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

Samantha Fisher

Investigator II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$70,148

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $70,148
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $70,148
Hire date: 07-24-2022
Pay grade: Sgs05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: IIV03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22094988

Samantha Fisher is a Investigator II at AR Public Defender Commission within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 07-24-2022. 2026 total compensation came to $70,148. They are classified at grade Sgs05.

James Jr

Investigator II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$69,931

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $69,931
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $69,931
Hire date: 01-05-1998
Pay grade: Sgs05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: IIV03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095148

At AR Public Defender Commission, James Jr serves as a Investigator II within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 01-05-1998. Their 2026 pay totaled $69,931. They are classified at grade Sgs05.

Curtis Tate

Investigator II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$69,931

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $69,931
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $69,931
Hire date: 07-29-2007
Pay grade: Sgs05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: IIV03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22168751

Curtis Tate is a Investigator II at AR Public Defender Commission within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 07-29-2007. 2026 total compensation came to $69,931. They are classified at grade Sgs05.

Lance Bratton

Administrative Analyst/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$69,315

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $69,315
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $69,315
Hire date: 01-02-1998
Pay grade: Sgs05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: PAS01P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22142758

At AR Public Defender Commission, Lance Bratton serves as a Administrative Analyst within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 01-02-1998. Their 2026 pay totaled $69,315. They are classified at grade Sgs05.

Anita Nuuja

Legal Support Specialist/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$69,315

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $69,315
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $69,315
Hire date: 01-02-1998
Pay grade: Sgs06
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: ILS03I
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22168741

Anita Nuuja holds the role of Legal Support Specialist at AR Public Defender Commission within State Government Services. Their hire date on record is 01-02-1998. In 2026, their total compensation was $69,315. Their pay grade is Sgs06.

Heather Birch

Investigator II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$68,943

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $68,943
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $68,943
Hire date: 06-23-1992
Pay grade: Sgs05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: IIV03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22094989

Heather Birch is a Investigator II at AR Public Defender Commission within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 06-23-1992. 2026 total compensation came to $68,943. They are classified at grade Sgs05.

Tyler Green

Investigator II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$68,943

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $68,943
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $68,943
Hire date: 04-03-2000
Pay grade: Sgs05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: IIV03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22133553

Tyler Green holds the role of Investigator II at AR Public Defender Commission within State Government Services. Their hire date on record is 04-03-2000. In 2026, their total compensation was $68,943. Their pay grade is Sgs05.

James Wyatt

Chief Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$68,834

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $68,834
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $68,834
Hire date: 01-25-2016
Pay grade: Spc09
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22079201

At AR Public Defender Commission, James Wyatt serves as a Chief Public Defender I within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 01-25-2016, working 0.5 FTE. Their 2026 pay totaled $68,834. They are classified at grade Spc09.

Bart Ziegenhorn

Chief Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$67,750

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $67,750
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,750
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: 22095154

Bart Ziegenhorn holds the role of Chief Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 01-02-1998 as a 0.5 FTE employee. In 2026, their total compensation was $67,750. Their pay grade is Spc09.

Steve Jr

Chief Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$67,750

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $67,750
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,750
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: 22079201

Steve Jr is a Chief Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 01-02-1998, working 0.5 FTE. 2026 total compensation came to $67,750. They are classified at grade Spc09.

Sheri Ellerbee

Administrative Supervisor/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$67,394

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $67,394
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $67,394
Hire date: 09-28-2015
Pay grade: Sgs06
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: PAS04C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095106

Sheri Ellerbee works as a Administrative Supervisor for AR Public Defender Commission within State Government Services. Their hire date on record is 09-28-2015. Sheri earned $67,394 in 2026. Their pay grade is Sgs06.

Gregory Crain

Public Defender III/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$66,887

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $66,887
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $66,887
Hire date: 02-03-2002
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD05P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095071

At AR Public Defender Commission, Gregory Crain serves as a Public Defender III within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 02-03-2002, working 0.5 FTE. Their 2026 pay totaled $66,887. They are classified at grade Spc08.

Kerry Bratton

Legal Support Specialist/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$66,823

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $66,823
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $66,823
Hire date: 06-13-2015
Pay grade: Sgs06
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: ILS03I
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22181901

Kerry Bratton is a Legal Support Specialist at AR Public Defender Commission within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 06-13-2015. 2026 total compensation came to $66,823. They are classified at grade Sgs06.

Danny Okelley

Investigator II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$66,455

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $66,455
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $66,455
Hire date: 08-12-2019
Pay grade: Sgs05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: IIV03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095042

Danny Okelley holds the role of Investigator II at AR Public Defender Commission within State Government Services. Their hire date on record is 08-12-2019. In 2026, their total compensation was $66,455. Their pay grade is Sgs05.

Virginia Kulpanowski

Investigator II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$65,300

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $65,300
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $65,300
Hire date: 05-12-2002
Pay grade: Sgs05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: IIV03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22168749

At AR Public Defender Commission, Virginia Kulpanowski serves as a Investigator II within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 05-12-2002. Their 2026 pay totaled $65,300. They are classified at grade Sgs05.

Robert Golden

Chief Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$65,144

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $65,144
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $65,144
Hire date: 09-14-2003
Pay grade: Spc09
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095154

Robert Golden is a Chief Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 09-14-2003, working 0.5 FTE. 2026 total compensation came to $65,144. They are classified at grade Spc09.