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Board of Public Defense

The Public Defense Board is a Judicial Branch agency whose mission/purpose is to provide quality criminal defense services to indigent defendants in the state of Minnesota through an independent, responsible and efficient public defender system. As a statewide agency, we represent individuals in over 150,000 cases per year in District and Appellate Court.

The Board has established five goals to aid the agency to carry out its mission. These are:

  • Client centered representation
  • Creative advocacy
  • Continual training for all staff
  • Recruitment and retention of excellent staff
  • Partnership in the justice system
Sep 28, 2026
Full time
Chief Public Defender - Fifth Judicial District
$194,000 - $221,955 yearly
Board of Public Defense Mankato, MN
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 the State Public Defender. The Fifth Judicial District Chief Public Defender supervises a staff of 56 including 38 attorneys. The Chief Public Defender is responsible for providing service in 15 southwestern Minnesota counties with 17 judges. The district opens approximately 6,500 cases yearly with an annual district budget of $8.4 million. The district office is Mankato, MN with satellite offices in Fairmont, Marshall, and Worthington. Chief public defenders are appointed to four year terms. The current term of the Fifth District Chief Public Defender position expires December 31, 2029. Definition/Summary of Duties Under general direction and approval of the Board of Public Defense, and the State Public Defender; the Chief District Public Defender...
Sep 28, 2026
Full time
Chief Public Defender - Tenth Judicial District
$194,000 - $221,955 yearly
Board of Public Defense Anoka, MN
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 the State 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 counties of Anoka, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Pine, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright. Forty-five judges serve the district, which is the second largest of Minnesota's ten judicial districts. The district opens approximately 19,000 cases yearly with an annual district budget of $18 million. The district office is Anoka, MN with satellite offices in Buffalo, North Branch, and Stillwater. Chief Public Defenders are appointed to four-year terms. The current term of the Tenth Judicial District Chief Public Defender...