Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter kicks off a week about Public Defense in Minnesota by speaking with the Chief Public Defender of the State, Bill Ward. Throughout this episode, Bill and Hunter discuss workloads, workload refusal, the recent budgetary victories he's helped secure, and what is needed to ensure Public Defenders in Minnesota are not drowning in cases. Guests: Bill Ward, Chief Public Defender, Minnesota Resources: Minnesota Public Defender Website https://www.pubdef.state.mn.us/ Minnesota Public Defender Twitter https://x.com/mnbdpubdefense Bill Ward Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-ward-a0aa4024/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pubdef.state.mn.us%2F Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN *As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*

Today, Hunter is joined by long time Capital Defender, Sharon Turlington. Today, the two discuss cases that bookended Sharon's career in Missouri. Both cases involved an in the weeds evidentiary rule that prohibits testimony that points to the guilt of a person who is not on trial. In one of her earliest cases, this rule kept the jury from hearing that a third party ADMITTED TO COMMITING THE CRIME IN QUESITON. In her last case, it kept the jury from hearing that FIVE people pointed to another person who had far more evidence pointing his direction. Together with the episodes from the past two days, this episode highlights the many ways the deck is stacked against criminal defendants. Guests: Sharon Turlington, Long Time Capital Public Defender, Missouri Resources: The Cases State v Malik Nettles ED74494 (1999) https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/mo-court-of-appeals/1163320.html State v Kylr Yust WD84633 (2023) https://law.justia.com/cases/missouri/court-of-appeals/2023/wd84633.html Contact Sharon sharonturlington@icloud.com Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN *As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*

Today, Hunter is joined by Jason Gain, a West Virginia Post Conviction defense attorney. On this episode, the two continue the miniseries covering the dangers of convictions secured through uncorroborated evidence. This time, we discuss the recent victory that Jason secured for his client, Lamont Dees. After more than five years of incarceration, Mr. Dees was freed because his conviction was secured thanks to the help of one cop's perjury, his attorneys ineffective assistance of counsel, and the willingness of prosecutors to pursue cases based on uncorroborated witness statements. As is so often the case, compare how easy it is to put an innocent person away and how difficult it is to free an innocent person. Guests: Jason Gain, Post Conviction Defense Attorney, West Virginia Resources: Read About Mr. Dees story https://www.loshmountainlegal.com/post/dees-freed-habeas-win-in-west-virginia Contact Jason https://www.loshmountainlegal.com/contact Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN *As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*

Today, Hunter is joined by Eric Tindal, a criminal defense attorney in Iowa. Today's discussion focuses on the question, how much evidence does it take to convict someone. Specifically, Hunter and Eric discussed how a single uncorroborated testimony can be sufficient to secure a conviction. This episode kicks off a miniseries comparing what evidence is perfectly fine for prosecutors to rely on and what evidence is barred from even being heard when the defense wants to use it. Guests: Eric Tindal, Criminal Defense Attorney, Iowa Resources: Email Eric eric@keeganlegal.com Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN *As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*

Today, Hunter is joined by Lenora Easter, a candidate for the Public Defender position in Orange and Osceola Counties. As a former Bronx Defender and member of Partners for Justice, Lenora understands the importance of a holistic defense practice. In her adopted home of Orange and Osceola Counties, Lenora sees an absence of that holistic practice and a loud voice in the community as a short coming of the current Public Defender practice. By becoming the elected Public Defender for the circuit, Lenora hopes to inject Public Defense with a fresh slate of ideas, programs, and energy needed to revitalize Public Defense. Guests: Lenora Easter, Candidate for Public Defender of the 9th Judicial District, Orange and Osceola County, FL Resources: Lenora Easter Website https://www.lenoraeaster.com/ Lenora Easter Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lenoraeasterforpublicdefender/ Register to Vote Florida https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN *As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*

Today, Hunter is joined by two amazing guests from the ACLU of Pennsylvania. Vic Walczak and Veronica Miller join the show to discuss the newest ACLU lawsuit being brought against Pennsylvania for its failure to adequately fund public defense. As we heard last week on the show, things in Pennsylvania Public Defense are failing because of Pennsylvania utterly failing to meet its obligations as a state to fund Public Defense, but why sue now? After all, under Governor Shapiro, the state has allocated its first money towards Public Defense ever. As you will here today, this lawsuit has been a long time coming, and hopefully, with it will come the types of overhaul necessary to ensure the promise of Gideon is fulfilled in Pennsylvania. Guests: Vic Walczak, Legal Director, ACLU of Pennsylvania Veronica Miller, Senior Policy Counsel for Criminal Legal Reform, ACLU of Pennsylvania Resources: ACLU of PA Twitter: https://x.com/aclupa Website: https://www.aclupa.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aclupa YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/aclupa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aclupa/ Complaint: https://www.aclupa.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/warren_v_commonwealth_petition_for_review_-_final.pdf Read more about the case: https://www.aclupa.org/en/defenders UPenn Study: https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/news/16737-significant-public-defender-shortage 2011 Report: http://jsg.legis.state.pa.us/resources/documents/ftp/publications/2011-265-indigent%20defense.pdf Law Suit Against Luzerne County https://www.aclupa.org/en/cases/kuren-v-luzerne-county-formerly-flora-v-luzerne-county Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN *As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*

