Position Available: DIRECTOR OF THE MADISON COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE

APPLICATIONS FOR DIRECTOR OF THE MADISON COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE

Pursuant to Ala. Code § 15-12-4, the Madison County Indigent Defense Advisory Board is establishing a Public Defender’s Office for the 23rd Judicial Circuit. As such, the Advisory Board is seeking extraordinary candidates for the position of the Director of the Madison County Public Defender’s Office. The Director will be tasked with all the responsibilities of establishing a fully staffed law office and fulfilling the Constitutional obligation of furnishing legal representation for indigent defendants in Alabama’s fastest-growing county. As the founding Director, you will be required to establish the office, hire staff, and be the spokesperson for the Public Defender’s Office. The launch of a Public Defender’s Office is a major undertaking and should be comparable to the operations of successful Public Defender’s Offices around the state and nation. When hired, the Director will be given great freedom to achieve the successful launch of this new and important institution.

DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR:

  • Develop an intimate understanding of Madison County’s criminal justice system and its unique needs.
  • Hire, maintain, and directly supervise staff, including attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and legal assistants, and provide quality indigent defense services for Alabama’s fastest growing county. This will be comparable to managing a law firm.
  • Provide the dual advantage of quality legal representation while providing control over indigent defense expenses.
  • Manage relationships with the District Attorney’s Office, the Circuit and District Judges, the local and state Bar, and the County’s other indigent defense stakeholders, including but not limited to the State Probation Office, various law enforcement agencies, the Madison County Detention Facility, and alternative sentencing programs.
  • Launch new initiatives and strategies to promote the image of the Public Defender’s
  • Provide leadership in the reform of indigent defense in Alabama.

OTHER INFORMATION:

  • An applicant must be prepared to serve the Public Defender’s statute-defined term of three

(3) years, subject to renewal.

  • An applicant must be a member in good standing with the Alabama State Bar and every other Bar of which the applicant is a member.
  • An applicant must have a minimum of eight (8) years of criminal practice experience, preferably with significant criminal jury trial experience, which demonstrates an ability to provide and inspire zealous representation of consistently high quality to criminal
  • An applicant must be able to manage the daily operations of the
  • The applicant must be or become a resident of Madison County within 90 days of taking
  • An applicant should demonstrate competency, integrity, and leadership.
  • Salary range of the Director of the Public Defender’s Office is $150,000 – $185,000 annually, depending on experience.
  • As an employee of the State of Alabama, the Director of the Public Defender’s Office is eligible to receive State benefits, including but not limited to health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, other optional insurance coverage, retirement plan, all State holidays, and accrual of annual leave and sick leave.

THE APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

  • A complete professional resume or curriculum vitae,
  • Copies of all appropriate licenses, admissions to practice, and certificates of good standing for all Bars of which the applicant is a member,
  • Description of experience in managing attorneys and general law office management (staff, budgeting, and finances),
  • Detailed description of the services proposed to be provided and the methods to be employed in the provision of such services,
  • A written description of the applicant’s mission and vision for the office, including proposed core values, guiding principles, and strategic goals, and how the applicant plans to implement the same as part of the hiring, training, and performance evaluation process, and
  • A completed application for Director of the Madison County Public Defender’s Office for the 23rd Judicial Circuit. The application is linked here: https://www.alabar.org/assets/2026/06/Director-of-Madison-County-Public-Defenders-Office-Application.pdf

 

****DEADLINE****

 The application and supporting documents shall be submitted and received on or before July 31, 2026. Please do not contact the Advisory Board members directly. All applications and supporting documents should be submitted electronically to:

Kim McKoy, Court Administrator
Kim.McKoy@alacourt.gov