Tennessee / Public Defenders Conference

Agency file

Public Defenders Conference

Source file: Tennessee — State Employee Salaries / ingested Jun 18, 2026

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

In 2026, this agency had 514 employees with median total compensation of $106,596; the highest distinct record was $217,056.

Year: 2026
Total payroll: $60.2M
Employees: 514
Median total: $106,596
Highest record: $217,056

What the records show

Compensation analytics

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

Salary distribution

$981$217,056+

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

How 2026 total compensation is spread across the 514 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($106,596) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $117,156 (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

$73,476

$77,508

$106,596

$153,864

$185,724

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $185,724 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $73,476. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Assistant Public Defender

288 · $133,236

Pub Def Legal Secretary

77 · $74,784

Pub Def Investigator

38 · $84,828

Pub Def Office Manager

32 · $85,356

Public Defender

30 · $217,056

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.

Compare

Similar departments

Departments elsewhere with the most similar mix of roles — a proxy for the same kind of agency, matched by workforce composition rather than name. Pay is not cost-of-living adjusted.

Public Defender Cook County, Illinois91% match
Pdf General Sessions Team Metro Nashville90% match
Public Defender Rhode Island49% match

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Kelly Charland

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$106,596

Sub-department: JD-21-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $106,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,596
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,883
Employee ID: 498643

At Public Defenders Conference, Kelly Charland serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-21-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $106,596.

Lori Dowell

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$106,596

Sub-department: JD-13-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $106,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,596
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,883
Employee ID: 602299

Lori Dowell is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-13-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $106,596.

Jason Jackson

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$106,596

Sub-department: JD-27-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $106,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,596
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,883
Employee ID: 525486

Jason Jackson holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-27-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $106,596.

Darcee Kubisiak

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$106,596

Sub-department: JD-01-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $106,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,596
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,883
Employee ID: 587434

At Public Defenders Conference, Darcee Kubisiak serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-01-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $106,596.

Chelsea Markham Lyle

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$106,596

Sub-department: JD-12-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $106,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,596
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,883
Employee ID: 611284

Chelsea Markham Lyle holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-12-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $106,596.

Ronald Neeley

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$106,596

Sub-department: JD-17-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $106,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,596
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,883
Employee ID: 511122

Ronald Neeley holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-17-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $106,596.

Alexa Noble

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$106,596

Sub-department: JD-18-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $106,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,596
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,883
Employee ID: 390953

Alexa Noble works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-18-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Alexa earned $106,596 in 2026.

Carter Pack

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$106,596

Sub-department: JD-06-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $106,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,596
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,883
Employee ID: 626199

At Public Defenders Conference, Carter Pack serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-06-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $106,596.

Stephen Perkins

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$106,596

Sub-department: JD-16-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $106,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,596
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Andrew

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,883
Employee ID: 494425

At Public Defenders Conference, Stephen Perkins serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-16-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $106,596.

Winston Vaughn

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$106,596

Sub-department: JD-23-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $106,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,596
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: P

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,883
Employee ID: 528590

Winston Vaughn holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-23-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $106,596.

Benjamin Wetsell

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$106,596

Sub-department: JD-01-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $106,596
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,596
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Ray

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,883
Employee ID: 480408

Benjamin Wetsell is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-01-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $106,596.

Summer Brashears

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$102,084

Sub-department: JD-16-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $102,084
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,084
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Star

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,507
Employee ID: 444619

At Public Defenders Conference, Summer Brashears serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-16-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $102,084.

James Clemmons

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$102,084

Sub-department: JD-15-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $102,084
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,084
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: N

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,507
Employee ID: 551722

James Clemmons works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-15-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. James earned $102,084 in 2026.

Colby Collins

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$102,084

Sub-department: JD-03-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $102,084
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,084
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,507
Employee ID: 340566

Colby Collins holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-03-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $102,084.

Thomas Palombo

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$102,084

Sub-department: JD-16-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $102,084
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,084
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Clark Dominic

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,507
Employee ID: 669420

At Public Defenders Conference, Thomas Palombo serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-16-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $102,084.

Andrea Sims

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$102,084

Sub-department: JD-26-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $102,084
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,084
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: B

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,507
Employee ID: 567381

Andrea Sims works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-26-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Andrea earned $102,084 in 2026.

Alaina Tolbert

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$102,084

Sub-department: JD-06-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $102,084
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,084
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,507
Employee ID: 657162

Alaina Tolbert is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-06-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $102,084.

Sarah Willis

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$102,084

Sub-department: JD-01-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $102,084
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,084
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Elaine

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,507
Employee ID: 717435

Sarah Willis is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-01-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $102,084.

Jeremy Richards

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$102,084

Sub-department: JD-10-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $102,084
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,084
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,507
Employee ID: 629410

Jeremy Richards is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-10-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $102,084.

Jihan Badran

Pub Def Fiscal Services Assistant/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$100,428

Sub-department: Executive Director
Base pay: $100,428
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $100,428
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: O

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $8,369
Employee ID: 133571

At Public Defenders Conference, Jihan Badran serves as a Pub Def Fiscal Services Assistant within Executive Director. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $100,428.