FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 10, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org
**PRESS RELEASE**
SAN FRANCISCO—On Friday, April 10, the First District Court of Appeal issued another order staying enforcement of the $26,000 contempt sanction against San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju imposed by San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harry Dorfman.
A prior stay, issued on April 8, remained in effect while the Superior Court considered challenges filed by the Public Defender’s Office. After the Superior Court denied those challenges, the Court of Appeal acted again today—on the day payment was due—to halt enforcement of the fine.
The underlying sanction stems from Judge Harry Dorfman’s order penalizing 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 Raju, sought immediate relief from the Court of Appeal to halt enforcement of the sanction.
San Francisco Public Defender Raju stated, “I appreciate today’s Court of Appeal’s decision to halt the fine. Individuals accused of crimes have a constitutional right to an attorney with the time and resources necessary to effectively litigate their cases. I stand by my decision to safeguard the constitutional rights of our clients and look 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 us from ethically and effectively taking on additional cases.”
Kory DeClark, a member of Raju’s legal team, said, “We agree with the Court of Appeal that no sanctions should issue before it 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.”
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