New Jersey / Office of the Public Defender

Agency file

Office of the Public Defender

Source file: New Jersey — YourMoney State Payroll / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The Office of the Public Defender handles legal functions of government — prosecution, legal advice, and representing the state in court.

In 2024, this agency had 672 employees with median total compensation of $86,980; the highest distinct record was $185,424.

Year: 2024
Total payroll: $60.2M
Employees: 672
Median total: $86,980
Highest record: $185,424

What the records show

Compensation analytics

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

Salary distribution

$223$162,947+

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

How 2024 total compensation is spread across the 672 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($86,980) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $87,991 (98%)
Overtime — $40 (0%)
Other — $1,486 (2%)
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

$45,849

$62,261

$86,980

$115,845

$136,555

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $136,555 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $45,849. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2

175 · $109,634

Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr

108 · $74,815

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 3

67 · $138,910

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1

56 · $85,071

Legal Secretary 2

56 · $47,864

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
2023	$57.6M —	720 —	$79,789 —
2024	$60.2M ▲ 4.5%	672 ▼ 6.7%	$86,980 ▲ 9.0%

Record list

Employees

Page 2

Ashley Brooks

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$83,838

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $83,731
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $107
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,838
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Brooks, Ashley
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 171956
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $88,494
Year-to-Date Earnings: $83,838

Ashley Brooks is a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $83,838. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Katherine Caola

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$83,751

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $82,538
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,212
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,751
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Caola, Katherine
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 139843
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $111,623
Year-to-Date Earnings: $83,751

Katherine Caola is a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $83,751. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Alexa Wheeler

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$83,729

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $82,807
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $922
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,729
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Wheeler, Alexa
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 171516
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $85,004
Year-to-Date Earnings: $83,729

Alexa Wheeler works as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1 for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Alexa earned $83,729 in 2024. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Sophia Waldstein

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$83,729

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $82,807
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $922
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,729
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Waldstein, Sophia B
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 171535
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $85,004
Year-to-Date Earnings: $83,729

At Office of the Public Defender, Sophia Waldstein serves as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $83,729. Their bargaining unit is Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

David Altman

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$83,729

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $82,807
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $922
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,729
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Altman, David
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 171726
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $85,004
Year-to-Date Earnings: $83,729

At Office of the Public Defender, David Altman serves as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $83,729. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Kenya Torres-Ramirez

Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$83,437

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $82,504
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $933
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,437
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Torres-Ramirez, Kenya
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 136197
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $86,131
Year-to-Date Earnings: $83,437

Kenya Torres-Ramirez holds the role of Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $83,437. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Ivette Cotto

Secretary Assistant 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$83,201

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $82,251
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $950
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,201
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Cotto, Ivette A
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 14397
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $84,039
Year-to-Date Earnings: $83,201

At Office of the Public Defender, Ivette Cotto serves as a Secretary Assistant 3 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $83,201. Union affiliation: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Yolanda Camargo

Secretary Assistant 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$83,201

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $82,251
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $950
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,201
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Camargo, Yolanda
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 106490
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $84,039
Year-to-Date Earnings: $83,201

At Office of the Public Defender, Yolanda Camargo serves as a Secretary Assistant 3 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $83,201. They are represented by Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Lisa Drake

Secretary Assistant 3/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$83,161

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $82,251
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $910
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,161
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Drake, Lisa R
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 102662
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $84,039
Year-to-Date Earnings: $83,161

Lisa Drake holds the role of Secretary Assistant 3 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $83,161. Their bargaining unit is Administrative and Clerical Services (Cwa) - Unit A.

