Where can I take an implicit bias test?

The NC Public Defender Commission on Racial Equity (NC PDCORE) is a committee of the North Carolina Public Defender Association. The mission of NC PDCORE is to reduce and ultimately eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system […]

When a (White) Public Defender Knows His Rights

I'm a white, Ivy-league educated public defender. One night on my way to meet a friend at a bar in the Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco, I happened upon the police arresting an older black man. I began recording the arrest on my […]

The Aider and Abettor

Avi Singh and I are two Indian American public defenders in San Jose, CA who talk current events, criminal justice, the law, pop culture and sports on The Aider & Abettor Podcast.  We hope to provide unique, thoughtful takes on […]

Pushing Back on Anti-Protest Legislation

In recent weeks and months, there have been multiple written articles that have pointed to the wave of new anti-protesting bills introduced in state legislatures since the end of 2016. The Intercept, Washington Post, AlterNet, Democracy Now!, and other news […]

Hennepin County PDO’s Expungement Project

As a young man I was convicted of a few misdemeanor crimes.  I still clearly remember being denied housing opportunities and retail positions due to my criminal record.  I can recall the feelings of helplessness and powerlessness those denials evoked, […]

Hennepin County PDO’s Expungement Project

I was excited to be asked to join this new expungement project that Gabriel was creating. As Gabriel mentioned above, we are working on getting the records sealed for misdemeanor cases that have been dismissed.  Once the case is dismissed, […]

Arlington County’s New Fast Track to Criminal Records for the Poor: Skip the Attorney

Effective March 1st, it will become significantly more convenient for the criminal justice system in Arlington County to establish criminal records for poor people charged with possession of marijuana: in many cases they won’t be appointed a lawyer.  The figurative […]

How One “Ordinary Inmate” Changed Legal History

Today is an important day!  You may not know this but 54 years ago today, the United States Supreme Court said that anyone charged with a serious crime who wanted a lawyer but could not afford one must be given […]

Celebrating Public Defenders and Support Staff

This statement was adapted from the statement read by Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson. Saturday, March 18th marks the 54th Anniversary of the United States Supreme Court decision, Gideon v. Wainwright, where the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that states are […]

48 Years Ago…

Yep—it was that long ago.  I had graduated from college in 1969, and after some difficult times wondering whether I would be drafted before I was called up for VISTA, I left for Montevideo, Minnesota, where I was a VISTA […]