Salary : $191,701.97 – $233,006.08 Annually
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 23/08-4048-DP
Department: Public Defender’s Office (PDO)
Division: PUB DEF – Public Defender (4501)
Opening Date: 08/03/2023
Closing Date: 8/17/2023 11:59 PM Pacific
Position Information
THIS RECRUITMENT IS PROMOTIONAL ONLY. YOU MUST PRESENTLY BE A FULL- OR PART-TIME REGULAR OR PROBATIONARY COUNTY OF SONOMA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, SONOMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, OR SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY EMPLOYEE IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION.
The Public Defender’s Office has requested a department promotional certification to fill a Chief Deputy Public Defender position. Only qualified permanent and/or probationary Public Defender employees on the eligible list may be eligible for referral to the department for the advertised position.
The Chief Deputy Public Defender management level position provides oversight to staff and the operational functions within the Public Defender’s Office. They handle the most complex legal work, assist in general office management, and develop department policies and procedures.
The ideal candidate will lead, supervise, and motivate staff, and possess:
- Extensive trial experience
- Genuine interest in helping other attorneys by sharing knowledge of defense theories, investigation strategies, and trial tactics
- Excellent research and writing skills
- The ability to work directly with the Public Defender on management issues
- Training and/or experience in administrative management and supervision
- The desire and aptitude to represent the Office in the community and to work collaboratively with criminal justice stakeholders
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Significant legal experience subsequent to membership in the State Bar of California that directly relates to the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, five years of legal experience practicing criminal law as a licensed attorney with emphasis upon the preparation and trial of felony cases, including the equivalent of two years of experience at the level Deputy Public Defender IV with Sonoma County.
License: Current active membership in the State Bar of California. Possession of a valid California driver’s license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Extensive knowledge of: the duties, powers, limitations, and authorities of the Office of the Public Defender; the principles of criminal law, principles of trial procedure, and rules of evidence; legal research methods and judicial procedures; the statutory and constitutional laws of the State of California.
Considerable knowledge of: effective supervisory techniques; written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition.
Ability to: research, analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to complex legal problems; plan, assign, coordinate and review the work of subordinate professional and support personnel; effectively orient, train, supervise and evaluate subordinate departmental personnel; prepare and present statements of law, fact and argument clearly, logically and persuasively in written and oral form in all legal matters; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff members, departmental representatives, county officials, the courts, law enforcement agency officials, and the general public; understand and accept differences in human behavior, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state “See Resume” or “See Application” may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant’s application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONA background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLYApplications are accepted online at. Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: JT
HR Technician: RR
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*
These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County paid premium contribution.
Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit
IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to or, contact the Human Resources’ Risk Management-Benefits Office at or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
01
Do you have a current active membership in the State Bar of California?
- Yes
- No
02
Please describe your legal experience practicing criminal law as a licensed attorney, including:
- Years of criminal defense experience, the assignments held and length of time in each assignment
- Number of misdemeanor and felony criminal jury trials
- The two most serious cases you have handled with a brief description of your role, the challenges of the case, and the outcome
03
Please describe the projects that you have worked on within the Public Defender’s office that improved service to clients and/or increased efficiency for the public defender’s office. Include your role and the outcome of these projects.
04
Please describe your experience collaborating with people and organizations outside of the Public Defender’s office, including, but not limited to, other county departments and/or with community-based organizations. Include your role and the outcome of these projects.
05
Please describe your lead and/or supervisory experience. Detail the number and types of staff (e.g., professional, technical, administrative) for which you were responsible. Include your experience in the areas of training, coaching/mentoring, recruitment, and performance evaluation.
Required Question