Luis Apolinario

Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,841

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $81,927
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $914
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,841
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Apolinario, Luis
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 139853
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $86,131
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,841

Luis Apolinario works as a Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Luis earned $82,841 in 2024. Their bargaining unit is Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Christina Idrovo

Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,722

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $81,811
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $910
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,722
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Idrovo, Christina
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 140433
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $86,131
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,722

Christina Idrovo works as a Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Christina earned $82,722 in 2024. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Adam Mitchell

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,573

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $81,485
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,089
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,573
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Mitchell, Adam S
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 146538
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $107,172
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,573

Adam Mitchell holds the role of Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $82,573. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Teresa Lopez

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,527

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $81,337
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,190
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,527
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Lopez, Teresa M
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 139385
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $111,623
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,527

Teresa Lopez holds the role of Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $82,527. Their bargaining unit is Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Ezra Moral

Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr/Office of the Public Defender

2023 total comp

$82,497

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $72,618
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $9,879
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,497
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2023
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Moral, Ezra
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 116337
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $86,031
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,497

Ezra Moral works as a Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Ezra earned $82,497 in 2023. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

John Santamaria

Invstgr 3 Publ Defndr/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,450

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $80,965
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,485
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,450
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Higher Level Supervisors (Cwa) - Unit S
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Santamaria, John
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 123755
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $105,733
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,450

John Santamaria works as a Invstgr 3 Publ Defndr for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. John earned $82,450 in 2024. They are represented by Higher Level Supervisors (Cwa) - Unit S.

Eric Santos

Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,371

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $81,465
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $906
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,371
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Santos, Eric
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 139810
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $86,131
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,371

Eric Santos works as a Invstgr 1 Publ Defndr for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Eric earned $82,371 in 2024. Their bargaining unit is Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Yesenia Rodriguez

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,370

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $81,180
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,190
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,370
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Rodriguez, Yesenia L
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 125616
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $111,623
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,370

Yesenia Rodriguez works as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 2 for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Yesenia earned $82,370 in 2024. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Jonathan Kovacs

Attorney Assistant/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,358

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $81,438
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $920
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,358
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Kovacs, Jonathan
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 146977
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $84,039
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,358

Jonathan Kovacs is a Attorney Assistant at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $82,358. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Aaron Guttenplan

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,302

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $81,381
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $922
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,302
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: I

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Guttenplan, Aaron I
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 157994
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $85,004
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,302

Aaron Guttenplan is a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1 at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $82,302. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Kristina Elkington

Invstgr 2 Publ Defndr/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,199

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $81,327
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $872
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,199
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Primary Level Supervisors (Cwa) - Unit R
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Elkington, Kristina E
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 142056
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $88,494
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,199

At Office of the Public Defender, Kristina Elkington serves as a Invstgr 2 Publ Defndr within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $82,199. Their bargaining unit is Primary Level Supervisors (Cwa) - Unit R.

Amber Velez

Invstgr 2 Publ Defndr/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,044

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $81,172
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $872
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,044
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Primary Level Supervisors (Cwa) - Unit R
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Velez, Amber
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 147826
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $85,004
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,044

Amber Velez holds the role of Invstgr 2 Publ Defndr at Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. In 2024, their total compensation was $82,044. Their bargaining unit is Primary Level Supervisors (Cwa) - Unit R.

Gina Vilar-Tukhtin

Invstgr 2 Publ Defndr/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$82,017

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $81,145
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $872
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,017
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Primary Level Supervisors (Cwa) - Unit R
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Vilar-Tukhtin, Gina
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 147206
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $88,494
Year-to-Date Earnings: $82,017

Gina Vilar-Tukhtin works as a Invstgr 2 Publ Defndr for Office of the Public Defender within Office of the Public Defender. Their hire date on record is null. Gina earned $82,017 in 2024. Their bargaining unit is Primary Level Supervisors (Cwa) - Unit R.

Brian Courtney

Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1/Office of the Public Defender

2024 total comp

$81,616

Sub-department: Office of the Public Defender
Base pay: $80,717
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $900
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,616
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: W

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Courtney, Brian W
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 137591
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $85,004
Year-to-Date Earnings: $81,616

At Office of the Public Defender, Brian Courtney serves as a Assistant Deputy Public Defender 1 within Office of the Public Defender. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $81,616. Union affiliation: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.