Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter hosted a debate between Professor John Gross and Professor Bob Boruchowitz about the Public Defender National Workload Standards. Back in the spring of this year, John penned an article about some of the methodological and pragmatic issues with the National Workload study. Meanwhile, Bob has been working in Washington for decades to bring meaningful, enforceable workload standards across the state. Today, Hunter spoke with both of them to hear each side of this debate and to try and figure out the best way to use the national workload standards.   Guest: John Gross, Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin School of Law Bob Boruchowitz, Professor of Law, Seattle University School of Law   Resources: John’s Article https://publicdefenders.us/blogs/the-problems-with-the-national-public-defense-workload-study/ John’s Faculty Page https://law.wisc.edu/profiles/john.gross Bob’s Writings https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/wa-works-toward-easing-public-defender-shortage-but-more-must-be-done/ https://law.seattleu.edu/media/school-of-law/documents/faculty/publications/boruchowitz/2025_01_RevisedStandards.pdf Other Responses to John’s Article https://publicdefenders.us/blogs/the-problem-with-ignoringthe-national-public-defenseworkload-study/   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter hosted a debate between Professor John Gross and Professor Bob Boruchowitz about the Public Defender National Workload Standards. Back in the spring of this year, John penned an article about some of the methodological and pragmatic issues with the National Workload study. Meanwhile, Bob has been working in Washington for decades to bring meaningful, enforceable workload standards across the state. Today, Hunter spoke with both of them to hear each side of this debate and to try and figure out the best way to use the national workload standards.   Guest: John Gross, Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin School of Law Bob Boruchowitz, Professor of Law, Seattle University School of Law   Resources: John’s Article https://publicdefenders.us/blogs/the-problems-with-the-national-public-defense-workload-study/ John’s Faculty Page https://law.wisc.edu/profiles/john.gross Bob’s Writings https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/wa-works-toward-easing-public-defender-shortage-but-more-must-be-done/ https://law.seattleu.edu/media/school-of-law/documents/faculty/publications/boruchowitz/2025_01_RevisedStandards.pdf Other Responses to John’s Article https://publicdefenders.us/blogs/the-problem-with-ignoringthe-national-public-defenseworkload-study/   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Sharone Mitchell Jr. and Sharlyn Grace of the Cook County Public Defender Office. As we have already seen in Los Angeles and D.C., President Trump is threatening to deploy the national guard to Chicago to combat “crime.” Today, Sharone and Sharlyn joined the show to discuss what is actually happening on the ground in Chicago, what the city needs to continue improving public safety, and what Trump’s threats are actually about.   Guest: Sharone Mitchell Jr., Chief Public Defender, Cook County, Chicago, Illinois Sharlyn Grace, Deputy Public Defender for Policy, Cook County, Chicago, Illinois   Resources: Liberals and Centrists Biting Off on the Crime Issue https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/bowser-trump-police-takeover-lower-dc-crime-national-guard-ice-rcna227582 Reports on Cash Bail https://loyolaccj.org/pretrial-fairness-act https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/bail-reform-and-public-safety https://reason.org/wp-content/uploads/the-effects-of-cash-bail-on-crime-and-court-appearances.pdf Crime in Chicago https://counciloncj.org/crime-trends-in-u-s-cities-mid-year-2025-update/ https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/vrd/home/violence-victimization.html     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Professor Eve Primus. This time, Eve joined the show to discuss her newest law review article “Burdens of Proof in Criminal Procedure.” At first glance, this might seem like a boring, technical legal topic, but the burden of proof is often the only thing that matters in a criminal trial. As Eve points out, the entire case can hinge on who has to prove what and when they have to prove it.   Guest: Eve Primus, Professor of Law, University of Michigan School of Law   Resources: Read Eve’s Work https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5136879Amanda’s Faculty Page Contact Eve https://michigan.law.umich.edu/faculty-and-scholarship/our-faculty/eve-brensike-primus   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined by Professor Amanda Savage to discuss her latest law review article “The Pseudoscience of Gun Hunting”.  In the article, Amanda explains the cop created “Characteristics of an Armed Person” training that cops undergo to identify who may or may not have a weapon. As with many cop created “sciences,” CAP is the perfect tool for police to use if they want to stop, search, and frisk someone for any reason or no reason at all.   