State Public Defender

State of Minnesota Board of Public Defense • Minneapolis, MN

13d • Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• Admission to the Minnesota state bar.
• Seven to ten years of experience practicing in the area of criminal law.
• Five years of administrative experience including but not limited to budget management, employee and labor relations, and contract management.
• 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.
• Substantial demonstrated skills in 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.
• Considerable ability to supervise senior attorneys and Chief Public Defenders.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Supervision and administration of the statewide system of public defense.
• Supervision and evaluation of the Chief District Public Defenders and Chief Appellate Defender.
• Overseeing the statewide training employee training 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 legislature.
• Undertaking 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.
• Establishing standards for the offices of the appellate and district public defenders, including standards for office operations, qualifications, training, staff size, caseloads, minimum qualifications of counsel, and ensuring independent, competent, and efficient representation of clients with conflicts of interest.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager