FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 14, 2023MEDIA CONTACT:  SF Public Defender’s Office | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | jessie.seyfer@sfgov.org | (415) 851-2212  **PRESS RELEASE** Public Defenders Across Calif. Urge State Supreme Court to Uphold its 2021 Bail Ruling and to Reject Efforts to Undermine It Lower courts have been disregarding high court’s ruling that brought more fairness to bail...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 13, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Valerie Ibarra (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** Jury Acquits Unhoused Man Who Defended Himself Against Repeated Threats by an Inebriated Pedestrian Hasira Sutton spent over 500 days in jail amid court delays SAN FRANCISCO – On Nov. 3, a San Francisco jury...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 7, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Valerie Ibarra, PIO (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** Two Juries Acquit Man Who Defended Himself Against Shopkeeper While Trying to Use Shop Bathroom  Final Charge Dismissed Last Week SAN FRANCISCO – On Nov. 3, the District Attorney’s Office dismissed the final charge against Donovan Catron, who in...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 1, 2023MEDIA CONTACT: PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Public Relations Officer Jessie.Seyfer@sfgov.org | (415) 851-2212  **PRESS STATEMENT** SF Public Defender’s Office Condemns Traumatic Federal Arrests of Young Mothers Attending Hearings at Hall of Justice District Attorney’s referral of cases to federal agents deters people from showing up to court, skirts Sanctuary policy, opens the door...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 27, 2023MEDIA CONTACT: PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Public Relations Officer Jessie.Seyfer@sfgov.org | (415) 851-2212  **PRESS STATEMENT** SF Public Defender Responds to Newsom Opioid Task Force Announcement Leaders ignore evidence in favor of failed War on Drugs tactics SAN FRANCISCO — Today, Gov. Gavin Newsom, SF Mayor London Breed, SF District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and SFPD Chief Bill Scott...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 26, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Valerie Ibarra (628) 249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Man Who Spent Five Months in JailAfter Defending Himself from Sexual Assault  SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco jury returned a verdict Tuesday of not guilty for Gregory Bolds, who had been held in jail for...Read More

For Immediate Release: Oct. 11, 2023 Contact: SF Public Defender’s Office | Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | (628) 249-7946 **PRESS STATEMENT** Joint Statement Expressing Disappointment Regarding Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Veto of California Assembly Bill 881, the Be The Jury California Act  San Francisco – Co-sponsors of AB 881, Offices of the San Francisco Treasurer, District Attorney, Public Defender,...Read More

MEDIA ADVISORY: September 28, 2023 Media Contact: Valerie Ibarra, valerie.ibarra@sfgov.org **MEDIA ADVISORY** Judging Juries – Sneak Preview Film Screening and Panel Discussion Filmmaker and city leaders to discuss the urgent need and pending legislation to diversify California criminal juries WHAT: Judging Juries, a new documentary by Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Abby Ginzberg, reveals some of the barriers...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 12, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Valerie Ibarra, PIO (628)249-7946 **PRESS STATEMENT** San Francisco Public Defender’s Office Condemns SFPD Shooting of Richard Everett in Tenderloin District SAN FRANCISCO – On Aug. 28, members of the San Francisco Police Department shot at Richard Everett, 54, after being dispatched to the scene regarding...Read More

On Monday, June 26, prosecutors began dismissing felony drug cases, but public defenders did not see it coming. Prosecutors were not disclosing the reason, but it seemed to have something to do with veteran SFPD officer Christina Hayes, who has been the arresting officer, executor of warrants, and testifying witness in countless drug cases. Prosecutors...Read More