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 1

Baylea Miller

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$46,463

Sub-department: Second District
Base pay: $35,489
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $10,974
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $46,463
Hire date: 2014-01-06
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: No
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, Baylea Miller serves as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney within Second District. Hired in 2014, they have about 11 years of service, working full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $46,463. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Jessica Bower

Legal Office Assistant/Public Defense Board

2024 total comp

$46,034

Sub-department: Fourth Judicial District FT
Base pay: $45,821
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $213
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $46,034
Hire date: 2019-09-04
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 5
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

At Public Defense Board, Jessica Bower serves as a Legal Office Assistant within Fourth Judicial District Ft. Their tenure dates to 2019, about 5 years, working full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $46,034. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense-Support Staff.

Arroyo Garcia-Torres

Legal Office Assistant/Public Defense Board

2024 total comp

$45,067

Sub-department: Fourth Judicial District FT
Base pay: $44,269
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $798
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $45,067
Hire date: 2023-06-01
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 5
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Arroyo Garcia-Torres is a Legal Office Assistant at Public Defense Board within Fourth Judicial District Ft. Hired in 2023, they have about a year of service, working full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $45,067. They are represented by Public Defense-Support Staff.

Amalia Ellison

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2024 total comp

$44,743

Sub-department: Sixth Judicial District
Base pay: $41,653
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,090
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $44,743
Hire date: 2023-09-13
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, 2024: No
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 300
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Amalia Ellison is a Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Sixth Judicial District. Hired in 2023, they have about a year of service, working full-time. 2024 total compensation came to $44,743. Union affiliation: Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Dianna Davis

Legal Office Assistant/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$44,395

Sub-department: Fourth Judicial District FT
Base pay: $44,395
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $44,395
Hire date: 2024-10-09
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 5
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
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: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Dianna Davis is a Legal Office Assistant at Public Defense Board within Fourth Judicial District Ft. Their tenure dates to 2024, about a year, working full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $44,395. Union affiliation: Public Defense-Support Staff.

Benjamin King

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2024 total comp

$43,557

Sub-department: First Judicial District
Base pay: $36,437
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $7,120
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,557
Hire date: 2002-09-30
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 1
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense - Asst Attorney
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Dakota

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: Hourly

At Public Defense Board, Benjamin King serves as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney within First Judicial District. They have served since 2002 (about 22 years), working full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $43,557. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Najma Yusuf

Legal Office Assistant/Public Defense Board

2024 total comp

$43,216

Sub-department: Fourth Judicial District FT
Base pay: $43,087
Overtime: $130
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,216
Hire date: 2022-07-06
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 5
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Hennepin

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: Yes
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Najma Yusuf holds the role of Legal Office Assistant at Public Defense Board within Fourth Judicial District Ft. Their tenure dates to 2022, about 2 years as a full-time employee. In 2024, their total compensation was $43,216. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense-Support Staff.

Thomas Godfrey

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$43,014

Sub-department: Second District
Base pay: $27,706
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $15,309
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $43,014
Hire date: 2018-06-13
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

Thomas Godfrey holds the role of Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Second District. They have served since 2018 (about 7 years) as a full-time employee. In 2025, their total compensation was $43,014. Union affiliation: Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Alicia Granse

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2024 total comp

$41,958

Sub-department: J52D043 - Felony 3
Base pay: $30,702
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $11,256
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $41,958
Hire date: 2017-05-31
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, 2024: No
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, Alicia Granse serves as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney within J52D043 - Felony 3. Their tenure dates to 2017, about 7 years, working full-time. Their 2024 pay totaled $41,958. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Sara Leonhardt

Public Dfn Dispositional Advsr/Public Defense Board

2024 total comp

$41,734

Sub-department: Tenth Judicial District 4
Base pay: $41,734
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $41,734
Hire date: 2019-12-02
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 6
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: Anoka

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Sara Leonhardt holds the role of Public Dfn Dispositional Advsr at Public Defense Board within Tenth Judicial District 4. Hired in 2019, they have about 5 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2024, their total compensation was $41,734. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense-Support Staff.

Joseph Scott

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$40,791

Sub-department: Tenth Judicial District
Base pay: $40,791
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $40,791
Hire date: 2024-11-06
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, 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

Joseph Scott works as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney for Public Defense Board within Tenth Judicial District. They have served since 2024 (about a year) as a part-time, 0.75 FTE employee. Joseph earned $40,791 in 2025. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Adam Kujawa

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2024 total comp

$40,452

Sub-department: Second Judicial District
Base pay: $40,452
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $40,452
Hire date: 2013-02-25
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, 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

At Public Defense Board, Adam Kujawa serves as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney within Second Judicial District. Hired in 2013, they have about 11 years of service, working part-time, 0.5 FTE. Their 2024 pay totaled $40,452. Union affiliation: Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

John Magnuson

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$40,235

Sub-department: Tenth Judicial District
Base pay: $40,235
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $40,235
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: Anoka

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: Bi-Weekly

John Magnuson is a Public Defense Assistant Attorney at Public Defense Board within Tenth Judicial District. Hired in 2024, they have about a year of service, working part-time, 0.75 FTE. 2025 total compensation came to $40,235. They are represented by Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Ashley Jones

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$40,148

Sub-department: First Judicial District
Base pay: $40,148
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $40,148
Hire date: 2016-08-10
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: 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

At Public Defense Board, Ashley Jones serves as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney within First Judicial District. Hired in 2016, they have about 9 years of service, working part-time, 0.75 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $40,148. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense - Asst Attorney.

Genesis Van Wert

Legal Office Assistant/Public Defense Board

2024 total comp

$39,813

Sub-department: Sixth Judicial District
Base pay: $39,755
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $58
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $39,813
Hire date: 2022-08-03
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay grade: 5
Union / bargaining unit: Public Defense-Support Staff
Pay basis: Hourly
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Work county: St Louis

Source-specific fields

Active on June 30, 2024: No
Agency Number: J52
Bargaining Unit Number: 301
Branch: Judicial
Branch Code: Judicial
Classified Code: Unclassified
Classified Status: Unclassified
Compensation Frequency Code: Hourly

Genesis Van Wert holds the role of Legal Office Assistant at Public Defense Board within Sixth Judicial District. Hired in 2022, they have about 2 years of service as a full-time employee. In 2024, their total compensation was $39,813. They are represented by Public Defense-Support Staff.

Luke Neuville

Public Defense Assistant Attorney/Public Defense Board

2025 total comp

$39,320

Sub-department: Seventh Judicial District
Base pay: $39,320
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $39,320
Hire date: 2010-08-09
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: No
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, Luke Neuville serves as a Public Defense Assistant Attorney within Seventh Judicial District. Hired in 2010, they have about 15 years of service, working part-time, 0.75 FTE. Their 2025 pay totaled $39,320. Their bargaining unit is Public Defense - Asst Attorney.