Libsyn Directory

289 | The Horrible Direction Louisiana Public Defense is Headed Under its New Leadership w/Derwyn Bunton

Release Date: 10/22/2024

303 | How A.I. Can Help Public Defenders Challenge Police and Prosecutors Part 2 w/Prabhas Pokharel

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter is joined be the Co-Founder of Reduct, Prabhas Pokharel. Building from Tuesday’s conversation about tech, AI, and Public Defense, Hunter and Prabhas explore the ways AI and Reduct can help Public Defenders take on Police and Prosecutors. Guests: Prabhas Pokharel, Co-Founder, Reduct Resources: Reduct Website, Socials, and Contact Standford Legal AI Study Contact Hunter...

302 | How A.I. is Helping Police and Prosecutors Surveil, Arrest, and Incarcerate People w/Andrew Ferguson

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter is joined once again by Professor Andrew Ferguson. Last time Andrew was on the show, he and Hunter discussed the state of the 4th Amendment in the digital era. This time, Hunter and Andrew dive into three law review articles Andrew has recently published. The first discussed a new framework for analyzing the 4th Amendment. The second and third articles are all about new, dangerous was police and prosecutors are relying on AI. Guests: Andrew Ferguson, Professor of Law, American University Washington College of Law Resources: Andrew’s Faculty Page ...

301 | How A.I. Can Help Public Defenders Challenge Police and Prosecutors Part 1 w/IV Ashton

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter is joined by IV Ashton, Founder and President of Legal Server, to discuss how a quality case management system and powerful AI tools can help Public Defenders pose more systemic challenges to police and prosecutors Guests: IV Ashton, President and Founder, Legal Server Resources: Legal Server Website Contact Hunter Parnell: @PublicDefenselessPodcast ...

300 | How Mitigation is Helping Veterans Escape the Criminal Legal System w/Nancy Farrell and Dee Miller

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter is joined by Nancy Farrell and Dee Miller of the New York Vet Defense Program. Previously on the show, Hunter and other guests have described the power of veteran and other treatment courts. However, we have often lamented at the limited scope that this courts offer veterans who need help but just not drug or alcohol treatment. With this program, Nancy and Dee offer veterans the culturally competent mitigation and service connection that helps Vets escape the criminal legal system. Guests: Nancy Farrell, Director, New York Vet Defense Dee Miller, Program Coordinator,...

299 | How NAPD is Fostering a National Forum for Public Defense Innovations w/Jeff Sherr

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter is joined once again by NAPD’s Jeff Sherr. This time, they sat down to discuss NAPD’s new Change Maker Forum, what Hunter learned from attending, and how NAPD hopes to use it to spark new, impactful changes in Public Defense. Guests: Jeff Sherr, Director of Training, National Association of Public Defense Resources: NAPD Changemaker Forum 2025 Notes from 2024 Contact Hunter...

298 |What the History of ULCA’s Police Department Tells Us About the Issues with Campus Police w/Andrew Guerrero

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter is joined by Ph.D. candidate and law student Andrew Gurrero to discuss his research about the evolution of the UCLA police department. In this episode, Hunter and Andrew explore the origins of the department and the forces that drove the department away from its original mandate. Guests: Andrew Gurrero, Ph.D Candidate, Harvard Resources: Read Sources Discussed in the Episode Here Contact Hunter...

297 | The Successes and Failings of Plea Bargaining in Europe w/Rebecca Shaeffer

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter is joined once again by Rebecca Schaffer to discuss plea bargaining in Europe. As we did on Tuesday, this episode aims to help people understand the intractable problems with plea deals and what countries are doing to try and ameliorate those problems Guests: Rebecca Schaffer, Former Legal Director, Fair Trials Resources: Follow Rebecca on Twitter Email Rebecca Read the Reports Contact Hunter...

296 | How South Dakota is Fixing its Public Defense Crisis w/Aditi Goel

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter is joined once again by Aditi Goel of the Sixth Amendment Center. This time, we discuss their recent report about Public Defense in South Dakota. Like many county based, county funded Public Defense systems, South Dakota is plagued with underfunding, under staffing, lack of independence, and cost saving practices that make Public Defense ineffective. Yet, this episode has a ray of hope because for the first time in its history, the state appears poised to radically reimagine how it funds, supports, and organizes Public Defense. Guests: Aditi Goel, Deputy Director,...

295 | What Can be Learned About Plea Bargaining from Japan's Failed Plea Experiment w/Lucian Dervan

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter is joined once again by Lucian Dervan to discuss plea bargaining. This time, he joins to discuss what we can learn about plea bargaining from Japan’s failed attempt to implement plea bargaining system. Guests: Lucian Dervan, Professor of Law and Director of Criminal Justice Studies, Belmont College of Law, Founding Director of the Plea Bargaining Institute Resources: Link to Lucian’s book on Plea Bargaining Lucian’s Work with Plea Bargaining Institute Study on Japan and Korea Original Study Contact Hunter...

294 | A Judicial Candidate Speaks Out Against Retaliation by a High Ranking Member of Oregon Public Defense w/Rachel Philips

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter is joined by Oregon Criminal Defense and Victim’s Rights lawyer Rachel Philips. Over the past three years, Rachel has been outspoken about retaliation that women attorneys faced from members of the Oregon Public Defense Commission. She joins the show to discuss her efforts to bring that retaliation to light and to discuss her candidacy for a seat on the bench in Multnomah County. Guests: Rachel Philips, Criminal Defense Lawyer, Victim’s Rights Lawyer, Candidate for Judicial Position 38, Multnomah County, Oregon Resources: Links to the Judicial Race: ...

More Episodes

Today, Hunter is joined once again by Derwyn Bunton. The last time Derwyn was on the show, he was the chief Public Defender in the Orleans Parish of Louisiana, but he is now the Chief Legal Officer at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Today, Derwyn joined the show to discuss what has been happening with Louisiana’s Public Defender system. Specifically, Derwyn is here to discuss the consolidation of power into the hands of Remy Starns and the policies Remy is pursuing with his new found power.

Guests:

Derwyn Bunton, Chief Legal Officer, Southern Poverty Law Center

Resources:

Contact the Southern Poverty Law Center

https://www.instagram.com/splcenter/

https://www.facebook.com/SPLCenter

https://x.com/splcenter

https://www.splcenter.org/about/staff/derwyn-bunton

Coverage of Louisiana Public Defense

https://boltsmag.org/jeff-landry-louisiana-public-defense/

https://lailluminator.com/2024/02/19/proposed-louisiana-public-defender-overhaul-is-a-power-grab-critics-say/

Board votes down Starns’ proposal for salary cuts