Federal Public Defender — Central District of California
4.3
Glassdoor Rating
120+
Total Staff
75+
Attorneys
5,000+
Annual Caseload
8
Open Positions
About
Largest federal public defender office in the nation. Handles federal criminal cases across Central California.
Strategic Career Intelligence
Specializations
Career Pathways
Experience Value
Largest federal PD office in the nation. Federal practice prestige and low caseloads per attorney allow deep case preparation. Immigration-heavy docket provides unique border defense expertise. Alumni highly sought by national law firms.
Holistic Defense Services
Open Positions(8)
View AllAssistant Federal Public Defender — Trial
Research & Writing Attorney
Mitigation Specialist
Habeas Corpus Attorney
Trial Attorney — Los Angeles Office
Post-Bar and Public Interest Law Fellowship — Los Angeles
Federal Public Defender — Central District of California (Agency Head, 4-Year Term)
Capital Habeas Assistant Investigator — Los Angeles
Salary Ranges
| Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | $75,000-$95,000 |
| Mid-Career | $100,000-$135,000 |
| Senior | $140,000-$175,000 |
| Leadership | $180,000-$240,000 |
Budget & Funding Intelligence
Total Budget
$35M
Primary Sources
2025-01-01
Figures cited: $35M estimated annual budget
Budget Trend
= StableFederally funded through the Defender Services Office. Budget is stable and tied to the federal judiciary appropriation.
Recent News
Cuauhtemoc Ortega's 4-year-term as Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California ends June 1, 2026 with his departure to Stris & Maher LLP. Ninth Circuit Judicial Council opened FPD recruitment with applications due June 30, 2026 at $197,200 annual salary. Concurrently, FPD Central CA posted a Riverside trial-attorney vacancy in early May despite the federal Defender Services hiring freeze (year 3). Leadership transition at the nation's largest federal defender office matters for CA federal CJA panel attorneys statewide who track FPD operational decisions.
Senators Welch and Bonamici led 47 bicameral lawmakers in a May 14, 2026 letter to House/Senate Approps demanding $1.76B FY26 Defender Services funding — $194M above current proposal. FY25 CJA panel attorneys went unpaid July-Nov 2025. Federal Defender offices including CD-CA are in year three of a hiring freeze, ~500 positions below the Judicial Conference staffing formula. Continuing pressure on CD-CA capacity at the same moment of leadership transition.
Quick Info
- County
- Federal
- Region
- Los Angeles
- Case Management
- Defender Services Office
- Caseload/Attorney
- ~67
- Phone
- (213) 894-2854
- Website
- Visit
Union Representation
Non-union workplace
Benefits
- FERS Retirement
- Federal Health, Dental & Vision (FEHB)
- PSLF-Eligible
- Paid CLE
- Federal Leave Benefits
- TSP (Thrift Savings Plan)
Funding Sources
- Federal Defender Services Office
- U.S. Courts Judiciary Appropriation
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