Libsyn Directory

372 | The Community Organizers Helping Detroit Reach its Lowest Crime Rate in 60 Years w/Dujuan "Zoe" Kennedy

Release Date: 07/08/2025

393 | Ending Isolation: The Case Against Solitary Confinement w/Christopher Blackwell

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by activist, prisoner journalist, and author of Ending Isolation, Christopher Blackwell. On this episode, Chris and Hunter discuss the book, the horrors of solitary confinement, and why the practice needs to end. Guest: Christopher Blackwell, activist, prisoner journalist, and author of Ending Isolation, and executive director of Look 2 Justice Resources: Christopher Blackwell’s website and Socials Look to Justice Broken is Beautiful Podcast Contact Hunter...

392 | Can Public Defenders Become a Greater Check on the Three Branches of Government? w/Chesa Boudin and Eric Fish

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was once again joined by Chesa Boudin and Eric Fish to discuss a law review article they recently published. This time, they are talking about Public Defenders and the Separation of Powers. While this seems like a law school paper for law school professors, the fundamental question posed by this episode is how Public Defenders can/should increase their political capacity to act as a check on the other branches of government. Guest: Chesa Boudin, Executive Director, Criminal Law and Justice Center, Berkley Law Eric Fish, Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law ...

391 | Debating The Problems and Promises of the Public Defender National Workload Study Part 2 w/Bob Boruchowitz

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter hosted a debate between Professor John Gross and Professor Bob Boruchowitz about the Public Defender National Workload Standards. Back in the spring of this year, John penned an article about some of the methodological and pragmatic issues with the National Workload study. Meanwhile, Bob has been working in Washington for decades to bring meaningful, enforceable workload standards across the state. Today, Hunter spoke with both of them to hear each side of this debate and to try and figure out the best way to use the national workload standards. Guest: John Gross,...

390 | Debating the Problems and Promises of the Public Defender National Workload Study Part 1 w/John Gross

Public Defenseless

389 | How Cook County Public Defenders are Preparing for Trump Deploying the National Guard to Chicago w/Sharone Mitchell Jr. and Sharlyn Grace

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Sharone Mitchell Jr. and Sharlyn Grace of the Cook County Public Defender Office. As we have already seen in Los Angeles and D.C., President Trump is threatening to deploy the national guard to Chicago to combat “crime.” Today, Sharone and Sharlyn joined the show to discuss what is actually happening on the ground in Chicago, what the city needs to continue improving public safety, and what Trump’s threats are actually about. Guest: Sharone Mitchell Jr., Chief Public Defender, Cook County, Chicago, Illinois Sharlyn Grace, Deputy Public...

388 | How Public Defenders Can Make it Easier to Win More Courtroom Arguments w/Eve Primus

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Professor Eve Primus. This time, Eve joined the show to discuss her newest law review article “Burdens of Proof in Criminal Procedure.” At first glance, this might seem like a boring, technical legal topic, but the burden of proof is often the only thing that matters in a criminal trial. As Eve points out, the entire case can hinge on who has to prove what and when they have to prove it. Guest: Eve Primus, Professor of Law, University of Michigan School of Law Resources: Read Eve’s Work ...

387 | The Junk "Science" Cops Use to Stop, Frisk, and Search People w/Amanda Savage

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Professor Amanda Savage to discuss her latest law review article “The Pseudoscience of Gun Hunting”. In the article, Amanda explains the cop created “Characteristics of an Armed Person” training that cops undergo to identify who may or may not have a weapon. As with many cop created “sciences,” CAP is the perfect tool for police to use if they want to stop, search, and frisk someone for any reason or no reason at all. Guest: Amanda Savage, Professor of Law, Denver University School of Law Resources: Read Amanda’s Work ...

386 | Why Have the Private Defense Lawyers who Take 40% of Federal Public Defense Cases Stopped Getting Paid? w/Renae Alt-Summers and Mekka Jeffers-Nelson

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was Renae Alt-Summers and Mekka Jeffers-Nelson to discuss the payment stoppage for Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorneys. Just like state public defender systems, the federal public defender system relies on private defense counsel to take conflict cases and serve as the primary way to deliver public defender services. Yet as of the start of July, those CJA panel attorneys have had payments stopped, and those payments aren’t set to come back online until at least October. So, what will happen to the federal public defender system now and in the future? Guest: Renae...

385 | How a Public Defender Fought for a Better Legal System in the Utah State Legislature w/Grant Miller

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Grant Miller, Salt Lake City Public Defender and Representative of Utah’s 24th House District. Last time that he was on the show, Grant was running for office. Now, Grant joins to discuss how his first legislative session went. From passing a bill to reduce fines and fees to helping ensure the Overton window didn’t shift too far to tough on crime side, Grant gives us a reason to be optimistic even when we hold minimal political power. Guest: Grant Miller, Public Defender and Utah House Representative, Salt Lake City, House District 24 ...

384 | How Texas is Trying to Improve Access to Family Defense Attorneys w/Crystal Leff-Piñon

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Crystal Leff-Piñon, Director of TIDC’s family protection representation unit. On Tuesday, Hunter and Scott Ehlers discussed the funding problem and attorney shortages leading to a slow moving crisis in rural Texas. Today, Crystal joins to share how similar the issues are for family defense throughout the state of Texas. Guest: Crystal Leff-Piñon, Director, Family Protection Representation, Texas Indigent Defense Commission Resources: TIDC Website: Contact Crystal Contact Hunter...

More Episodes

Today, Hunter was joined by Dujuan “Zoe” Kennedy of Force Detroit a Community Violence Intervention organization in Detroit. For decades, Detroit was known around the country for being the poster child for the decaying state of U.S. manufacturing. With this reputation as a decaying city came a reputation for high rates of violent crime, but over the past few years, Detroit has seen some of the lowest rates of homicides, gun crimes, and violent crimes it has in 60 years. Zoe joins the podcast to explain how through community interventions, and not policing, the city has provided a model for alternative solutions to violence.

Guest

Dujuan “Zoe” Kennedy, Executive Director, Force Detroit, Michigan

Resources:

Force Detroit

https://forcedetroit.org/

More About Zoe

https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/man-convicted-of-murder-turns-his-life-around-to-stop-violence-in-the-community/

https://www.instagram.com/dujuanzoe/

More About Remarkable Crime Rate Reductions in Detroit

https://detroitmi.gov/news/detroit-partnerships-result-another-historic-drop-violent-crime-2024-fewest-homicides-1965-shootings

https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/detroit-reports-historic-drop-in-violent-crime-2024/

https://detroitmi.gov/news/detroit-ends-2023-fewest-homicides-57-years-double-digit-drops-shootings-and-carjackings-thanks-dpd