Today, Hunter is joined by journalist Andrew Pantazi to tell the story of Florida's worst Chief Public Defender, Matt Shirk. For more than a decade, Andrew and his colleagues have been covering the story of Shirk who served two terms as Jacksonville's elected public defender. During his time as the chief, Shirk oversaw a systemic practice of sexual harassment, drove out some his best attorneys and replaced them with his incompetent or unqualified friends, and attempted to get his juvenile client tried as an adult. Mercifully, Shirk was recently disbarred, but how did he come to this position, how did he stay there, why did it take so long for accountability to come, and ultimately, what does this say about public defense in Florida? All that and more in today's episode! Guests: Andrew Pantazi, Editor, The Tributary, Jacksonville, Florida Resources: Tributary Website https://jaxtrib.org/ Follow Andrew on Twitter https://x.com/apantazi?lang=en Coverage of Matt Shirk https://jaxtrib.org/2024/03/14/former-jacksonville-public-defender-matt-shirk-disbarred/ https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2017/01/01/public-defender-matt-shirk-had-lowest-paid-attorneys-paid-friends-generously/15737626007/ https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2016/08/24/matt-shirks-top-assistant-has-been-ineffective-four-times-raising/15722013007/ https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/2019/08/01/former-jacksonville-public-defender-matt-shirk-gave-away-guns-money-after-failed-reelection/4546395007/ https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/2016/08/22/public-defender-matt-shirk-has-moved-scandals-and-hopes-voters-have-too/15721761007/ https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/elections/local/2018/12/21/more-than-five-years-after-his-scandals-matt-shirk-still-hasnt-faced-any-discipline/6576816007/ https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/politics/2013/08/25/stub-295/15818394007/ Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN *As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*

Today, Hunter is joined by three Public Defenders from the state of Pennsylvania to get a feel for how Public Defense is fairing outside of the Philadelphia. Autumn Johnson, Sara Jacobson, and Samuel Encarnacion join the show to discuss what's happening in Mercer County, Lancaster County, and around the state. Recently, Pennsylvania dedicated its first ever state level funding for Public Defense, but is it too little too late? With a new ACLU lawsuit having just dropped, it will be interesting how the state responds to the crisis of Public Defense in Pennsylvania? Guests: Sara Jacobson, Executive Director, Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania Samuel Encarnacion, First Assistant Public Defender, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Autumn Johnson, Chief Public Defender, Mercer County, Pennsylvania Resources: UPenn Public Defender Study https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/news/16737-significant-public-defender-shortage PDAP https://www.papublicdefenders.com/ Email Sara sjacobson.pdap@gmail.com Email Autumn aljohnson@mercercountypa.gov Email Sam encarnas@lancastercountypa.gov Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN *As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*

Today, Hunter is joined by three members of the Bronx Defenders Union, Tyler Johnson, Katerine Azcona, and Marlene Marte. This episode comes on the heels of the Bronx Defenders Union authorizing a strike starting July 1. Over the past several months, the union and leadership have been unable to come to terms on a contract, and now, we could see the first strike in NY Public Defense since 1993. What is driving it? Why has the union reached this point? All that and more on today's episode! Guests: Tyler Johnson, Legal Advocate, Civil Action Practice, Bronx Defenders Marlene Marte, Immigration Legal Advocate, Bronx Defenders Katherine Azcona, Staff Attorney, Family Defense, Bronx Defenders Resources: BxD Union Twitter https://x.com/BxDUnion?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor BxD Union Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bxdunion/?hl=en If you'd like to support the Bronx Defender's Union while they strike, you can donate here https://givebutter.com/communitystrikefund Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN *As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*

Today, Hunter is joined by Brooke Burns and Angela Chang, two Ohio Public Defenders working tirelessly to stop the return of the "Super Predator" myth. Over the past 40 years, the language has changed, but the outcome has remained the same: our communities have responded to real and perceived rises in crime by policing and incarcerating certain groups of young people. That practice is alive and well in Ohio, but with the work of people like Brooke and Angela, communities have a shot at creating accountability systems for kids that do not rely on the criminal legal system. Guests: Angela Chang, Director of Youth Defense Division, Hamilton County, Ohio Brooke Burns, Managing Counsel, Youth Defense, Ohio Public Defender Resources: Ohio Office of the Public Defender https://opd.ohio.gov/ Hamilton County Public Defender https://www.hamiltoncountypd.org/ https://www.instagram.com/hamcopubdef/?locale=kk-KZ Coverage of the Killing of Tavion Koonce-Williams https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ohio-police-release-body-camera-video-officer-shooting-15-year-old-boy-rcna147023 Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN *As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*