Contra Costa County Public Defender
3.7
Glassdoor Rating
90+
Total Staff
55+
Attorneys
18,000+
Annual Caseload
1
Open Positions
About
Serves Contra Costa County including Richmond, Concord, and Antioch communities. Led by Chief Public Defender Ellen McDonnell (in role since Dec 2021). Office attorney mix: ~45% felony, 15% misdemeanor, 10% juvenile, 30% specialty courts / mental health. Office has declared limited unavailability for new cases amid Prop 36 caseload growth. McDonnell led a delegation of nine California chief public defenders to Mano Raju's contempt hearing in March 2026 in solidarity.
Strategic Career Intelligence
Trial Volume
~250 jury trials/year
Source: Contra Costa County PD estimate
Avg. Time to First Trial
4-6 months
Specializations
Career Pathways
Experience Value
Well-run mid-size office with mentorship culture. Strong CCP conflict panel connection for those wanting to transition to panel work or solo practice.
Specialty Courts
Holistic Defense Services
Open Positions(1)
View AllDeputy Public Defender II
Salary Ranges
| Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | $95,000-$112,000 |
| Mid-Career | $118,000-$148,000 |
| Senior | $155,000-$185,000 |
| Leadership | $195,000-$260,000 |
Budget & Funding Intelligence
Total Budget
$28M
Primary Sources
Budget Trend
= StableMid-size Bay Area county with adequate but not generous PD funding. CCP conflict panel system is well-established. Prop 36 caseload pressure has forced the office into limited unavailability declarations. Medium vulnerability reflects the caseload-funding mismatch that prompted McDonnell to publicly back Raju's stance in San Francisco.
Quick Info
- County
- Contra Costa
- Region
- Bay Area
- Case Management
- JusticeTrax
- Caseload/Attorney
- ~327
- Phone
- (925) 335-8000
- Website
- Visit
Union Representation
AFSCME
Unionized workplace
Benefits
- CCCERA Pension
- Health/Dental/Vision
- PSLF Eligible
- Paid CLE
Funding Sources
- Contra Costa County General Fund
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