Guest: Amanda Savage, Professor of Law, Denver University School of Law   Resources: Read Amanda’s Work https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5148151 Amanda’s Faculty Page https://www.law.du.edu/about/people/amanda-savage   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was Renae Alt-Summers and Mekka Jeffers-Nelson to discuss the payment stoppage for Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorneys. Just like state public defender systems, the federal public defender system relies on private defense counsel to take conflict cases and serve as the primary way to deliver public defender services. Yet as of the start of July, those CJA panel attorneys have had payments stopped, and those payments aren’t set to come back online until at least October. So, what will happen to the federal public defender system now and in the future?   Guest: Renae Alt-Summers, CJA Panel Rep, Federal District of South Carolina Mekka Jeffers-Nelson, CJA Panel Rep, Federal District of Western North Carolina   Resources: Contact Renae and Mekka mjnelsonlaw@aol.com raltsummers@gmail.com Read More About the Freeze https://www.uscourts.gov/data-news/judiciary-news/2025/07/15/funding-crisis-leaves-defense-lawyers-working-without-pay https://www.cbsnews.com/news/defense-lawyers-needy-clients-congressional-funds-dry-up/ https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/federal-defender-program-will-run-out-of-funds-to-pay-panel-attorneys-court-officials-warn https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/defense-lawyers-face-months-without-pay-as-federal-funds-dry-up https://www.wacdl.org/blog_home.asp?Display=14 https://www.fd.org/news/funding-crisis-leaves-defense-lawyers-working-without-pay     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Grant Miller, Salt Lake City Public Defender and Representative of Utah’s 24th House District. Last time that he was on the show, Grant was running for office. Now, Grant joins to discuss how his first legislative session went. From passing a bill to reduce fines and fees to helping ensure the Overton window didn’t shift too far to tough on crime side, Grant gives us a reason to be optimistic even when we hold minimal political power.   Guest: Grant Miller, Public Defender and Utah House Representative, Salt Lake City, House District 24   Resources: Contact Grant https://www.grantmillerforhouse24.com/ https://www.instagram.com/grantistheguy/?hl=en     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined by Crystal Leff-Piñon, Director of TIDC’s family protection representation unit. On Tuesday, Hunter and Scott Ehlers discussed the funding problem and attorney shortages leading to a slow moving crisis in rural Texas. Today, Crystal joins to share how similar the issues are for family defense throughout the state of Texas.   Guest: Crystal Leff-Piñon, Director, Family Protection Representation, Texas Indigent Defense Commission Resources: TIDC Website: https://www.tidc.texas.gov/about-us/who-we-are/staff/ehlers-scott/ Contact Crystal CLeff-Pinon@tidc.texas.gov     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined once again the Texas Indigent Defense Commission Executive Director, Scott Ehlers. This time, Scott and Hunter explore a slow moving crisis in Texas Public Defense: an absolute lack of attorneys in rural parts of the state. As with so many states with large rural areas, attorneys are retiring faster than they can be replaced. Scott and his team at TIDC tried to get more funding from the legislature, but as it stands now, the legislature does not seem to be taking this issue as seriously as they should. So what will happen to public defense in rural Texas?   Guest: Scott Ehlers, Executive Director, Texas Indigent Defense Commission     Resources: TIDC Website: https://www.tidc.texas.gov/about-us/who-we-are/staff/ehlers-scott/ Contact Scott SEhlers@tidc.texas.gov Read more about Problems in Rural Public Defense   https://ppri.tamu.edu/portfolio-items/justice-beyond-the-cities/ https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/27/texas-rural-public-defense-indigent/     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined once again by the Executive Director of North Dakota’s Commission of Legal Counsel for the Indigent, Travis Fink. Last time, Travis joined the show to detail a bleak outlook for public defense in the state. Not enough attorneys in both the contract and full-time systems, inadequate pay, and crushing workloads left Travis with little choice. He drafted up a letter preparing to tell the courts the public defender would be taking no new cases, but before he could send it out, the legislature threw the system a lifeline.   Guest: Travis Fink, Executive Director, North Dakota Commission of Legal Counsel for the Indigent   Resources: Travis Testimony at the Legislature https://video.ndlegis.gov/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20250130/-1/32604 Contact the North Dakota Public Defender https://www.indigents.nd.gov/ North Dakota Public Defender News https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/07/07/north-dakota-public-defenders-see-budget-increase-with-new-biennium/ https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/public-defenders-underpaid-overworked-north-dakota-report-says/article_76910028-f819-11ee-a575-8f6da532994a.html     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined once again by New Mexico’s Chief Public Defender, Ben Baur. A few years back, a workload study estimated that New Mexico had 1/3 of the public defenders it needed to meet its workload demands. At that time, the state set out on a five-year plan to address the staffing shortage. Unfortunately, the state has not stuck to the five-year plan. Now, with a shortage of attorneys in rural parts of the state, low pay for contract attorneys, and still too many cases, will the New Mexico public defenders have to stop taking new cases?   