Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter is joined once again by Patricia Warth, Director of the NY Office of Indigent Legal Services. This time, Hunter and Patricia discuss the in the weeds budget moves that are threatening vital programs in New York Public Defense. Specifically, they talk about the failing family court system and how a sweep up of funds may endanger an already struggling practice. Guests: Patricia Warth, Director, New York Office of Indigent Legal Services Resources: Coverage of the Fund Sweep Up https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2024/03/22/legal-advocates-oppose-234m-funding-cut-from-public-defense/ https://www.nylpi.org/resource/ilsf-sweep-organization-sign-on-letter-3-21-24/ https://nysba.org/nysba-supports-funding-of-the-indigent-legal-services-fund/ ILS Website https://www.ils.ny.gov/node/7/ils-office Email Patricia Patricia.Warth@ils.ny.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

Today, Hunter is joined by the newest State Public Defender of California, Galit Lipa. As discussed on previous episodes, California has a county based public defender system. As such, Galit and her office sit in a limited role to help train public defenders around the state. Following a law suit and several reports highlighting the failings of public defense in California, Galit and her team could prove to be a pivotal voice in rethinking the delivery of California public defense. Guests: Galit Lipa, State Public Defender, California Office of the State Public Defender Resources: Contact Galit https://www.linkedin.com/in/galit-lipa/ OSPD https://www.ospd.ca.gov/ https://www.ospd.ca.gov/ospd-sharepoint-pages/ 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

Today, Hunter is joined by Molly Gilbert and Jason Schwarz to discuss the plan to implement Public Defender workload standards across the state of Washington. Despite not being a centralized Public Defender system, the Public Defenders of Washington, spurred by the State Supreme Court, figured out how to work with the state bar to get workload standards. As they sit on the verge of getting enforceable standards approved by the State Supreme Court, Hunter, Molly, and Jason explore how these workload standards came to be and what other states can learn from this process. Guests: Molly Gilbert, Investigator and Union President, Department of Public Defense, King County Washington Jason Schwarz, Director, Snohomish County, Washington Resources: News Coverage of New Workload Standards https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/washington-bar-approves-much-lower-caseloads-for-public-defenders/ https://www.king5.com/article/news/state/plan-ease-caseloads-public-defenders-bankrupt-some-counties/281-b67dcd4b-fe19-4608-ade5-4c297f29e0b4 https://www.wsba.org/connect-serve/committees-boards-other-groups/council-public-defense Publicola- New Caseload Standards Aim to Improve Ailing Public Defense System, But Could Take a Bite Out of County Budget Email Jason Jason.Schwarz@co.snohomish.wa.us Email Molly mollygilbertseiu@gmail.com WSBA Meeting has been uploaded to Youtube, 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

Today, Hunter is joined by Taylor Herbert, a Public Defender in Lan County Oregon to discuss civil commitment. As is often talked about on the show, the divide between the civil and criminal legal system is far smaller than many are willing to admit. Civil commitment is the process by which a person can be confined in a mental health facility against their will. Unlike a criminal process, which does not allow for you to be deprived of liberty unless you've been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, civil commitment allows for a deprivation of liberty after only reaching clear and convincing evidentiary standard. Why is this an issue? Why do we allow? What are the failings of civil commitment in Oregon? All that and more on this episode! Guests: Taylor Herbert, Staff Attorney, Mental Health Division, Public Defender Services of Lane County, Oregon Resources: ORS 426-427 https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors426.html Email Taylor therbert@lanepds.org 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

Today, Hunter is joined once again by Public Interest lawyer Stephen Hanlon. This time, Hunter and Stephen are breaking down the five year plan that he hopes will fix Public Defense in Oregon. While it is surely an ambitious plan, this plan gives urges public defenders to do all that they can to force the powers that be to take the crisis seriously: case withdrawals. Guests: Stephen Hanlon, Public Interest Lawyer Resources: Oregon Report 5 Year Plan https://www.opb.org/article/2024/03/21/oregon-public-defense-report-more-attorneys/ 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

