336 | How the San Mateo Private Defender Program is Trying to Earn Back the Community's Trust w/Lisa Maguire and Harpreet Samra
Release Date: 03/11/2025
362 | Is Illinois Taking the First Step to Establish State Wide Public Defense? w/Elisabeth Pollock and Stephanie Kollmann
Public Defenseless
Today, Hunter was joined once again Elisabeth Pollock and for the first time Stephanie Kollmann. On today’s episode, the three discuss the Fair Act in Illinois. This pending piece of legislation is set to be the first step for the state of Illinois to provide statewide support to Public Defense. Will it happen? Why is it necessary? All that and more on today’s episode. Guest Elisabeth Pollock, Chief Public Defender, Champagne County, Illinois Stephanie Kollmann, Policy Director, Children Family Justice Center, Northwestern University School of Law Resources: Sixth...
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361 | How a New Bail Law and Immigration Enforcement is Impacting Public Defense in Charleston, South Carolina w/Cameron Blazer
Public Defenseless
Today, Hunter was joined once again by the Chief Public Defender for South Carolina’s 9th Circuit, Cameron Blazer. This time, we discuss workload issues in her Circuit and how a new bail laws and immigration enforcement are making matters worse. Guest Cameron Blazer, Circuit Public Defender, 9th Circuit, Charleston and Berkley, South Carolina Resources: Email Cameron Here [email protected] SCCID Bond Laws Contact Hunter...
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360 | Is There a Better Way to Teach Criminal Law Part II w/Andrew Crespo
Public Defenseless
Today, Hunter was joined by Professor Andrew Crespo to continue the conversation about how we can improve how criminal law is taught. On this episode, we dive into the new criminal law text book that Andrew and his co-author, John Rappaport, recently published to learn a better way to teach criminal law. Guest Andrew Crespo, Professor of Law, Morris Wasserstein Public Interest Professor of Law Executive Faculty Director, Institute to End Mass Incarceration, Harvard University Resources: Andrew’s Faculty Page Andrew and John’s Book Contact Hunter...
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359 | Is There a Better Way to Teach Criminal Law? Part I w/Alice Ristroph
Public Defenseless
Today, Hunter was joined by Professor Alice Ristroph for the first of a two-part focus on how and why we teach Criminal Law the way we do. On today’s episode, Hunter and Alice explore the historical roots of criminal law teaching, critique it, and discuss ways in which we can improve how criminal law is taught to law students. Guest Alice Ristroph, Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School Resources: Contact Alice Here Read Alice’s Law Review Article Contact Hunter...
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358 | Why has the San Francisco Public Defender Stopped Taking New Cases One Day a Week? w/Mano Raju
Public Defenseless
Today, Hunter was joined once again by Mano Raju, the Elected Chief Public Defender in San Francisco. In the past couple of weeks, Mano made the difficult decision to stop accepting new case assignments one day a week. Thanks to the tough on crime policies of DA Brooke Jenkins and Prop 36, the workloads for San Francisco Public Defenders have reach unsustainable numbers. How did we get here, what comes next, and will this be a harbinger of things to come in California? All that and more on today’s episode. Guest Mano Raju, Chief Public Defender, San Francisco, California ...
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357 | Why are Minnesota Public Defenders Trying to Form an Independent Union? w/Bob Kolstad, Maggie Bott, Olivia Henstein
Public Defenseless
Today, Hunter was joined by Bob Kolstad, Maggie Bott, and Olivia Henstein to discuss why they are pushing Minnesota Public Defenders to create a new, independent union. In the past few years, the current union, organize under Teamsters, was able to secure massive salary raises for Public Defenders around the state. However, that strike threat was built without much help or support from the leadership of the Teamster’s union. As a result, rank and file members, public defenders and the staff of the offices, are considering starting their own public defender lead union. Guest Bob...
