Libsyn Directory

481 | Was a Former Colorado Public Defender Fired for Raising Concerns over his Workload? Part 2 w/Travis Weiner

Release Date: 05/27/2026

504 | By Helping Victims and Perpetrators, Domestic Violence can Be Solved Without Relying on the Criminal Legal System w/Liz Ortenburger

Public Defenseless

Hunter is joined by Liz Ortenburger, the CEO of Safe Nest. Liz and her team at Safe Nest operate a shelter and aid center for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. As Liz sees it, the conventional approach to domestic violence, policing and incarceration, is simply insufficient to end the cycles of violence that lead to domestic violence. Liz joined the show to discuss the different approach Safe Nest takes to try and eradicate domestic violence. Guest: Liz Ortenburger, CEO, Safe Nest, Clark County, Nevada Resource: Check out Safe Nest Here Contact Hunter...

503 | Why is the NDS Union on Strike? UPDATE THEY WON!! w/Ashley Munger, Katherine Shamsie, and Samantha Rudelich

Public Defenseless

Breaking news: As the evening of Aug 4, the NDS Union won a contract!! Hunter is joined by Ashley Munger, Katherine Shamsie, and Samantha Rudelich of the NDS Union. The union, representing NDS Harlem, NDS Detroit, and NDS Texas, have been on strike. Hunter sits down with them to discuss why they went on strike, what they hope to accomplish, and what management needs to do to end this strike. Guest: Ashley Munger, Staff Attorney, Criminal Division, NDS Detroit Katherine Shamsie, Staff Attorney, Criminal Division, NDS Texas Samantha Rudelich, Staff Attorney,...

502 | How a Not Guilty Verdict in a Homicide Case Shows the Promise of Idaho's Statewide Public Defense System w/Eric Fredericksen and Doug Nelson

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined once again by two guests from the Idaho State Public Defender System. Eric Fredericksen, State Public Defender, and Doug Nelson, Litigation Director, join the show to provide an update on the Idaho State System and to highlight a case that shows why the state wide system is better for the people of Idaho. Guest: Eric Fredericksen, State Public Defender, Idaho Doug Nelson, Litigation Director, Idaho Resource: Learn More about the System Here Contact Hunter Parnell: @PublicDefenselessPodcast...

501 | Why Public Defenders Need the Insights and Expertise of Formerly Incarcerated People in Their Offices w/Jennifer Jennison and Sammy Provencio

Public Defenseless

Hunter is joined once again by Jennifer Jennison and joining us for the first time is Sammy Provencio. After spending more than 30 years in custody, Sammy has joined the Stanislaus County Public Defender Office to help run their newest community-centred initiative, the Hub. Jennifer and Sammy join the show to share what the Hub is, what it does, and to share the power of having formerly incarcerated people work in a Public Defender Office. Guest: Jennifer Jennison, Chief Public Defender, Stanislaus County, California Sammy Provencio, Client Support Specialist, Group Facilitator,...

500 | Public Defense is Underfunded, but by How Much? Putting a Conservative Number on the Cost of the Right to Counsel w/Ben Polk

Public Defenseless

Hunter is joined by Ben Polk, Director of the Transformative Justice Project at New York University School of Law, Robert and Helen Bernstein Institute for Human Rights to discuss a recent law review article he authored where he conservatively estimated it would cost $28 billion to fund Public Defense nationwide. Guest: Ben Polk, Director, Transformative Justice Project and Research Scholar, New York University School of Law, Robert and Helen Bernstein Institute for Human Rights, Resource: Read the Article Here Ben’s Faculty Page Contact Hunter...

499 | When Delays in the Appointment of Counsel Violate the Constitution w/Eve Primus

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Professor Eve Primus to discuss another excellent law review article about Public Defense. This time, Professor Primus details how delays in the appointment of counsel can and do create Constitutional violations that PDs can challenge. Guest: Eve Primus, Professor of Law, University of Michigan Resource: Read the Article Here Contact Eve MDefenders Contact Hunter Parnell: @PublicDefenselessPodcast...

498 | How the Allegheny County Public Defender is Getting their Clients Out of Custody and into Care w/Alena Chulick

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Alena Chulick, the Co-Founder and Project Manager of Project Rehabilitate out of the Allegheny County Public Defender. Thanks to a federal grant, Project Rehabilitate has been able to keep people out of custody and kept them in the care they need to get back on their feet. Guest: Alena Chulick, Co-Founder and Project Manager, Project Rehabilitate, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Resource: Project Rehabilitate Allegheny County PD Website Contact Hunter Parnell: @PublicDefenselessPodcast...

497 | How Did the Tribal Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Build a Model Holistic Defender Service w/Ann Miller, Susette Billedeaux, and Josh Cahoon

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Ann Miller, Susette Billedeaux, and Josh Cahoon from the Tribal Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. They joined the show to the tell the history of this office and how they’ve built it into a model holistic office. Guest: Ann Miller, Managing Attorney, Tribal Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Montana Susette Billedeaux, Holistic Programming Director Tribal Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Montana Josh Cahoon, Lead Case Manager Tribal Defenders Office of...

496 | Why the Lawyers Handling 80% of Massachusetts's Public Defender Cases Stopped Taking New Cases Part 2 w/Shira Diner

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Professor Shira Diner. Last time she was on the show, she explained why the bar advocates in Massachusetts stopped accepting new cases. This time, she joins to explain how the Legislature and Judiciary responded and what comes next for the state. Guest: Shira Diner, Professor of Law, Boston University Resource: Read the Case Here https://statecourtreport.org/case-tracker/committee-public-counsel-services-v-middlesex-and-suffolk-county-district-courts Updated Coverage Contact Hunter...

495 | Will a Severe Budget Deficit in Santa Clara County Require the Public Defender to Stop Taking New Cases? w/Damon Silver

Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined by Damon Silver Chief Defender of the Santa Clara County Public Defender. Home to Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County is struggling with a large budget deficit due to federal budget cuts. As such, the Public Defender Office has lost full time positions and is facing a severe workload crisis. Guest: Damon Silver, Chief Public Defender, Santa Clara County, California Resource: Read More Here Contact Hunter Parnell: @PublicDefenselessPodcast...

More Episodes

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Travis Weiner, the former Colorado Public Defender who is suing the Colorado Public Defender System. On a previous episode, Travis detailed that he sued the state because he believed that OSPD retaliated against him for trying to do something about his unethical workloads. Today, Travis joins to discuss the most recent substantive hearing in his case to discuss the important take aways.

Guest:

Travis Weiner, Public Defender, New Mexico

Resource:

Google Drive with Relevant Documents

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NVuuL9L6BUH8xBggXKnUMvsqJvSygk38?usp=drive_link

Contact Hunter Parnell:

Publicdefenseless@gmail.com

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