Jury Rejects Murder Charge, Convicts Elderly Man of Involuntary Manslaughter

A 73-year-old grandfather acted in self-defense when he fatally stabbed a drug dealer in the Tenderloin, a San Francisco jury determined Thursday afternoon.

Year End Report: Demand For Public Defenders Remains High Amid Economic Crisis

Unable to afford private attorneys amid a continuing recession, 28,000 San Franciscans turned to the city’s public defender last year –a trend that shows little sign of slowing.
Felony cases handled by the San Francisco Public Defender’s office rose 21 percent over the past two years, according to the office’s Annual Report and 2010 Calendar, released today

Annual Report 2009

The 2009 Annual Report and 2010 Calendar features documentary-style images and true-life accounts of courtroom victories, innovative programs, and the office’s battle for funding parity.

Teacher’s Aide Acquitted After Evidence Contradicts Officer’s Story

A woman who was injured and falsely arrested by police in September has been acquitted of battery upon an officer and resisting arrest, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi announced today.

Tisha Harvey, a 29-year-old teacher’s aide for disabled preschoolers, is currently cooperating with an Office of Citizen Complaints investigation against the police officer involved in the incident. Jurors unanimously found Harvey not guilty on December 31 after deliberating for one day.