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Archive November 2022

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California’s first public defender Immigration Representation Unit

Raha Jorjani is an Immigration Defense Attorney at California’s first public defender Immigration Representation Unit. Because our immigration law is founded on the principle that deportation is a civil issue and not a criminal proceeding which, there are few immigration specific public defender units. This denies millions of people the basic right of public defense. 

 

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A discussion about dismantling America’s punishment bureaucracy

Today, Hunter spoke with Alec Karakatsanis, Founder and Executive Director of Civil Rights Corps, for a discussion about dismantling America’s punishment bureaucracy. With his work at Civil Rights Corps, Alec brought to light the immense human suffering caused by the punishment bureaucracy by highlighting the stories of people caught in it and then pushing massive class action lawsuits.  

 

 

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We are so thankful for you.

To our clients and colleagues: We are so thankful for you. Your stories inspire us.

 

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The Need for Holistic Family Representation

In this episode, Hunter speaks with three inspiring individuals out of Family Representation New York—Parent Advocate Supervisor Teyora Graves-Ferrell, Social Work Supervisor Ysmerlyn Murshed, and Senior Staff Attorney Vasili Stotis.

Each one plays a very specific and important role within their organization, and they explain how they work together to make a positive difference for families in their own ways. Through this, you'll see that specialization can be a strong superpower for everyone involved in public defense.

 

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Why do we punish people? What are the goals of punishment and the legal system?

Why do we punish people? What are the goals of punishment and the legal system? At some point in time, we stopped asking ourselves these questions and it led to a legal system that is disjointed, inconsistent, and unnecessarily cruel.

 

Today, Hunter spoke with Kaelen Perrochet, a Law Student at UCLA Law School, to dig through some of the philosophical underpinnings of any criminal legal system.

 

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As many long time listeners know, assigned and contract systems are wrought with major issues

As many long time listeners know, assigned and contract systems are wrought with major issues. From pay, to qualifications and a general lack of independence, the American Bar Association recommends that where caseloads are sufficiently high, the private bar should subsidize a full time Public Defender Office, but what should be done in places where there is not enough money, political will, or caseloads to justify a Public Defender Office? What's the best way to deliver indigent defense services?

 

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Concert for Indigent Defense in Your Jurisdiction to Celebrate Gideon’s 60th

Concerts for Indigent Defense are an energizing and exciting way for your defender office to celebrate Gideon’s 60th locally – while getting the public, media, and stakeholder’s support as well.  This article tells you what Concerts for Indigent Defense are and how to very easily present one in your jurisdiction.  

 

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Can people incarcerated afford to wait for small, gradual change?

Can people incarcerated afford to wait for small, gradual change? What happens to the people incarcerated if the system breaks? What is the right balance between the needs of the current case vs the needs of the future case? How do Public Defenders counter the decades long strategy of the Conservative legal movement with their own strategy?

 

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For Public Defenders who serve in coastal areas, the story on toady’s show will be all too familiar

For Public Defenders who serve in coastal areas, the story on toady’s show will be all too familiar. As Hurricane Ian barrelled toward the Florida coast, a state of emergency was declared and evacuation plans started to come together, but as is almost always the case, no one thought of those incarcerated.

 

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How can journalists and public defenders work together to bring awareness to the real issues plaguing our court system?

How can journalists and public defenders work together to bring awareness to the real issues plaguing our court system? Today, Hunter spoke with Maggie Shepard, Director of Communications at the New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender, to discuss how public defenders can use media relations to deepen their connection with the community they are working to protect.

 

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