Guest: Ben Baur, Chief Public Defender, New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender   Resources: Contact the New Mexico Public Defender https://www.lopdnm.us/offices/ New Mexico Resources https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nAHtHZaAmu6My2tL04Dn_HlLhy-HARuP?usp=sharing New Mexico Workload Study https://www.lopdnm.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/LOPD-Attorney-Workload-Study2.pdf New Mexico Five Year Plan https://www.lopdnm.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Final-Draft-LOPD-5-Year-Plan.pdf   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined by Dennis Calhoun, Tim Ray Johnson, and Amanda Ulrich to discuss how Washington is helping people who were found not guilty by reason of insanity.   Guest: Tim Ray Johnson, Criminal Defense Lawyer, Washington Dennis Calhoun, Student, Washington Amanda Ulrich, Public Defender Washington   Resources: WA PD https://opd.wa.gov/ NGRI https://opd.wa.gov/forensic-civil-commitment Email Amdanda and Tim amanda@stebbinsullrich.com trj@trjdefense.com    Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined by Nat Jacob, Elizabeth Mustin, and Rachel Cortez to discuss new efforts by the Washington to recruit and retain Public Defenders.   Guest Nat Jacob, Recruitment and Retention Managing Attorney Western Washington, Washington Office of Public Defense Rachel Cortez, Recruitment and Retention Managing Attorney Eastern Washington, Washington Office of Public Defense Elizabeth Mustin, Supervising Attorney, Youth Criminal Defense Project, Washington Office of Public Defense     Resources: WA PD https://opd.wa.gov/ Fellowship https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&feature=shared&v=g5QiPP3PEfo https://opd.wa.gov/recruitment-and-retention https://opd.wa.gov/recruitment-and-retention/rural-public-defense-fellowship Emails Nat.jacob@opd.wa.gov Rachel.cortez@opd.wa.gov   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined by federal public defender Amanda Bass Castro Alves to discuss the wrongful conviction of Tremane Wood. In 2004, Tremane was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to death in the State of Oklahoma. Just after that, his brother, who admitted to pulling the trigger and who stated Tremane was not responsible for the death, was given a life sentence just after Tremane’s trial. So how is it that a person who did not kill anyone ended up on death row? All that and more on today’s episode. Guest Amanda Bass Castro Alves, Assistant Federal Public Defender, District of Arizona   Resources: More About Tremane’s Case https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/stories/deeply-rooted-oklahoma-case-spotlight-tremane-wood https://www.huffpost.com/entry/death-row-felony-murder-oklahoma_n_67094c44e4b0f3da6456d60c https://www.huffpost.com/entry/oklahoma-sets-execution-tremane-wood_n_684afd19e4b0d6fb6cd8eabe Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Erica Nichols Cook, the head of the Iowa State Public Defender Wrongful Conviction Unit. On today’s episode, Erica walks us through the case of Jerry Mark. In 1976, he was convicted of the murder of his brother, sister-in-law and their two children, but as you will hear, all the evidence points to the fact that Jerry Mark wasn’t even in the state when the murder happened.     Guest Erica Nichols Cook, Director, Wrongful Convictions Unit, Iowa State Public Defender   Resources: More About Jerry’s Case https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2024-11-19/jerry-mark-seeks-exoneration-for-murders-halloween-1975-cedar-falls   Contact Erica https://www.drake.edu/law/clinics-centers/clinic/wrongfulconvictionsclinic/ https://www.facebook.com/enicholscook/   Send Jerry a Letter   Non legal mail has to go through the mail processing facility: Jerry Mark, #0103896 Anamosa State Penitentiary (ASP) - 1106 PO Box 96777 Las Vegas, NV  89193       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined by Professor Megan Walsh and Anthony Benz from the University of Minnesota. As we did on Tuesday, Hunter sat down with these two to highlight the work of a law school clinic. This clinic focuses on combating gun violence through both offensive and defensive litigation.     Guest Megan Walsh, Director, Gun Violence Prevention Clinic, University of Minnesota Anthon Benz, Student Attorney, University of Minnesota     Resources: Contact Megan https://law.umn.edu/course/7408/spring-2023/gun-violence-prevention-clinic/walsh-megan https://bsky.app/profile/meganwalshgvp.bsky.social Jacob Charles Article https://firearmslaw.duke.edu/assets/the-dead-hand-of-a-silent-past_-bruen-gun-rights-and-the-shackl.pdf       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home

