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State law to create statewide public defender office will affect county payrolls, State's Attorney says
Summary
State's Attorney Dan Markwell told the Finance Committee the Governor signed a law creating a statewide public defender office effective January 2027; the new office's salaries will be tied to county state's attorney pay (95% for full‑time public defender) and may require local budgeting changes.
Dan Markwell, DeWitt County State's Attorney, informed the Finance Committee that the Governor signed legislation creating a statewide office of the public defender that takes effect in January 2027. Markwell said the statute sets compensation for a full‑time public defender at 95% of the county state's attorney's salary and requires parity for assistant defenders to match assistant state's attorney pay, a change that will have implications for local budgets and staffing.
Markwell advised the committee to expect conversations about funding and payroll adjustments as counties plan for the law’s implementation. The committee did not take formal action on the item during the Aug. 18 meeting; Markwell’s announcement was recorded to alert county officials to the upcoming statutory change and to prompt local planning ahead of the 2027 effective date.
