Los Angeles—The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office was honored with the prestigious “Champions of Public Defense” Award on Friday from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) for its work on behalf of bail reform. The award was presented at NACDL’s Race Matters II Conference in Los Angeles and recognizes “an individual or organization...Read More

PUBLIC DEFENDER JEFF ADACHI SWORN IN FOR FIFTH TERM “We’ve come together on this special day/Send a message loud and clear”- Earth, Wind, & Fire San Francisco, CA— It might have been raining outside, but inside was all Earth, Wind & Fire as musician and singer Tasche warmed up the crowd gathered at the fifth...Read More

Tenants’ Rights Attorney Finally Gets Justice San Francisco—A tenant’s rights attorney who fatally injured a man in self-defense in the Tenderloin was acquitted of on all counts today, Public Defender Jeff Adachi has announced. Carlos Argueta, 35, was tried for second degree robbery and murder after he became involved in a tussle outside a bar...Read More

December 14, 2018: A victim of an attack in the Tenderloin is acquitted for attempted murder San Francisco—A man who was jumped and beaten in the Tenderloin was acquitted for attempted murder on Thursday, Public Defender Jeff Adachi announced today. Cheasarack Chong, 29, was defending himself when he stabbed one of his attackers, Deputy Public...Read More

Patti Lee of our office’s Juvenile Unit spoke at a hearing this week about the need to pass legislation to strengthen the rights of children in SF that are arrested. The new law would expand Miranda consults for all youth 17 and younger who find themselves in a custodial interrogation by SFPD. “If we get this legislation...Read More

Our office is proud to join forces with many criminal justice reform entities as a part of newly-launched Debt Free Justice California. The SF Public Defender’s Office has worked hard to reduce the fines and fees that many people face who have already served their sentence,  and also manage to reduce the cases with the most...Read More

FELONIOUS FOOTWEAR? Jury rejects idea that theft of socks should be a felony San Francisco—A woman was acquitted of felony robbery charges on Wednesday for taking a pair of socks from a shop in Fisherman’s Wharf this summer, Public Defender Jeff Adachi announced today. Raymoan Shaw, 30, admitted to the lesser charge of misdemeanor petty...Read More

Public Defender Jeff Adachi sent the following letter to London Breed today to oppose an idea being floated to transfer inmates from San Francisco to Alameda County, should SF Jail #4 close permanently. To quote Jeff, “San Francisco needs to be at the forefront of the movement to end mass incarceration. We need to stop...Read More

Apologies for the cliche, but there truly was not a ‘dry eye in the house’ at today’s moving Behavioral Health Court graduation. Clients shared their stories and struggles and received much deserved applause for their hard work. Public Defender Jeff Adachi said it best: “The Behavioral Health Court is an innovative model of providing critical...Read More

*** PRESS RELEASE ***  ATTORNEY ANDREW GANZ SUSPENDED FROM BAR FOR PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT Justice may be blind, but she has very sophisticated listening devices. –Edgar Argo San Francisco – San Francisco prosecutor Andrew Ganz has been found guilty of prosecutorial misconduct through “clear and convincing evidence,” the State Bar of California announced on Monday. Specifically,...Read More