State Public Defender

About the Role

The State Public Defender is responsible for the executive leadership, administration, and oversight of Minnesota's public defense system. This position directs statewide operations; develops and implements policies, procedures, and strategic initiatives; and ensures compliance with standards adopted by the State Board of Public Defense. The State Public Defender serves at the direction of the State Board of Public Defense and performs additional duties as assigned by the Board and prescribed by the Minnesota Legislature.

The State Board of Public Defense is an independent Minnesota Judicial Branch agency responsible for providing constitutionally required legal representation to indigent clients in district and appellate courts statewide. The Board's mission is to protect individual liberty and advance meaningful criminal justice reform through client-centered, culturally responsive, and high-quality legal representation. The agency operates with an annual budget of approximately $167 million and employs approximately 1,000 staff who provide representation in more than 130,000 cases each year. The Board's strategic priorities include client-centered representation, innovative advocacy, continuous professional development, recruitment and retention of a highly qualified workforce, and collaboration as a full partner within Minnesota's justice system.

The State Public Defender is within the Unclassified Service of the State of Minnesota, appointed by the Board of Public Defense for a term of four years commencing July 1st.

Responsibilities

• Supervision and administration of the statewide system of public defense under general direction and approval of the Board of Public Defense.
• Supervision and evaluation of the Chief District Public Defenders and Chief Appellate Defender.
• Oversight of the statewide training employee program.
• Receiving and responding to inquiries from the public concerning the activities of the District Public Defender and Appellate Offices.
• Serving as a liaison with courts, court administration, and the legislature.
• Establishing standards for the offices of the appellate and district public defenders, including:
  • Standards for maintaining and operating a public defender office, including qualifications, training, and size of legal and supporting staff.
  • Standards for public defender caseloads.
  • Minimum qualifications of counsel appointed under the board's authority.
  • Standards ensuring independent, competent, and efficient representation of clients whose cases present conflicts of interest in both trial and appellate courts.
• Undertaking related additional duties and assignments as required by the Board of Public Defense.
• Coordinating with Chief District Public Defenders, Administrative Services Office, and Chief Administrator on policy issues and activities.

Requirements

Knowledge

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

Skills

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

Abilities

• Considerable ability to supervise senior public defense managers.
• Considerable ability to establish effective working relationships with court personnel, legislators, their staff, and the media.
• 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.