Today, Hunter is once again joined by Lee Wachocki, a Public Defender and union leader in Portland, Oregon. As the Public Defender crisis continues in the state, this week is about figuring out how the state is responding. At the front line level, Lee reveals that little has functionally changed at his level to demonstrate the state is close to solving the problem. In fact, with Oregon recriminalizing drug possession, the state appears primed to super charge the issue. Guests: Lee Wachocki, Public Defender, Multnomah County Resources: Multnomah County DA Debate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wehZ548c-OY DA Schmidt Endorsing Recriminalization Mike Schmidt Endorses Proposal to Recriminalize Hard Drugs (wweek.com) Bad Reporting on Public Defender Caseload Record Number of People Face Criminal Charges in Multnomah County With No Defense Attorney (wweek.com) Impacts of Recriminalization https://www.axios.com/local/portland/2024/03/19/public-defender-crisis-recriminalization-oregon 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

Today, Hunter is joined Professor Robin Bernstein to discuss her newest book, Freeman's Challenge: The Murder that Shook America's Original Prison for Profit. When many of us think of the for-profit prisons, we think of the post slavery south at places like Parchman. However, that is not where the story started. Today, Robin joins the show to discuss Auburn State Prison and what we can learn from the history of for profit prisons. Guests: Robin Bernstein, Dillon Professor of American History and Professor of African and African American Studies and of Studies of Women, Gender, & Sexuality, Harvard University Resources: Order the Book Here https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/F/bo213968137.html 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

Today, Hunter is joined by the powerful Dorsey Nunn. At 19, Dorsey was given a life sentence. Over the next 11 years, Dorsey would be exposed to violence, abuse, and the political education that would awaken in him a lifelong desire to fight our prison system. Today, Hunter talks with Dorsey about his new book, What Kind of Bird Can't Fly to discuss his lifetime of organizing for the rights of the current and formerly incarcerated. Guests: Dorsey Nunn, Executive Director Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, Co-Founder All of Us or None, Co-Founder Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People and Family Movement Resources: Order the Book Here https://www.amazon.com/What-Kind-Bird-Cant-Fly/dp/1597146323 Legal Services for Prisoners with Children https://prisonerswithchildren.org/staff-and-board/ All of Us or None https://prisonerswithchildren.org/about-aouon/ 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

Today, Hunter is joined once again by Leah Nelson of Alabama Appleseed. This time, they are joined by Callie Greer, a Community Navigator at Appleseed, to discuss Appleseed's Afterward. This powerful report sought out to hear from victims and survivors of violence. As is often said on the show, the criminal legal system does a poor job of providing for the needs of all survivors of violence. In fact, the system often perpetuates the harm of those who need help following the tragic events in their life. By going to communities across Alabama, Appleseed hoped to capture the voice of so many people who want need more than just a criminal punishment to be made whole. Guests: Leah Nelson, Research Director, Alabama Appleseed Callie Greer, Community Navigator, Alabama Appleseed Resources: Read Afterward Here https://alabamaappleseed.org/afterward/ Alabama Appleseed https://alabamaappleseed.org/ 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

Today, Hunter is once again joined by Brett Schandelson, the Director of the Montana Office of the State Public Defender. Last time he was one, we discussed his efforts to make Public Defense policy in Montana driven by data. Today, we discuss how those efforts have drastically turned the state system around. Specifically, Brett details how doing a better job of tracking cases and sticking to a workload standard has reduced turnover and helped retain Public Defenders throughout the state. Guests: Brett Schandelson, Director, Montana Office of the State Public Defender Resources: Office of the State Public Defender https://publicdefender.mt.gov/ Agenda-DIBC-12-13-2023.pdf (mt.gov) 61080-OPD-QFR-Dec2023.pdf (mt.gov) Quick video on the OPD Quarterly Update (at meeting start) Brett's presentation 12/13/23 IBC OPD Section Materials https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Narrative-Response.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Fees-Assessed-and-Paid.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Ethical-Case-Management.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-FTE-Allocation.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Fees-Assessed-Q1-FY24.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Contractor-Capital-Hours-Q1-FY24.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Number-of-Matters-by-FTE-and-Contractors-Q1-FY24.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Number-of-Matters-Without-MCA-Violations-Q1-FY24.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-Active-Matters-and-Weights-December-7-2023.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-HB-190-Annual-Plan-FY24.pdf https://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Section-D/Interim/OPD-IBC-Update-Dec2023.pdf 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