194: Aurora City Council's Continued Effort to Disband the Public Defender Office w/Elizabeth Cadiz

For the last episode of the year, we are returning to the Aurora Municipal Office to unpack the ongoing effort by the Aurora City Council to disband the Public Defender Office. This time, Hunter is joined by the new Chief Public Defender, Elizabeth Cadiz. Over a long career in the office, Elizabeth has seen the incredible corruption and Constitutional violations. Over the last year, she helped to orchestrate an amazing challenge to the city attorney's office pattern and practice of discovery violations. Following this victory and her taking over the office, City Council is one again determined to remove the office in favor of a "cheaper" alternative. While the City Council continues to say this is about costs, but a look back at the history of this office indicates that City Council is simply tired of having a zealous advocate stand in the way of their tough on crime agenda.

Guests:

Elizabeth Cadiz, Chief Public Defender, Aurora, Colorado Municipal Public Defense

Resources:

Aurora lawmakers agree to analyze privatizing public defender's office

https://sentinelcolorado.com/metro/aurora-lawmakers-solicit-bids-to-privatize-public-defenders-office/

Local News Coverage

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/aurora-considering-getting-rid-public-defenders/

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/video/aurora-considering-getting-rid-of-public-defenders/

Offense for the defense: Aurora public defenders take the stand

https://sentinelcolorado.com/metro/offense-for-the-defense-aurora-public-defenders-take-the-stand/

ACLU Letter to City Council

https://www.aclu-co.org/en/news/letter-aurora-city-council-regarding-resolution-concerning-aurora-public-defenders-office

Defender's Union of Colorado Op-Ed

https://sentinelcolorado.com/opinion/columnists/guest-column-aurora-council-gop-has-ulterior-motive-in-targeting-public-defenders/

Prosecutors ordered to review cases after Aurora office failed to provide defendants with knowledge of discredited cops

Aurora city attorneys review, notify impacted defendants of lacking 'Brady letters'

Aurora lawmakers give 1st OK to mandatory jail time for shoplifting, despite lack of cost data

Aurora lawmakers impose mandatory 3 days in jail for shoplifting more than $300

Aurora council defends cuts to diversity office, public defender, police monitor in first round of budget voting

Impacts of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing:

https://law.asu.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/academy_for_justice/7_Criminal_Justice_Reform_Vol_4_Mandatory-Minimums.pdf

https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/long-term-sentences-time-to-reconsider-the-scale-of-punishment/

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/end-mandatory-minimums

NLADA Report on Aurora Office

ACLU Report on Municipal Courts Colorado

Contact Hunter Parnell:

Publicdefenseless@gmail.com

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