Chief Public Defender: Lead Indigent Defense & Justice

Brown County; Aberdeen (SD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Brown County Public Defender Office seeks a Chief Public Defender to lead an office of attorneys and staff, providing quality legal defense to indigent defendants and sitting on Brown County treatment courts.

The Chief will oversee representation, training, budgeting, resource allocation, and strategic planning, ensuring compliance with constitutions, laws, and professional ethics; responsible for hiring, supervision, and engaging with courts, prosecutors, and community partners.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited school of law.
• Current, active membership in the State Bar of South Dakota or ability to obtain at the most immediate opportunity.
• Candidates should possess leadership, litigation, public defense, supervision, management, and budgeting skills: has litigated criminal cases for at least 7 years, has tried multiple cases to verdict, has worked as a criminal defense lawyer for at least 5 years, has supervised at least 5 attorneys and staff, has served as a supervisor for at least 4 years, has managed daily operations for a legal organization for at least 4 years, and has helped create or oversee an organizational budget.

Responsibilities

• Oversee representation, consultation and advice to indigent defendants in court proceedings.
• Ensure compliance with constitutions, laws, ethical rules, and best practices by attorneys and staff.
• Supervise professional and support personnel.
• Allocate resources for services, equipment, facilities, and finances, and advocate for future needs.
• Hire, evaluate, discipline, and dismiss attorneys and staff.
• Plan, develop, prepare, and monitor annual budget, grant funding, and statistical reports.
• Direct staff on legal issues, case dispositions, and advocacy.
• Represent the public defense function in meetings with judges, prosecutors, and officials.
• Promote the public defender program and defendants’ rights in public presentations.
• Represent the Public Defender Office in meetings with officials, bar associations, and citizen groups.

Skills

Judicial leadership

Legal research

Trial proceedings

Budgeting

Oral and written communication

Supervising personnel

Leadership

Problem solving

Training staff

Computers / software

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Active State Bar membership (South Dakota)

Job description

The Brown County Public Defender Office seeks a Chief Public Defender to lead an office of attorneys and staff, providing quality legal defense to indigent defendants and sitting on Brown County treatment courts.

The Chief will oversee representation, training, budgeting, resource allocation, and strategic planning, ensuring compliance with constitutions, laws, and professional ethics; responsible for hiring, supervision, and engaging with courts, prosecutors, and community partners.