Stacy Scott, public defender for the Eighth Judicial Circuit and president of the statewide Public Defender Association, told the Senate appropriations subcommittee that public defenders need higher starting pay and targeted funds to reduce disparities with state attorneys.

"Right now ... the starting salary for assistant public defenders and assistant state attorneys is $50,000" in the General Appropriations Act, Scott said. She asked the committee to raise the minimum starting salary for an assistant public defender to $80,000 per year and to align the GAA with current market realities.

Scott said the association compared general revenue spending on salaries and benefits for every circuit and found multiple public defender offices funded at less than 55% of the corresponding state attorney’s salaries. "The circuits listed on your screen are funded right now at less than 55%, and the $17,000,000 in general revenue would bring them up to 55% of their corresponding state attorney," she said.

Scott also requested funding tied to new judgeships: additional assistant public defenders and support staff to staff new courtrooms if judgeships are assigned to criminal dockets. She described a staffing ratio of about two assistant public defenders per courtroom plus one support staff in the office for each judgeship.

Committee members asked about turnover and work hours. Scott said assistant public defenders work beyond a standard 40-hour week and do not receive overtime pay; she said the offices must remain in-person for court obligations. Senators also asked about competitive-area differentials (CAD) granted in prior sessions and about effects on recruitment.

Scott said the Public Defender Association would provide the committee with the underlying data spreadsheets on the salary comparisons. No appropriation votes were taken at the meeting.