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356 | How the Chief Public Defender of Louisiana is Retaliating Against Public Defenders who Oppose his Power Grab w/Jim Boren
Public Defenseless
Today, Hunter was joined by longtime Louisiana Criminal Defense Lawyer and President of the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer, Jim Boren. Over the past year, Hunter has discussed the erosion of public defender independence since Remy Starns became the chief public defender of the state. Now, Remy Starns is slated to fire five chief public defenders from around the state who opposed some of the policies that consolidated power into his hands. Today’s episode is all about how this has happened and what the criminal defense bat should do in response. Guest Jim Boren,...
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355 | How Missouri Public Defenders are Leading the Nation In Statewide Holistic Defender Services w/Missouri Public Defenders
Public Defenseless
Today, Hunter was joined by a whole host of characters from the Missouri Public Defender System. When Hunter last looked into Missouri Public Defense, he spoke with Annie Legomsky to discuss the remarkable project of implementing Holistic Defense statewide. As one of the only statewide systems with holistic defense, Missouri stands as a great example of how finding creative sources of funding can allow Public Defenders to demonstrate to legislators the potential Public Defense has to improve the community once it has the funding to work outside of the four corners of the court room....
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354 | With so Many Good Things Happening in Massachusetts, When Will Public Defenders Finally Get They Pay Raises they Deserve? w/Anthony Benedetti
Public Defenseless
Today, Hunter was joined once again by Anthony Benedetti, Chief Counsel of the Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services. This time, Hunter and Anthony dive into what can be done about the low hourly rates for CPCS’s contract counsel and how recent courage from the bench and the state house gives them hope that those pay increases are in fact possible. Guest Anthony Benedetti, Chief Counsel, Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services Resources: CPCS Website Listen to my first episode with Anthony Here Contact Hunter...
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353 | After 18 Years in Prison, How One Man is Still Fighting to Prove his Innocence w/Ivery Dorsey
Public Defenseless
Today, Hunter was joined by Ivery Dorsey, a man who for the last 18 years was incarcerated for a homicide he did not commit. On a previous episode on the show, Hunter spoke with one of the students, Kerrie Liang, who have been fighting to prove Ivery’s innocence, but today, Ivery joins the show to tell his story. From the representation he received, the conditions of his confinement, and how he hopes to pursue his dreams of shoe design and music production, Ivery's hope for a better future is contagious. Guest Ivery Dorsey, Musician, Shoe Designer, and Formerly Wrongfully...
info_outlineToday, Hunter spoke with Lisa Maguire and Harpreet Samra of the San Mateo County Private Defender Program. Unlike the normal contract Public Defender model, the PDP operates as a managed assigned counsel system. As the Chief Defender, Lisa, manages a group of private contractors who handle the Public Defender needs of the county. This grants here significantly more oversight than in a traditional Private Defender System. Harpreet is the lead for the PDP’s Social Worker program, and she ensures attorneys connect with Social Workers in their cases. From each of their areas of expertise, Lisa and Harpreet are working to correct the issues documented with PDP over the years. While their work has the PDP moving in a positive direction, the presence of flat rate fee compensation and the fall out from a series of insulting, racist emails sent by former PDP members leave Lisa and Harpreet with an ongoing battle to earn the trust back of the community they serve.
Guest
Lisa Maguire, Chief Defender, Private Defender Program, San Mateo County, CA
Harpreet Samra, Social Worker Lead, Private Defender Program, San Mateo County, CA
Resources:
Contact Lisa and Harpreet
PDP Website
https://www.smcgov.org/private-defender-program
Past Reports on San Mateo
https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/private_defender_program.pdf
https://www.smcgov.org/media/2466/download?inline=
https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/balance_scale_of_justice.pdf
Emails About Silicon Valley De-Bug
https://x.com/svdebug/status/1838380292765327581
*** Note on the Episode****
Following my conversation with Lisa and Harpreet flat rate fees in the PDP, Lisa informed me that the Office of the State Public Defender in California released Standards for Contract Panels. They discourage any flat fee compensation. As a result, Lisa will now be working with the county to move away from the flat rate fees towards an all-hourly compensation rate.
New Standards Can be Found Here
https://www.ospd.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CA-Standards_ContractPanelDefense.pdf
Contact Hunter Parnell:
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
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