Orange County Public Defender
3.6
Glassdoor Rating
250+
Total Staff
150+
Attorneys
65,000+
Annual Caseload
3
Open Positions
About
Third-largest public defender office in California. Serves Orange County's diverse communities. Current Chief Public Defender is Sara Nakada (effective July 12, 2025), unanimously appointed by the OC Board of Supervisors June 10, 2025 to succeed retiring PD Martin Schwarz (served as PD 2020-2025; 28 years in office total).
Strategic Career Intelligence
Trial Volume
~700 jury trials/year
Source: OC Public Defender Office estimate
Avg. Time to First Trial
3-5 months
Specializations
Career Pathways
Experience Value
Large suburban office with high-volume felony caseload. Strong reputation for trial advocacy training. Many alumni open successful private practices in Orange County.
Specialty Courts
Holistic Defense Services
Open Positions(3)
View AllSalary Ranges
| Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | $90,000-$108,000 |
| Mid-Career | $115,000-$142,000 |
| Senior | $148,000-$180,000 |
| Leadership | $188,000-$255,000 |
Budget & Funding Intelligence
Total Budget
$68M
Primary Sources
Budget Trend
= StableConservative county with historically modest PD funding relative to caseload. Budget stable but per-attorney caseloads remain above NAC standards. Medium vulnerability reflects adequate funding but limited growth.
Recent News
OC Public Defender holding open recruitment for DPD Attorney I/II/III to establish an open eligible list for current and future positions. Salary band per month: I $8,058-$9,741; II $9,424-$10,504; III $10,785-$14,936. Bilingual differential ($0.20/hr) for certified Spanish or Vietnamese speakers.
Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Chief Deputy PD Sara Nakada (CA Bar #207250) on June 10, 2025 to succeed retiring PD Martin Schwarz, effective July 12, 2025. Schwarz had served as PD since 2020 and 28 years total in the department. Nakada was previously Senior Assistant PD. Closes the prior dataset gap where the chief was unnamed. OC PD also launching new website www.ocpubdef.gov May 7, 2026.
Quick Info
- County
- Orange
- Region
- Los Angeles
- Case Management
- Legal Server
- Caseload/Attorney
- ~433
- Phone
- (714) 834-2144
- Website
- Visit
Union Representation
OCEA
Unionized workplace
Benefits
- OCERS Pension
- Health/Dental/Vision
- PSLF Eligible
- Paid CLE
Funding Sources
- Orange County General Fund
- State Allocation
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