Minnesota / Public Defense Board / Public Defense Assistant Attorney

Job-title file

Public Defense Assistant Attorney

Provide legal advice, draft and review documents, and represent the agency in legal matters.

648 employees hold this title in Public Defense Board. Median total compensation for the role is $109,226, above the department median of $99,952.

Employees: 648
Total payroll: $71.3M
Role median: $109,226
Agency median: $99,952
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$3,762$161,688+

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

How total compensation varies among the 648 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Madison White

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$66,285

Sub-department: Tenth Judicial District
Base pay: $66,285
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $66,285
Hire date: 2024-01-17
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Bi-Weekly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.75
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Bi-Weekly

Madison White is a Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Tenth Judicial District. They have served since 2024 (about a year), working part-time, 0.75 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $66,285. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Dare Sims

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$66,285

Sub-department: Seventh Judicial District
Base pay: $66,285
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $66,285
Hire date: 2022-10-05
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Bi-Weekly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.75
Work county: Stearns

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Bi-Weekly

Dare Sims holds the role of Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Seventh Judicial District. Hired in 2022, they have about 3 years of service as a part-time, 0.75 FTE employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $66,285. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Kelly Martinez

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$65,890

Sub-department: Third Judicial District
Base pay: $59,513
Overtime: $911
Other pay: $5,466
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $65,890
Hire date: 2012-07-18
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Olmsted

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Kelly Martinez holds the role of Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Third Judicial District. They have served since 2012 (about 13 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $65,890. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Gabe Zempel

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$65,515

Sub-department: Fifth Judicial District 1
Base pay: $65,515
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $65,515
Hire date: 2024-06-05
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Blue Earth

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Gabe Zempel holds the role of Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Fifth Judicial District 1. They have served since 2024 (about a year) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $65,515. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Sophia Holtz

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$65,195

Sub-department: Fifth Judicial District 1
Base pay: $65,195
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $65,195
Hire date: 2024-05-08
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Blue Earth

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Sophia Holtz holds the role of Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Fifth Judicial District 1. Hired in 2024, they have about a year of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $65,195. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Karla Valusek Strom

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$64,843

Sub-department: Second Judicial District
Base pay: $64,843
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $64,843
Hire date: 2008-08-18
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Bi-Weekly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Bi-Weekly

At Public Defense Board, Karla Valusek Strom serves as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney within Second Judicial District. Their tenure dates to 2008, about 17 years, working part-time, 0.5 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $64,843. Union affiliation: Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Sean Morris

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$61,970

Sub-department: Fifth Judicial District 1
Base pay: $55,473
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $6,497
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $61,970
Hire date: 2023-02-15
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Blue Earth

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Sean Morris works as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney for Public Defense Board within Fifth Judicial District 1. They have served since 2023 (about 2 years) as a full-time employee. Sean earned $61,970 in 2025. Union affiliation: Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Ushna Altaf

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$60,955

Sub-department: First Judicial District
Base pay: $60,955
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $60,955
Hire date: 2023-05-24
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Ushna Altaf is a Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within First Judicial District. Their tenure dates to 2023, about 2 years, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $60,955. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Michael Sandy

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$60,829

Sub-department: Fifth Judicial District
Base pay: $60,829
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $60,829
Hire date: 2021-05-12
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Bi-Weekly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5
Work county: Blue Earth

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Bi-Weekly

Michael Sandy works as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney for Public Defense Board within Fifth Judicial District. Hired in 2021, they have about 4 years of service as a part-time, 0.5 FTE employee. Michael earned $60,829 in 2025. Union affiliation: Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Aaron Kinser

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$60,829

Sub-department: Fifth Judicial District
Base pay: $60,829
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $60,829
Hire date: 2010-10-27
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Bi-Weekly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.5
Work county: Blue Earth

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Bi-Weekly

Aaron Kinser works as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney for Public Defense Board within Fifth Judicial District. Their tenure dates to 2010, about 15 years as a part-time, 0.5 FTE employee. Aaron earned $60,829 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Luke Smith

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2024 total comp

$60,216

Sub-department: Tenth Judicial District
Base pay: $60,216
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $60,216
Hire date: 2023-05-10
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Bi-Weekly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 0.75
Work county: Anoka

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Bi-Weekly

Luke Smith holds the role of Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Tenth Judicial District. Hired in 2023, they have about a year of service as a part-time, 0.75 FTE employee. In 2024, their total compensation was $60,216. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Michael Ryan

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$59,051

Sub-department: Sixth Judicial District
Base pay: $39,196
Overtime: $2,640
Other pay: $17,215
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $59,051
Hire date: 2012-08-28
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: St Louis

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: No
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Michael Ryan is a Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Sixth Judicial District. They have served since 2012 (about 13 years), working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $59,051. Union affiliation: Public Defense - Asst Attorney.