Minnesota / Public Defense Board

Agency file

Public Defense Board

Source file: Minnesota — State Employee Payroll / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The Public Defense Board is a government agency that delivers public services and programs within its jurisdiction.

In 2025, this agency had 1,087 employees with median total compensation of $99,952; the highest distinct record was $322,368.

Year: 2025
Total payroll: $110.1M
Employees: 1,087
Median total: $99,952
Highest record: $322,368

What the records show

Compensation analytics

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

Salary distribution

$110$187,632+

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

How 2025 total compensation is spread across the 1,087 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($99,952) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $100,213 (99%)
Overtime — $12 (0%)
Other — $1,040 (1%)
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

$28,353

$77,459

$99,952

$129,210

$161,688

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $161,688 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $28,353. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Public Defense Assistant Attorney

597 · $110,528

Legal Office Assistant

104 · $72,426

Public Defense Law Clerk

97 · $4,405

Public Defense Managing Attrny

69 · $173,033

Public Defense Investigator

63 · $92,976

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.

Trend

Year over year

How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 2 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2024	$97.2M —	1,069 —	$89,412 —
2025	$110.1M ▲ 13.3%	1,087 ▲ 1.7%	$99,952 ▲ 11.8%

Record list

Employees

Page 4

Elizabeth Hiljus

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,893

Sub-department: Tenth Judicial District 4
Base pay: $157,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,893
Hire date: 1996-04-15
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Anoka

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

Elizabeth Hiljus works as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney for Public Defense Board within Tenth Judicial District 4. They have served since 1996 (about 29 years) as a full-time employee. Elizabeth earned $157,893 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Bret Nelson

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,893

Sub-department: Tenth Judicial District 2
Base pay: $157,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,893
Hire date: 1995-03-08
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Anoka

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

Bret Nelson works as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney for Public Defense Board within Tenth Judicial District 2. Hired in 1995, they have about 30 years of service as a full-time employee. Bret earned $157,893 in 2025. Union affiliation: Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Schan Sorkness

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,893

Sub-department: Seventh District-Fergus Falls
Base pay: $157,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,893
Hire date: 1994-12-28
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: 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: Hourly

At Public Defense Board, Schan Sorkness serves as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney within Seventh District-Fergus Falls. They have served since 1994 (about 31 years), working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $157,893. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Soren Petrek

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,893

Sub-department: First Judicial District
Base pay: $157,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,893
Hire date: 1994-05-04
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

Soren Petrek works as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney for Public Defense Board within First Judicial District. Hired in 1994, they have about 31 years of service as a full-time employee. Soren earned $157,893 in 2025. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Lara Whiteside

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,893

Sub-department: Sixth Judicial District
Base pay: $157,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,893
Hire date: 1994-08-09
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: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Lara Whiteside is a Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Sixth Judicial District. Hired in 1994, they have about 31 years of service, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $157,893. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Peter Plunkett

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,893

Sub-department: Third District FT
Base pay: $157,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,893
Hire date: 1992-12-30
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: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Peter Plunkett works as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney for Public Defense Board within Third District Ft. Their tenure dates to 1992, about 33 years as a full-time employee. Peter earned $157,893 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Rochelle Winn

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,893

Sub-department: State Public Defender
Base pay: $157,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,893
Hire date: 1992-09-02
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
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: Hourly

Rochelle Winn holds the role of Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within State Public Defender. Their tenure dates to 1992, about 33 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $157,893. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Steven Russett

Public Defense Managing Attrny/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,893

Sub-department: State Public Defender
Base pay: $157,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,893
Hire date: 1984-08-01
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Unrep Personnel
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Ramsey

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2025: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 308
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Steven Russett works as a Public Defense Managing Attrny for Public Defense Board within State Public Defender. Their tenure dates to 1984, about 41 years as a full-time employee. Steven earned $157,893 in 2025. Union affiliation: Public Defense-Unrep Personnel.

Daniel Provencher

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,893

Sub-department: J52D426 - Felony 2
Base pay: $157,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,893
Hire date: 2013-08-19
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

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

At Public Defense Board, Daniel Provencher serves as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney within J52D426 - Felony 2. Their tenure dates to 2013, about 12 years, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $157,893. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Melanie Dotty

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,817

Sub-department: Ninth District - Brainerd
Base pay: $157,817
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,817
Hire date: 1997-03-03
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Beltrami

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

Melanie Dotty holds the role of Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Ninth District - Brainerd. Their tenure dates to 1997, about 28 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $157,817. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Adrianne Mcmahon

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,741

Sub-department: Tenth Judicial District 2
Base pay: $157,741
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,741
Hire date: 2009-03-04
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Anoka

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

At Public Defense Board, Adrianne Mcmahon serves as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney within Tenth Judicial District 2. Hired in 2009, they have about 16 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $157,741. Union affiliation: Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Kristine Maclean

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,665

Sub-department: Fifth Judicial District 1
Base pay: $157,665
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,665
Hire date: 2000-06-05
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

Kristine Maclean holds the role of Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Fifth Judicial District 1. Hired in 2000, they have about 25 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $157,665. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Ann Marcotte

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$157,286

Sub-department: Ninth Dist - Grand Rpd FT 2
Base pay: $157,286
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,286
Hire date: 2000-08-17
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Beltrami

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

Ann Marcotte holds the role of Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Ninth District - Grand Rpd Ft 2. Their tenure dates to 2000, about 25 years as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $157,286. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.