Monday, June 29, 2009
The Public Defender’s Office and the 29,000 people it represents need your support.
Signature Drive to Restore Public Defender’s Office Funding
S.F. cannot afford to cut public defender’s budget
Friday, June 26, 2009
According to the co-chairs of the Constitution Project’s National Right to Counsel Committee, proposed budget cuts to the Public Defender’s Office threaten to exact a toll on San Francisco that would greatly outweigh their modest fiscal benefits.
Don’t shortchange justice
Thursday, June 25, 2009
SF Chronicle: The proposed cut is seriously shortsighted and dishonest. If a defendant can’t get a public defender, the job goes to a pool of private lawyers where one will take the case – and bill the city. Total savings: just about zero.
Pride Rides: Mayor’s Convoy, Public Defender’s Truck, Assessor’s Last-Minute Call and a Big Surprise From Eric Mar
The Public Defender’s Office has marched in the pride parade for over 25 years. “We’ll have 100 in our contingent with several banners. You’ll know us because we’ll be blasting ‘Fight the Power’ and John Lennon’s ‘Power to the People.'”
Point Adachi: Controller’s Audit Bolsters Claim That Farming Out Cases to Private Attorneys Would Cost City More
The mayor’s plan to slice $1.9 million off the Public Defender’s budget would result in the city paying up to $1.4 million more per year as the public defender would be forced to farm out 2,600 cases to private attorneys.
City Controller: Public Defender Provides Most Cost-Efficient Means of Representing Poor
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
A report released by the San Francisco City Controller on case costs of the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office has found that the the office’s representation of 28,000 people every year is the most efficient and cost-effective way to provide legal representation to those who cannot afford lawyers.
Is SF privatizing legal defense for the poor?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The Public Defender’s Office is facing a budget cut of about $1.9 million at the same time as the Superior Court is budgeting an additional $1.2 million for handling cases that the public defender can’t. Is San Francisco trying to take all of the misdemeanor cases away from the PD’s office and give them to private defense lawyers?
An Evidence-Based Report on the Community Justice Center
Thursday, June 18, 2009
by Jeff Adachi Now that it has been operational for three months, the Community Justice Center (CJC) should be evaluated based upon a factual and empirical analysis of objective data from the cases that have been heard in the court. With the upcoming budget hearings focusing on the city’s dire financial situation, there will no […]
California wants to cut legal aid attorneys for poor
Monday, June 15, 2009
AP: Public defenders, who already are stretched to the breaking point by huge caseloads and dwindling staff, face layoffs across the country. Nowhere is the threat more apparent than in California.
Public Defender Rally at City Hall
On Thursday, June 18, 10am on the Goodlett Steps of San Francisco City Hall, the community will rally in support of public defense and budget justice.