Chief Public Defender - Tenth Judicial District

Decker Jones, P.C.; Anoka, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Decker Jones, P.C. seeks a Chief District Public Defender to oversee administration of public defender services in the district, including supervision of 137 staff and 90 attorneys.

The role directs service in a multi-county district and works with court administration and the State Public Defender on policy matters. The position entails appointing to a four-year term with responsibilities for hiring, discipline, workload balancing, and community outreach in Minnesota’s Tenth Judicial District,

Qualifications

• Admission to the Bar of Minnesota and five years’ experience as a practicing attorney in criminal law.
• Prior administrative experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise district employees and offices to ensure efficient operation.
• Hire, discipline, or terminate staff as needed.
• Supervise and evaluate attorneys and support personnel.
• Respond to inquiries from the public about the office's activities.
• Resolve client complaints and assign cases to balance workload.
• Coordinate with courts and state defender offices on policy issues.
• Mentor and train assigned staff.
• Maintain liaison with court administration and judges.
• Undertake related duties as required by the Board of Public Defense.

Skills

Public defense management

Public speaking

Media relations

Government agency management

Education

Bar admission in Minnesota

5 years criminal law experience

Job description

The Chief District Public Defender is responsible for the administration of public defender services in the district,consistent with standards adopted by the State Board of Public Defense and the policies and procedures adopted by theState Public Defender. The Tenth Judicial District Chief Public Defender supervises a staff of 137 including 90 attorneys.The Chief Public Defender is responsible for providing service in the Tenth Judicial District which consists of the countiesof Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright. Forty-five judges serve the district, whichis the second largest of Minnesota's ten judicial districts. The district opens approximately 19,000 cases yearly with anannual district budget of $18 million. The district office is Anoka, MN with satellite offices in Buffalo, North Branch, andStillwater. Chief Public Defenders are appointed to four-year terms. The current term of the Tenth Judicial District Chief PublicDefender position expires December 31, 2028.

Definition/Summary of Duties

• The supervision and administration of district employees and offices;
• Hiring, disciplining or the termination of employees under her/his supervision;
• Supervises and evaluates the work of attorneys and support personnel;
• Receives and responds to inquiries from the public concerning the activities of the District Public Defender Office and its employees;
• Receives and responds to complaints from clients and makes decisions on resolution of complaints;
• Assigns cases to insure an even distribution of the workload;
• Works to resolve court scheduling issues and conflict assignments;
• Interviews, trains, mentors and evaluates assigned employees;
• Maintains liaison with court administration, judges and other court personnel;
• Undertakes related additional duties and assignments as required by the Board of Public Defense or State Public Defender;
• Coordinates with other Chief District Public Defenders, Administrative Services Office and State Public Defender on policy issues and activities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge

• Considerable knowledge of legal and policy issues affecting public defenders and their clients, on both state and
  national levels.
• Considerable knowledge of management and operations of public defense programs.
• Considerable knowledge of legislative processes that affect criminal and juvenile law, and affect public defense agencies in Minnesota.

Skills

• Substantial demonstrated skills in representation of indigent adult and juvenile defendants.
• Substantial demonstrated skills in public speaking and media relations.
• Considerable skills related to governmental agency management.

Abilities

• Considerable ability to supervise attorneys and support staff;
• Considerable ability to establish effective working relationships with court personnel;
• Considerable ability to plan and evaluate public defender programs and service-delivery strategies;
• Considerable ability to work well with people from diverse racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Admission to the Bar of the State of Minnesota AND
• Five years’ experience as a practicing attorney in the area of criminal law. Prior administrative experience.