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

Dorothy Dickinson

HR Manager/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$91,834

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $91,834
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $91,834
Hire date: 12-02-2007
Pay grade: Spc04
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: HDH06C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22078114

At AR Public Defender Commission, Dorothy Dickinson serves as a HR Manager within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 12-02-2007. Their 2026 pay totaled $91,834. They are classified at grade Spc04.

Conrad Jr

Public Defender I/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$91,546

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $91,546
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $91,546
Hire date: 07-03-2022
Pay grade: Spc03
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD03P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22184508

Conrad Jr works as a Public Defender I for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 07-03-2022. Conrad earned $91,546 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc03.

Leslie Borgognoni

Public Defender III/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$90,729

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $90,729
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,729
Hire date: 10-26-2005
Pay grade: Spc08
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.75

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD05P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22179047

Leslie Borgognoni works as a Public Defender III for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 10-26-2005 as a 0.75 FTE employee. Leslie earned $90,729 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc08.

Andrew Vess

Public Defender II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$89,562

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $89,562
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $89,562
Hire date: 06-03-2018
Pay grade: Spc05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD04P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22164325

Andrew Vess works as a Public Defender II for AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 06-03-2018. Andrew earned $89,562 in 2026. Their pay grade is Spc05.

Kevin Thomas

Investigations Manager/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$88,790

Sub-department: State Government Services
Base pay: $88,790
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $88,790
Hire date: 07-17-2008
Pay grade: Sgs09
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: IIV01C
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22180657

Kevin Thomas is a Investigations Manager at AR Public Defender Commission within State Government Services. Records show a hire date of 07-17-2008. 2026 total compensation came to $88,790. They are classified at grade Sgs09.

Jessica Escalante

Public Defender II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$87,914

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $87,914
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,914
Hire date: 05-01-2023
Pay grade: Spc05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD04P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22158473

Jessica Escalante holds the role of Public Defender II at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 05-01-2023. In 2026, their total compensation was $87,914. Their pay grade is Spc05.

Cody Bassham

Public Defender II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$87,721

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $87,721
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,721
Hire date: 11-28-2016
Pay grade: Spc05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LPD04P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095093

Cody Bassham is a Public Defender II at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Records show a hire date of 11-28-2016. 2026 total compensation came to $87,721. They are classified at grade Spc05.

Elizabeth James

Attorney II/AR Public Defender Commission

2026 total comp

$86,865

Sub-department: Specialized Services
Base pay: $86,865
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,865
Hire date: 01-01-2024
Pay grade: Spc05
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Job Classification Code: LAT04P
Pay Scale Type: Classified
Position Number: 22095099

Elizabeth James holds the role of Attorney II at AR Public Defender Commission within Specialized Services. Their hire date on record is 01-01-2024. In 2026, their total compensation was $86,865. Their pay grade is Spc05.