Libsyn Directory

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

Public Defenseless

Release Date: 08/06/2026

527 | Why it is so Important for Public Defenders to Expand the Right to Counsel to Family Defense w/Kelly Driscoll

Public Defenseless

On this episode, Hunter speaks with Kelly Driscoll. As the Bureau Chief for the Family Defense Unit of the Montana Public Defender, Kelly is responsible for overseeing the defense of parents and kids in the family legal system. She joins the show to explain how Montana set up this system and why it is so important for Public Defenders to do more than just criminal defense. Guest: Kelly Driscoll, Family Defense Bureau Chief, Montana State Public Defender Resource: Learn More About the Office Here: Case Law on the right to counsel in Family Court in Montana Public...

Bonus: Vote No on Proposition 132, the Colorado Fentanyl Measure From a Conservative Dark Money Group, with Kyle Giddings

Public Defenseless

On this episode, Hunter is joined once again by Kyle Giddings, the Deputy Director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and the Campaign Chair for Vote no on 132. These two sat down to discuss the Colorado Ballot Initiative, Prop 132, another attempt by the Colorado Conservative dark money group, Advance Colorado, to restart the war on drugs. Guest:Kyle Giddings, the Deputy Director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and the Campaign Chair for Vote no on 132, Colorado Resource: Learn More about Prop 132: Learn More about Advance Colorado: ...

526 | How Public Defenders can use New Second Amendment Supreme Court Case to Win Self-Defense Claims w/Jacob Charles

Public Defenseless

On this episode, Hunter was joined once again by Professor Jacob Charles. Last time Jacob was on the show, he and Hunter discussed the groundbreaking Second Amendment cases of Bruen and Rahimi. This time, Jacob sat down to examine the two newest Supreme Court Second Amendment Cases Wolford and Hemani and detail what these cases could mean for criminal defense lawyers. Guest: Jacob Charles, Professor of Law, Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law Resource: Contact Jacob Here Read the Cases Here Hemani Wolford Public Defenders of D.C. Filings ...

525 | Will Police Soon be Deploying Armed Autonomous Drones to a Neighborhood Near You? w/Matthew Guariglia

Public Defenseless

On this episode, Hunter is joined once again by Matthew Guariglia. At his work at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Matthew has become one of the leading voices sounding the alarms about the proliferation of mass surveillance technology. Now, Matthew is here to discuss a new, frightening technology that may be coming to a neighborhood near you: Armed Autonomous Drones. Guest: Matthew Guariglia, Senior Policy Analyst, Electronic Frontier Foundation Resource: Follow Matthew’s Work Here: Read More About the Drones Here: Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new...

524 | How Police and Their Unions Became One of the Most Powerful Forces in American Politics w/Stuart Schrader

Public Defenseless

On this episode, Hunter is joined by Professor Stuart Schrader to discuss his book Blue Power: How Police Organized to Protect and Serve Themselves. In his book, Stuart walks readers through the long history of how police departments around the country organized themselves to create some of the most influential organizations in all of American politics. Guest: Stuart Schrader, Associate Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University Resource: Pick up a Copy of the Book Here: Follow Stuart Here: Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on...

523 | How the Number One Tool for Mass Deportations Might be Unconstitutional w/Eric Fish

Public Defenseless

On this episode, Hunter speaks once again with Professor Eric Fish about a law review article he published about our immigration system. Since it was implemented in 1996, expedited removal has become the number one tool for deportations in America. However, Eric is here to explain how the whole system might be unconstitutional and ripe for challenge. Guest: Eric Fish, Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law Resource: Read Eric’s Article Here Contact Eric Show note: Hunter mentions a U.S. citizen deported to Mexico after agents refused to let him get his birth...

522 | After Nearly Two Decades as an Immigration Judge, Why Did She Decide to Leave Under the Second Trump Administration? w/Judge Mimi Tsankov

Public Defenseless

On this episode, Hunter speaks with Judge Mimi Tsankov, former president of the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ). Over nearly two decades on the bench, she served under five administrations and led the association that speaks for the country's immigration judges. Now she joins the show to explain what's broken in a court system that answers to the Justice Department, and why she decided to leave. Guest: Judge Mimi Tsankov, Former President, National Association of Immigration Judges Resources: Judge Tsankov's website: National Association of Immigration Judges: TRAC...

521 | How the Media is Missing What is Really Causing Alaska's Legal System to Fail w/Amanda Harber and David Case

Public Defenseless

In this episode, Hunter speaks with two criminal defense lawyers and former Public Defenders from the state of Alaska, Amanda Harber and David Case. For the entire 21st Century, the Alaska Legal System has been in a crisis. Too few lawyers. Too much space to cover. And recently, a tough on crime Governor who has pushed to solve social problems with incarceration. Along the way, many in the media have missed what is causing the Alaska legal system to fail. Guest: Amanda Harber, Criminal Defense Lawyer and Former Public Defender, Alaska David Case, Criminal Defense Lawyer and Former Public...

520 | Can Prisons be Reformed? What History Tells Us About the Failed Attempts w/C.J. Ciaramella

Public Defenseless

On this episode, Hunter is joined by C.J. Ciaramella of Reason. Recently, C.J. authored an article for Reason that provides an overview of different eras of prison policy and failed reform. In their discussion, Hunter and C.J. explore these eras of prison policy, the reasons why reforms failed, and what those failures tell us about the hope for future prison reforms. Guest: C.J. Ciaramella, Reporter, Reason Resource: Read the Article Here: Find More of C.J. here: Read More of Reason Here: Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: ...

519 | How the Maryland Defender Union is Organizing for Better Working Conditions, Pay, and Workloads w/Rachel Kiefer, Alexis Rossetti, and Kalia Woods

Public Defenseless

On this episode, Hunter speaks with three members of the Maryland Defender Union, Rachel Kierfer, Alexis Rossetti, and Kalia Woods. They join to explain the recent victory the union secured to enforce their current contract and how the union is finding its voice to fight for better pay and workloads. Guest: Rachel Kiefer, Assistant Public Defender, Baltimore County, Maryland Alexis Rossetti, Assistant Public Defender, Southern Maryland Kalia Woods, Administrative Aide, Prince George’s County, Maryland Resource: Read the Report Here Follow the Union Here \ Public Defenseless...

More Episodes

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

https://safenest.org/

Contact Hunter Parnell:

[email protected]

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