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

Jamie Berkley

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$167,976

Sub-department: JD-28-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $167,976
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $167,976
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $13,998
Employee ID: 153681

Jamie Berkley is a Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-28-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $167,976.

Leslie Hunt

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$167,976

Sub-department: JD-07-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $167,976
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $167,976
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Richard

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $13,998
Employee ID: 471051

At Public Defenders Conference, Leslie Hunt serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-07-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $167,976.

Alexandra Kimsey

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$167,976

Sub-department: JD-04-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $167,976
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $167,976
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: Deas

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $13,998
Employee ID: 116338

At Public Defenders Conference, Alexandra Kimsey serves as a Assistant Public Defender within Jd-04-Dist Pub Defender. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $167,976.

Joe Mclerran

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$167,976

Sub-department: JD-15-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $167,976
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $167,976
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $13,998
Employee ID: 340173

Joe Mclerran holds the role of Assistant Public Defender at Public Defenders Conference within Jd-15-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $167,976.

Richard Strong

Assistant Public Defender/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$167,976

Sub-department: JD-21-Dist Pub Defender
Base pay: $167,976
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $167,976
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $13,998
Employee ID: 527377

Richard Strong works as a Assistant Public Defender for Public Defenders Conference within Jd-21-Dist Pub Defender. Their status is full-time. Richard earned $167,976 in 2026.

Sherry Isom

Pub Def Fiscal Director/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$163,860

Sub-department: Executive Director
Base pay: $163,860
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $163,860
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $13,655
Employee ID: 143317

At Public Defenders Conference, Sherry Isom serves as a Pub Def Fiscal Director within Executive Director. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $163,860.

Tammy Martin

Pub Def Personnel Director/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$163,860

Sub-department: Executive Director
Base pay: $163,860
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $163,860
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: K

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $13,655
Employee ID: 153903

Tammy Martin holds the role of Pub Def Personnel Director at Public Defenders Conference within Executive Director. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $163,860.

Calvin Miller

Pub Def Information Systems Director/Public Defenders Conference

2026 total comp

$163,860

Sub-department: Executive Director
Base pay: $163,860
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $163,860
Employment type: Full-Time
Pay basis: Monthly
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Compensation Rate: $13,655
Employee ID: 113004

At Public Defenders Conference, Calvin Miller serves as a Pub Def Information Systems Director within Executive Director. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $163,860.