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Job Title:  

Agency:

Georgia Public Defender Council

Job Requisition ID:

Shift:

Compensation Details:

Job Description:

State-Level Position

Location: Mountain Judicial Circuit

Salary: Currently $132,473.00 | $175,000.00 after January 1, 2027

Deadline: 5:00 PM on September 1, 2026

Job Description, Responsibilities, and Qualifications:

The Georgia Public Defender Council is accepting résumés for the position of Circuit Public Defender in the Mountain Judicial Circuit.

The Mountain Circuit Public Defender's Office represents indigent persons charged with misdemeanor and felony crimes and acts of juvenile delinquency in the Mountain Judicial Circuit, which covers Banks, Habersham, Rabun, and Stephens counties.

The state salary is $132,473 annually, not including any potential county-paid supplement. Per HB 1020, Circuit Public Defender state salaries will increase to $175,000.00 effective January 1, 2027.

Job Description:

Serves as the Circuit office head and reports to the Executive Director of the Georgia Public Defender Council. The Circuit Public Defender will make key decisions regarding the management of the Circuit, including its budget, staff, and cases. The Circuit Public Defender serves at the pleasure of the Georgia Public Defender Council’s Executive Director.

Job Responsibilities (including but are not limited to):

Supervising and managing administration, budgeting, and operation of indigent defense across the circuit; supervising and mentoring Assistant Public Defenders, investigators, paraprofessionals, clerical assistants, and independent contractors; and establishing a method for identifying conflicts of interest at the earliest possible opportunity.

Performance Standards:

Appropriate use of state and local funds, proper management of state and local budgets, accurate reports of caseload by type, including conflict cases, accurate reports of state and local budgets and expenditures, and ethical, zealous, individualized representation of each client entitled to the services of the Circuit Public Defender Office.

Minimum Qualifications:

Under OCGA § 17-12-21, to be eligible to fill the position of Circuit Public Defender, a person must have attained the age of 25 years; been duly admitted and licensed to practice law in the Superior Courts for at least three years; be a member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia; and if previously disbarred from the practice of law, have been reinstated as provided by law.

Preferred Qualifications:

Candidates for the position of Circuit Public Defender should possess: a strong, demonstrable interest in the effective defense of indigent people accused of crimes; sufficient experience in the defense of criminal cases (or equivalent trial experience) to permit the candidate to evaluate the qualifications of the Assistant Public Defenders employed in the Circuit and to train or assist in the training of less-experienced public defenders; experience as lead counsel in the defense of a person accused of a crime in at least ten felony cases tried to completion before a jury, at least two of which involved potential sentences of life in prison; leadership skills and the ability to oversee the management of a Circuit Public Defender office and insure that policies implemented by GPDC are consistently met or exceeded throughout the circuit; and the ability to establish and maintain sound fiscal policy and practice, supervise attorneys and other staff, communicate well with other participants in the criminal justice system, as well as with local government representatives. Management experience is strongly preferred.

Interested applicants should submit the State of Georgia Sensitive Position Employment Application, résumé, and cover letter via email to: GPDC c/o Thomas O’Connor, toconnor@gapubdef.org, with the subject line “Mountain Circuit Public Defender Position.”

Minimum Qualifications:

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

The State of Georgia does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other protected categories in employment or the provision of services.
Qualified applicants may request reasonable accommodation when needed during the application and/or screening process by contacting the appropriate agency Human Resources department.