defender I within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 01-02-1998, working 0.5 FTE. Their 2026 pay totaled $63,705. They are classified at grade Spc09.

Steven Higgins

Public Defender II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$63,001

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $63,001
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $63,001
Hire date: 10-13-2014
Pay grade: Spc05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD04P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095114

Steven Higgins holds the role of Public Defender II at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 10-13-2014 as a 0.5 FTE employee. In 2026, their total compensation was $63,001. Their pay grade is Spc05.

George Iv

Chief Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$62,914

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $62,914
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $62,914
Hire date: 07-20-2015
Pay grade: Spc09
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095070

George Iv works as a Chief Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 07-20-2015 as a 0.5 FTE employee. George earned $62,914 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc09.

Deborah Andrade

Interpreter/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$62,396

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $62,396
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $62,396
Hire date: 07-09-2007
Pay grade: Sgs07
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: CPR04I
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22142759

At AR Public Defender Commission, Deborah Andrade serves as a Interpreter within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 07-09-2007. Their 2026 pay totaled $62,396. They are classified at grade Sgs07.

Robert Thompson

Administrative Analyst/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$62,209

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $62,209
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $62,209
Hire date: 06-30-2014
Pay grade: Sgs05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: PAS01P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22168753

At AR Public Defender Commission, Robert Thompson serves as a Administrative Analyst within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 06-30-2014. Their 2026 pay totaled $62,209. They are classified at grade Sgs05.

Kari Thompson

Legal Support Specialist/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$61,837

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $61,837
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $61,837
Hire date: 06-08-2015
Pay grade: Sgs06
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: ILS03I
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095165

At AR Public Defender Commission, Kari Thompson serves as a Legal Support Specialist within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 06-08-2015. Their 2026 pay totaled $61,837. They are classified at grade Sgs06.

Karen Maus

Investigator II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$61,765

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $61,765
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $61,765
Hire date: 09-19-2011
Pay grade: Sgs05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: IIV03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22154566

Karen Maus holds the role of Investigator II at AR Public Defender Commission within State Government Services. Their hire date on record is 09-19-2011. In 2026, their total compensation was $61,765. Their pay grade is Sgs05.

William Jr

Public Defender II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$60,964

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $60,964
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $60,964
Hire date: 04-01-1979
Pay grade: Spc05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD04P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184484

William Jr holds the role of Public Defender II at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 04-01-1979 as a 0.5 FTE employee. In 2026, their total compensation was $60,964. Their pay grade is Spc05.

Latwanda Evans

Legal Support Specialist/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$60,914

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $60,914
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $60,914
Hire date: 12-18-2005
Pay grade: Sgs06
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: ILS03I
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22142760

At AR Public Defender Commission, Latwanda Evans serves as a Legal Support Specialist within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 12-18-2005. Their 2026 pay totaled $60,914. They are classified at grade Sgs06.

Clay Janske

Public Defender III/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$60,806

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $60,806
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $60,806
Hire date: 10-01-2001
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD05P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095133

Clay Janske holds the role of Public Defender III at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 10-01-2001 as a 0.5 FTE employee. In 2026, their total compensation was $60,806. Their pay grade is Spc08.

Ronald Kelsay

Public Defender II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$60,806

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $60,806
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $60,806
Hire date: 10-20-2003
Pay grade: Spc05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD04P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095160

At AR Public Defender Commission, Ronald Kelsay serves as a Public Defender II within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 10-20-2003, working 0.5 FTE. Their 2026 pay totaled $60,806. They are classified at grade Spc05.

Ebony Gulley

Public Defender III/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$60,638

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $60,638
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $60,638
Hire date: 09-04-2014
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD05P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095162

Ebony Gulley works as a Public Defender III for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 09-04-2014 as a 0.5 FTE employee. Ebony earned $60,638 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc08.

Cynthia Witherell

Fiscal Support Coordinator/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$59,993

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $59,993
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,993
Hire date: 01-06-2005
Pay grade: Sgs06
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: FFS02P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22168742

At AR Public Defender Commission, Cynthia Witherell serves as a Fiscal Support Coordinator within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 01-06-2005. Their 2026 pay totaled $59,993. They are classified at grade Sgs06.

Christopher Jester

Public Defender III/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$59,908

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $59,908
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,908
Hire date: 01-19-2010
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD05P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095116

Christopher Jester works as a Public Defender III for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 01-19-2010 as a 0.5 FTE employee. Christopher earned $59,908 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc08.

Christopher Hays

Public Defender III/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$59,647

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $59,647
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,647
Hire date: 11-07-2006
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD05P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184483

At AR Public Defender Commission, Christopher Hays serves as a Public Defender III within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 11-07-2006, working 0.5 FTE. Their 2026 pay totaled $59,647. They are classified at grade Spc08.

Rodney Chedister

Public Defender II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$59,647

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $59,647
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,647
Hire date: 12-26-2006
Pay grade: Spc05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD04P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184475

Rodney Chedister holds the role of Public Defender II at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 12-26-2006 as a 0.5 FTE employee. In 2026, their total compensation was $59,647. Their pay grade is Spc05.

Dan Hancock

Public Defender III/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$59,625

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $59,625
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,625
Hire date: 07-10-2003
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD05P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095116

Dan Hancock works as a Public Defender III for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 07-10-2003 as a 0.5 FTE employee. Dan earned $59,625 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc08.

Otto Fry

Public Defender III/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$59,625

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $59,625
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,625
Hire date: 09-09-2002
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD05P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095069

Otto Fry holds the role of Public Defender III at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 09-09-2002 as a 0.5 FTE employee. In 2026, their total compensation was $59,625. Their pay grade is Spc08.