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

Dorothy Cherry

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$133,236

Sub-department: JD-10-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $133,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $11,103
Employee ID: 435234

At Public Defenders Conference, Dorothy Cherry serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-10-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $133,236.

Colby Block

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$133,236

Sub-department: JD-22-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $133,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: F

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $11,103
Employee ID: 540264

Colby Block is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-22-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $133,236.

Ryan Curtis

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$133,236

Sub-department: JD-01-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $133,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: S

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $11,103
Employee ID: 390039

Ryan Curtis is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-01-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $133,236.

Martin Dunn

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$133,236

Sub-department: JD-27-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $133,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $11,103
Employee ID: 398157

Martin Dunn works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-27-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Martin earned $133,236 in 2026.

William Gill

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$133,236

Sub-department: Appellate Division
Base pay: $133,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: W

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $11,103
Employee ID: 400863

At Public Defenders Conference, William Gill serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Appellate Division. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $133,236.

Andrea Hayduk

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$133,236

Sub-department: JD-11-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $133,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $11,103
Employee ID: 664587

Andrea Hayduk is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-11-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $133,236.

Cashauna Lattimore

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$133,236

Sub-department: JD-04-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $133,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $11,103
Employee ID: 476017

Cashauna Lattimore works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-04-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Cashauna earned $133,236 in 2026.

Andrew Pate

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$133,236

Sub-department: JD-07-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $133,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $11,103
Employee ID: 594353

Andrew Pate works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-07-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Andrew earned $133,236 in 2026.

John Scott

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$133,236

Sub-department: JD-25-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $133,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $11,103
Employee ID: 647645

John Scott holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-25-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $133,236.

Justin Sensing

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$133,236

Sub-department: JD-23-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $133,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $11,103
Employee ID: 121456

Justin Sensing is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-23-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $133,236.

Wesley Taylor

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$133,236

Sub-department: JD-01-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $133,236
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,236
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Keith

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $11,103
Employee ID: 395133

Wesley Taylor works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-01-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Wesley earned $133,236 in 2026.

Sharon Linville

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$131,955

Sub-department: JD-15-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $131,955
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $131,955
Employment type: Part-Time
Pay basis: Hourly
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $63
Employee ID: 405377

Sharon Linville holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-15-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is part-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $131,955.

Michael Auffinger

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$128,772

Sub-department: JD-32-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $128,772
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,772
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,731
Employee ID: 634565

Michael Auffinger works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-32-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Michael earned $128,772 in 2026.

Charles Buckholts

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$128,772

Sub-department: JD-15-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $128,772
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,772
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: David

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,731
Employee ID: 660874

Charles Buckholts is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-15-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $128,772.

Christopher Byrd

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$128,772

Sub-department: JD-01-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $128,772
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,772
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Gregory

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,731
Employee ID: 697200

At Public Defenders Conference, Christopher Byrd serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-01-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $128,772.

Leslie Douthat

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$128,772

Sub-department: JD-03-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $128,772
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,772
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,731
Employee ID: 666571

Leslie Douthat is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-03-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $128,772.

Wesley Mink

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$128,772

Sub-department: JD-02-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $128,772
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,772
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,731
Employee ID: 527083

Wesley Mink works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-02-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Wesley earned $128,772 in 2026.

Timothy Nanney

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$128,772

Sub-department: JD-24-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $128,772
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,772
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: D

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,731
Employee ID: 235110

Timothy Nanney is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-24-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $128,772.

Jason Thomas

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$128,772

Sub-department: JD-11-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $128,772
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,772
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,731
Employee ID: 143054

Jason Thomas is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-11-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $128,772.

Merry Shell

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$128,772

Sub-department: JD-12-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $128,772
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,772
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,731
Employee ID: 603893

Merry Shell works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-12-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Merry earned $128,772 in 2026.

Jessica Mcafee

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$128,772

Sub-department: JD-03-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $128,772
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,772
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $10,731
Employee ID: 698248

Jessica Mcafee 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 $128,772.