Today, Hunter was joined by Professor Megan Graham to discuss how her law an technology clinic is helping Public Defenders deal with technology issues in their client’s cases.   Guest Megan Graham, Associate Clinical Professor of Law, Director of Technology Law Clinic, University of Iowa College of Law   Resources: Contact Megan https://law.uiowa.edu/people/megan-graham https://bsky.app/profile/megankgraham.bsky.social   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined by Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors of Unchained Emily Napier-Singletary and Derek Singletary. Unchained is a non-profit organization based out of New York that seeks to “empower those currently and formerly incarcerated in the state of New York through policy development, community organizing and advocacy, research, and liberation education.” On today’s episode, Derek and Emily discuss what happened both inside and outside of New York prisons during the New York Correctional Officer Illegal Wild Cat Strike.     Guest Emily Napier Singletary, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Unchained Derek Singletary, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Unchained   Resources: Unchained’s Work https://www.weareunchained.org/   Murder of Robert Brooks https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/05/us/robert-brooks-beating-security-guard-plea https://cnycentral.com/news/local/this-is-whats-next-after-eight-former-cos-rejects-offers-in-robert-brooks-death-case-oneida-county-court-murder-manslaughter-inmate-marcy-correctional-facility https://13wham.com/news/local/former-correction-officers-return-to-court-now-facing-trial-for-inmates-death-robert-brooks-marcy-correctional-prison-new-york-crime-murder-beating-case-national-charges-officers-video-bodycam-attorney-general-governor- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/murder-charges-announced-death-robert-brooks-man-beaten-new-york-corre-rcna193019 https://theappeal.org/robert-brooks-murder-new-york-prisons-racism-brutality/   Illegal Wild Cat Strike https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-york-fires-2000-prison-guards-refuse-return-work-wildcat-strike-rcna195765 https://www.wkbw.com/news/i-team/low-staffing-levels-535-new-york-state-corrections-officers-resign-during-after-wildcat-strike https://prisonjournalismproject.org/2025/03/10/what-was-the-ny-wildcat-strike-like-for-incarcerated-people/   HALT Act https://www.albanylaw.edu/government-law-center/explaining-the-halt-act https://ig.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/08/nys-oig-doccs-halt-report-8.5.24.pdf https://nysba.org/the-halt-act-and-solitary-confinement-in-new-york-state/?srsltid=AfmBOors7C8DaJYbPV9NWj-2lue3qO4vIgnoW145V5NDdkTAz6_OYCQ1     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined by investigative journalist Anat Rubin to discuss her recent reporting on Public Defender Investigators in California. At times, investigators are the single most important person in a criminal defense case, and yet around the country, nearly all public defenders do not have access to necessary investigative resources. Today, Anat joins the show to discuss how the systemic underfunding of public defense investigators increases the risk of wrongful convictions by highlighting the story of an investigator who unsolved a murder.   Guest Anat Rubin, Investigative Journalist, CalMatters   Resources: Anat’s Reporting https://calmatters.org/investigation/2025/06/public-defense-investigators-takeaways/ https://calmatters.org/investigation/2025/06/public-defense-investigators/   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined by Dujuan “Zoe” Kennedy of Force Detroit a Community Violence Intervention organization in Detroit. For decades, Detroit was known around the country for being the poster child for the decaying state of U.S. manufacturing. With this reputation as a decaying city came a reputation for high rates of violent crime, but over the past few years, Detroit has seen some of the lowest rates of homicides, gun crimes, and violent crimes it has in 60 years. Zoe joins the podcast to explain how through community interventions, and not policing, the city has provided a model for alternative solutions to violence.   Guest Dujuan “Zoe” Kennedy, Executive Director, Force Detroit, Michigan   Resources: Force Detroit https://forcedetroit.org/ More About Zoe https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/man-convicted-of-murder-turns-his-life-around-to-stop-violence-in-the-community/ https://www.instagram.com/dujuanzoe/ More About Remarkable Crime Rate Reductions in Detroit https://detroitmi.gov/news/detroit-partnerships-result-another-historic-drop-violent-crime-2024-fewest-homicides-1965-shootings https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/detroit-reports-historic-drop-in-violent-crime-2024/ https://detroitmi.gov/news/detroit-ends-2023-fewest-homicides-57-years-double-digit-drops-shootings-and-carjackings-thanks-dpd https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/detroit-homicide-drop-2024-1.7423641 https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/khalil-alhajal/2025/01/22/detroit-murder-rate-violent-crime-lansing-neighborhoods/77587006007/     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home