All Blogs
Ms. Blume Won’t Be the Last
When I first read the headline that Taryn Blume’s case had been dismissed, I felt relief and joy. Relief that Ms. Blume would be spared an unjustifiable prosecution and joy knowing that the DA, after two years, had finally made […]
Who Tells Our Clients Stories?
At the end of the smash hit musical, “Hamilton,” George Washington warns, “Let me tell you what I’d wish I’d known, when I was young and dreamed of glory. You have no control: Who lives, Who dies, Who tells your […]
Public Defender Vows to Keep Fighting for Universal Representation
This blog is reprinted from the San Francisco Public Defender's Office press release on 12/15/16. San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi vowed to keep fighting for due process for immigrants in detention after the mayor struck a deal that fell […]
Stand with Taryn, Stand for Justice
Two years ago an investigator named Taryn Blume for the Orleans Public Defenders was indicted for impersonating a peace officer. Next week, this case goes to trial. The facts are as follows: In the course of representation of a […]
For the Children
Okay, it is fair to say that 2016 has been, well . . . let’s just say tumultuous. It has had some ups and downs – big downs. But good things come to those who wait. The Ohio Supreme Court […]
TIDC Releases Studies on Caseloads
The Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) just released caseload studies for representation in juvenile<http://www.tidc.texas.gov/media/50834/161108_wcl-juvenile.pdf> and appellate<http://www.tidc.texas.gov/media/50833/161108_wcl-appellate.pdf> cases. These are addendums to the 2015 publication of "Guidelines for Indigent Defense Caseloads<http://www.tidc.texas.gov/resources/publications/reports/special-reports/weightedcaseloadstudy.aspx>" for adult felony and misdemeanor cases. The studies were a […]
Heroic Work to Prevent Missouri Execution
This week the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals set the briefing for review of a federal district court’s arbitrary denial of funding that has resulted in deprivation of meaningful assistance of counsel for a mentally impaired death row inmate. NAPD’s […]
Listen to the Second Season of Serial
Like many people, I listened intently to the first season of the Serial podcast, and its story of the murder of Hae Min Lee and the subsequent prosecution (and defense) of her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed. The series took the digital […]
Race Judicata
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 […]
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