JOINT STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE USE OF PRETRIAL RISK ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS

This statement was written and endorsed by the following organizations: American Council of Chief Dedenders (NLADA), Gideon's Promise, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the National Association for Public Defense (NAPD), and the National Legal Aid and Defedner […]

When Parents Are Incarcerated

I have seen a lot of angry, wayward kids in my life.  Providing a voice for them has given me a purpose.  I have been a child advocate my entire career.  I have been defending kids who have lost their […]

Why Do We Need More Standards?

Foundational Standards.  Ho Hum, right?  I’m writing this to ask you to take a look.   The Steering Committee of NAPD passed the Foundational Principles on March 16, 2017.  This ended a process of 18 months that began with an idea by […]

Judge Tosses Most Charges Against SFPD Shooting Victim – Public Defender Calls on DA to Drop Remaining Charges

This blog is reprinted from the San Francisco Public Defender's Office press release issues April 27, 2017. A judge threw out a slew of charges against a man who was shot by San Francisco Police Department officers while unarmed on […]

Implicit Bias: The Conversation Starts With Me

Studies show that if you are a public defender, you suffer from implicit racial bias. This is far from an original idea, and I am not the first to shed light on the problem.[1]  Actually, everyone on the planet is […]

Does the Death Penalty Juror Selection Process Produce More Racist Juries?

In a death-penalty case, jurors have to be willing not only to consider guilt, but willing to consider giving someone a death sentence. If a potential juror would never sentence anyone to death for any reason, he or she is […]

Juab County Ensures Constitutional Indigent Defense in Juab County Courts

This blog is reprinted from the press release of the Utah Indigent Defense Commission on April 20, 2017. With state grant monies from the Utah Indigent Defense Commission, Juab County ensures constitutional indigent defense in Juab County courts. The Utah Indigent […]

Ode to Dennis Murphy

Since his passing on March 21, 2017, much has been said and heard of the great Dennis Murphy, the former Director of Training at The Legal Aid Society in New York.  Much more can be said, will be said and […]

Aider & Abettor: Raise the Age (Episode 6)

Two public defenders are podcasting about law and culture in Aider & Abettor.   In Episode 6, Sajid Khan and Avi Singh talk about recent criminal justice reforms in New York. In the Opening Statement, they discuss the campaign to #raisetheage and […]

New Orleans Public Defenders Featured on 60 Minutes Sunday

Past and current attorneys of the New Orleans Public Defenders Office tell Anderson Cooper they believe innocent clients have gone to prison because they lacked the time and resources to defend them properly.   The system is so overburdened that in 2016 New Orleans […]