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

Elizabeth Armstrong

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$80,644

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $80,644
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,644
Hire date: 01-01-2013
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22079168

Elizabeth Armstrong is a Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 01-01-2013. 2026 total compensation came to $80,644. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Lynmarie Liberty-Ellington

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$80,000

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $80,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,000
Hire date: 02-25-2025
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184492

Lynmarie Liberty-Ellington is a Public Defender I at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 02-25-2025. 2026 total compensation came to $80,000. They are classified at grade Spc03.

Patricia Ashford

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$78,754

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $78,754
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,754
Hire date: 09-30-2024
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22142761

Patricia Ashford works as a Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 09-30-2024. Patricia earned $78,754 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc03.

Brandon Purchase

IT Security Analyst I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$78,507

Sub-department: INFORMATION SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY
Base pay: $78,507
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,507
Hire date: 05-06-2019
Pay grade: Ist06
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: IIE02P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095045

Brandon Purchase holds the role of IT Security Analyst I at AR Public Defender Commission within Information Systems &Amp; Technology. Their hire date on record is 05-06-2019. In 2026, their total compensation was $78,507. Their pay grade is Ist06.

Audra Sargent

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$78,029

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $78,029
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,029
Hire date: 01-04-2021
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095077

Audra Sargent works as a Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 01-04-2021. Audra earned $78,029 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc03.