Attorney Tom Wagner is retiring from his position as a contract public defender for City and Borough of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Attorney Tom Wagner is retiring from his position as a contract public defender for City and Borough of Juneau. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City’s public defender retiring after working more than 11,000 cases in 17 years

The numbers from the past 17 years of Tom Wagner’s life are staggering.

Wagner, who is retiring from being a public defender for the city at the end of this month, has handled 11,000 cases since his contract with the city began in 2000.

Many of those cases have included more than one count, Wagner said, meaning that he’s dealt with about 19,000 charges between about 4,000 clients over that time. He usually has between 80 and 100 cases open at once.

He laughed as he sat in his office in a house on Harris Street, listing off the statistics from his 17 years with the city.

“I consider that a life’s work,” Wagner said.

For the rest of this story, visit the Juneau Empire.


 

More in News

Gov. Mike Dunleavy compares Alaska to Mississippi data on poverty, per-pupil education spending, and the 2024 National Assessment of Education Progress 4th grade reading scores during a press conference on Jan. 31, 2025. Alaska is highlighted in yellow, while Mississippi is in red. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Dunleavy vetoes education funding to $500 BSA increase

Per-student funding was increased by $700 in an education bill passed by the Alaska Legislature in May.

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Job Center is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on April 15, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion file)
Minimum wage increases to $13 per hour on July 1

Since 2014, Alaska’s minimum wage has increased from $7.75 to $11.91 through the Alaska Wage and Hour Act.

Leads for the Sterling Safety Corridor Improvements Project field questions and showcase their “preferred design” during an open house meeting at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Preferred design alternative for Sterling Highway safety corridor introduced at town hall

The project is intended to redesign and construct improvements to the highway to reduce the number of fatal and serious collisions.

Alaska State Troopers badge. File photo
Recovered remains confirmed to be missing Texas boaters; fourth set of remains found

Remains were recovered from the vessel sank that in Kachemak Bay last August.

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland speaks during a meeting of the KPBSD Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD issues notice of non-retention to pool managers, theater techs and library aides

Those notices were issued due to the ongoing uncertainty in state education funding.

National Guard members put on hazmat suits before entering the simulation area on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
National Guard begins exercise in Juneau simulating foreign terrorist attacks

Operation ORCA brings 100 personnel to Juneau, disrupts traffic around Capitol.

Woman of Wisdom Roberta Highland holds her award from South Peninsula Haven House in this photo taken July 25, 2020, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo courtesy South Peninsula Haven House)
Borough assembly commends Roberta Highland

The longtime Homer resident passed away in April 24 at age 75.

Anchor Point Library director Deanna Thomas works the front counter on Friday, June 6, 2025, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Anchor Point Library awarded Rasmuson grant

Grant funding will relieve issues with the building’s septic system.

Most Read