Hybrid Public Defender en Macomb County

CLASSIFICATION TITLE:

Public Defender

SALARY:

$108,293.28 - $154,135.11

DEPARTMENT:

Public Defenders Office

Opening Date:

08/05/2025

Closing Date:

08/19/2025 12:00 a.m.

Wage range is $108,293.28 to $154,135.11 with an excellent benefits package, including a $500 monthly car allowance, 30 Paid Time Off days with annual conversion options, Short-term and Long-term Disability, and no premium payment contributions for medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for the employee, spouse, or dependents.

Macomb County's full benefit summary can be reviewed at:

https://www.macombgov.org/departments/human-resources-and-labor-relations/current-employees/employee-benefits

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment Relationship: At-will

GENERAL SUMMARY

Under the direction of the County Executive, responsible for the administration, oversight, and strategic direction of the Office of Public Defender.  Provides mandated legal defense representation of indigent and partially indigent persons in criminal matters, while serving as a counterpart to state, county, city, village and township attorneys throughout the courts in the county. This position uses considerable independent discretion at all times as the County Public Defender to ensure that the constitutional rights of all indigent and partially indigent persons are competently upheld and protected, and that due process is implemented fairly, equally, equitably and consistently in the pursuit of justice.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES

Develops and implements long and short-term goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for the department to include in particular the establishment and direction of programs to maximize operational effectiveness and cost efficiencies.

Plans, organizes, assigns, directs, reviews and evaluates the work of public defender attorneys and support staff.

Interprets laws, regulations, and county policies for staff subordinates. Confers with subordinate supervisors and other department staff to monitor activities. Coordinates work efforts and resolve problems and issues unique to the public defender attorney staff. Provides professional assistance to staff.

Develops and implements programs to assess, meet or exceed mandated standards adopted as required by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MDIC), American Bar Association (ABA), the State Bar of Michigan (SBM) and the Michigan Supreme Court for competent legal defense services.

Provides professional assistance to staff, other County departments and public and private organizations including meetings with appointed and elected governmental officials, civic leaders and others.

Reviews or supervises the review of criminal investigations to determine adequacy of evidence to justify searches, seizures and the authorization of charges by the prosecution. Directs public defender attorneys in gathering and analyzing case evidence, preparing arguments, filing necessary documents, and presenting cases in court; assigns cases to attorneys, reviews progress, and provides technical assistance and guidance; directs the maintenance of accurate legal materials, reports, correspondence and other written materials; substitutes for public defender attorneys as necessary.

Approves pre-trial investigations, motions, polygraph examinations, use of investigators, social workers, and expert witnesses while directing the defense of all criminal cases including in particular those that are the most complex or sensitive criminal cases, to include appearance in court to substitute personally as needed.

Collaborates, coordinates and/or directs programs designed to reduce recidivism through effective rehabilitation of convicted criminals.

Keeps informed of legal precedents and relevant legislation by reading professional journals, court rulings, conferring with legislators and attending meetings, seminars and conferences.

Directs the preparation and administration of the department’s budget and monitors expenditures to ensure that they are within budget guidelines.

Makes presentations before groups regarding the criminal justice system and the constitutionally mandated role of the defense.

Maintains a department caseload of representing indigent defendants in misdemeanor, felony, and high severity felonies as needed.

Operates an automobile to perform assigned job functions.  

Performs related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Education and Experience

• A Juris Doctor Degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school

• Ten (10) years of experience in the practice of a prosecutor, public defender, or in private criminal defense

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively more responsible experience in the administrative supervision of legal services

• Experience in grant writing and administration

• Qualified as a class A, B, and C attorney with the Macomb County System of Indigent Defense or eligible to be qualified

Preferred Education and Experience

• Supervisory experience within a union environment

Required Licenses or Certifications

• A current membership in good standing with the State Bar of Michigan

• Possession a valid Michigan driver’s license and an operable insured automobile for authorized travel

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES

Knowledge of:

• Michigan’s Court systems, including statutes and court rules covering procedures, responsibilities, and other related authority

• Applicable laws, regulations, the judicial system and court practices and procedures

• Budget and personnel policies and procedures

• Principles and practices of public administration

• Principles and processes for providing customer and personal services including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, evaluating attorney performance and evaluation of customer satisfaction

• Michigan’s systems for providing Indigent defense

• Methods of research, planning, conducting and implementing major studies or projects

Skill in:

• Developing and maintaining effective and appropriate working relationships

• Assigning, prioritizing, monitoring, and reviewing work assignments

• Operating personal computers with current versions of office efficiency software and applications

• Budgeting and grant writing

Ability to:

• Exercise independent and sound judgment and initiative in analyzing problems and recommending solutions

• Train, supervise, direct, and organize the work of others

• Lead with integrity and uphold ethical and legal standards

• Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries

• Prepare and present reports, speeches or training programs to groups

• Communicate complex ideas through graphs, charts, presentations or other professional correspondence

• Work in an environment which embraces the county’s Dignity Campaign

• Effectively speak, write and understand the English language

• Effectively speak, write and understand a language other than English is preferred

• Understand and carry out oral and/or written instructions

• Accurately organize and maintain paper documents and electronic files

WORK ENVIRONMENT/CONDITIONS

The work environment and exposures described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

N/S=Never/Seldom   O=Occasionally   F/C= Frequently/Continuously

Work Environment

Office or similar indoor environment: F/C

Outdoor environment: O

Street environment (near moving traffic): O

Construction site: N/S

Confined space: O

Exposures

Individuals who are hostile or irate: F/C

Individuals with known violent backgrounds: F/C

Extreme cold (below 32 degrees): N/S

Extreme heat (above 100 degrees): N/S

Communicable diseases: N/S

Moving mechanical parts: N/S

Fumes or airborne particles: N/S

Toxic or caustic chemicals, substances, or waste: N/S

Loud noises (85+ decibels): N/S

Blood Borne Pathogens: N/S

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

N/S=Never/Seldom   O=Occasionally   F/C= Frequently/Continuously

Demand:

Balancing on even or uneven surfaces/ground: N/S

Bending (forward or backward bending at the waist): O

Climbing up or down stairs, ladders, scaffolding and platforms: N/S

Crawling (moving about on hands and knees): N/S

Inspecting in confined spaces: N/S

Digging:  N/S

Driving on sealed and unsealed roads: F/C

Grasping, gripping, holding, clasping with fingers or hands: O

Kneeling to work at low levels: O

Manual Dexterity (fine finger movements i.e., keyboard operating, writing): F/C

Lift/Carry/Move objects from one level/position to another:

Up to 10 pounds: F/C

Up to 50 pounds: F/C

More than 50 pounds: F/C

Over 100 pounds: N/S

Push/Pull objects away from or towards the body: N/S

Reaching overhead (arms raised above the shoulder) or forward reaching (arms extended): O

Sitting in a seated position during the task performance: F/C

Standing in an upright position without movement: F/C

Walking considerable distances in the facility on multiple surfaces: F/C

Running considerable distances in the facility on multiple surfaces: O

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND DISCLAIMERS

Complies with P.A. 390, as amended, known as the State’s Emergency Management Act and the County’s Emergency Management resolution as well as all related plans, policies and procedures covered by those statutes.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.  Please tell us if you require accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job.  Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment amongst other possible accommodations. 

GRANT OR EXTERNALLY FUNDED POSITION –This position will continue only if sufficient grant or external funds are provided.

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