United States Courts
Federal Public Defender, Northern District of Florida
United States Courts, Pensacola, Florida, United States, 32573
Job Details for Federal Public Defender, Northern District of Florida
Cour swift title: Florida Northern Federal Public Defender
Overview of the Position: The Federal Public Defender, under authority of 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(g)(2)(A), provides criminal defense services to individuals unable to afford counsel and supervises a full‑time staff of attorneys, administrative and clerical personnel.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit invites applications for its Federal Public Defender position for the Northern District of Florida. The current salary is $195,200. The 2026 salary has not been released yet. The selected candidate may sit in any location that the Northern District of Florida has a Federal Public Defender office: Gainesville, Tallahassee, or Pensacola. The court is searching for the best qualified person and encourages applications from all qualified persons. Although the incumbent Federal Public Defender, Joseph F. DeBelder, intends to seek reappointment to this position, there is no presumptive right to reappointment and the court will consider all applications under the same standards.
The Federal Public Defender, under authority of 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(g)(2)(A), provides criminal defense services to individuals unable to afford counsel and supervises a full‑time staff of attorneys and administrative and clerical personnel. Federal public defenders may not engage in the private practice of law and are subject to judiciary financial disclosure requirements.
Qualifications To qualify for appointment as the Federal Public Defender applicants must:
Be members in good standing of at least one state bar or the District of Columbia or the Virgin Islands bar, and members in good standing of every other bar of which they are members.
Have been engaged in the active practice of criminal law for a period of at least five years, preferably with significant federal criminal trial and appellate experience.
Possess the ability to administer a Federal Public Defender’s office effectively.
Possess, and have a reputation for:
Integrity and good character
Sound physical and mental health
Commitment to equal justice under law and vigorous representation of his or her clients
Outstanding legal ability and competence (evidenced by substantial legal experience, ability to deal with complex legal problems, aptitude for legal scholarship and writing, and familiarity with courts and court processes)
Have a commitment to the vigorous representation of those unable to afford counsel.
Not be related by blood or marriage to a judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals or to a judge of the district court to be served, within the degrees specified in Title 28, U.S. Code, Section 458 at the time of the initial appointment.
Application Info The application is available on the court’s website; from any Federal Clerk of Court in the states of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia; and from Ashlyn D. Beck, Circuit Executive, 56 Forsyth Street, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Applications should be emailed in confidence as one single PDF attachment to the Circuit Executive’s Office at
ca11_appointments@ca11.uscourts.gov
on or before Feb. 12, 2026. Please indicate
Federal Public Defender - FLND
in the subject line.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Overview of the Position: The Federal Public Defender, under authority of 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(g)(2)(A), provides criminal defense services to individuals unable to afford counsel and supervises a full‑time staff of attorneys, administrative and clerical personnel.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit invites applications for its Federal Public Defender position for the Northern District of Florida. The current salary is $195,200. The 2026 salary has not been released yet. The selected candidate may sit in any location that the Northern District of Florida has a Federal Public Defender office: Gainesville, Tallahassee, or Pensacola. The court is searching for the best qualified person and encourages applications from all qualified persons. Although the incumbent Federal Public Defender, Joseph F. DeBelder, intends to seek reappointment to this position, there is no presumptive right to reappointment and the court will consider all applications under the same standards.
The Federal Public Defender, under authority of 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(g)(2)(A), provides criminal defense services to individuals unable to afford counsel and supervises a full‑time staff of attorneys and administrative and clerical personnel. Federal public defenders may not engage in the private practice of law and are subject to judiciary financial disclosure requirements.
Qualifications To qualify for appointment as the Federal Public Defender applicants must:
Be members in good standing of at least one state bar or the District of Columbia or the Virgin Islands bar, and members in good standing of every other bar of which they are members.
Have been engaged in the active practice of criminal law for a period of at least five years, preferably with significant federal criminal trial and appellate experience.
Possess the ability to administer a Federal Public Defender’s office effectively.
Possess, and have a reputation for:
Integrity and good character
Sound physical and mental health
Commitment to equal justice under law and vigorous representation of his or her clients
Outstanding legal ability and competence (evidenced by substantial legal experience, ability to deal with complex legal problems, aptitude for legal scholarship and writing, and familiarity with courts and court processes)
Have a commitment to the vigorous representation of those unable to afford counsel.
Not be related by blood or marriage to a judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals or to a judge of the district court to be served, within the degrees specified in Title 28, U.S. Code, Section 458 at the time of the initial appointment.
Application Info The application is available on the court’s website; from any Federal Clerk of Court in the states of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia; and from Ashlyn D. Beck, Circuit Executive, 56 Forsyth Street, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Applications should be emailed in confidence as one single PDF attachment to the Circuit Executive’s Office at
ca11_appointments@ca11.uscourts.gov
on or before Feb. 12, 2026. Please indicate
Federal Public Defender - FLND
in the subject line.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
#J-18808-Ljbffr