SAN FRANCISCO—On April 8, 2026, the Court of Appeal stayed enforcement of the $26,000 contempt sanction against San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju imposed by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harry Dorfman. The stay is in effect pending further action by the Superior Court which must first rule on challenges brought by the Public Defender before the matter can move on to the higher court, the Court of Appeal.
The underlying sanction stems from Judge Harry Dorfman’s order penalizing Mr. Raju for declining appointment in certain felony cases that his already overburdened attorneys and staff lack the capacity to handle, even as the office continues to accept representation in the vast majority of cases. The attorneys and defense team at BraunHagey & Borden, representing Mr. Raju, sought immediate relief from the Court of Appeal to halt enforcement of the sanction.
Mr. Raju appreciates the Court of Appeal’s prompt ruling. Individuals accused of crimes have a constitutional right to an attorney with the time and resources necessary to effectively litigate their cases. Mr. Raju stands by his decision to safeguard the constitutional rights of his clients and looks forward to addressing on appeal the complex legal questions this case presents, including the Public Defender’s Office’s authority to decline new appointments when excessive workloads prevent it from ethically and effectively taking on additional cases.
Kory DeClark, a member of Mr. Raju’s legal team, stated: “We agree with the Court of Appeal that no sanctions should issue before a reviewing court has an opportunity to evaluate the merits of the novel issues this case raises. We are confident that, when that happens, the contempt judgment against Mr. Raju will be overturned.”