December 14, 2021 We recognize that the Mayor and many of our elected leaders feel pressured to address issues that have been amplified in the press, but the Mayor’s proposal to massively expand police presence in San Francisco is regressive and harmful to those who are already underserved and overpoliced. It also cuts against the...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** Charges Dismissed Against Motorist Brutalized by SFPD Officers After Accidental Collision in 2018 Police claimed the man’s motorcycle pinned an officer in a car door, but video surveillance being released today shows otherwise SAN FRANCISCO –...Read More

On December 2, 2021, Public Defenders presented at a hearing called by San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen to discuss the urgent need for San Francisco Superior Court to open more courtrooms and prioritize criminal jury trials to address the growing backlog of trials that have passed their legal deadline. The backlog has also left hundreds...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 23, 2021 CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Longtime Mission Resident Wrongly Accused of a Hit-and-Run  SAN FRANCISCO — Last week, a San Francisco jury found 76-year-old Carlos Olivares Herrera, a longtime resident of the Mission District, not guilty of a hit and...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 22, 2021 CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Elderly Man of Attempted Murder in Act of Self-Defense Against Ex-Wife Jury hangs heavily towards innocence on other charges SAN FRANCISCO – A San Francisco jury acquitted 81-year-old Damien Alvarez of attempted murder and all...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT:  SF Public Defender’s Office | Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** Judge Rules California Department of Corrections Inflicted Cruel and Unusual Punishment on Incarcerated People at San Quentin During COVID-19 Pandemic Historic ruling comes nearly 18 months after a COVID outbreak claimed 29 lives, but offers little relief...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2021 CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | (628) 249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Man Who Called 911 After Arguing with an Aggressive Repair Shop Owner SAN FRANCISCO – Today, a San Francisco jury acquitted a man (whose name we are omitting by request) on charges stemming from...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Ibarra |Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Takes Only 5 Hours to Reach a Not Guilty Verdict for a Man Who’s Been Waiting 17 Months to Fight False Accusations in Court  SAN FRANCISCO – Yesterday, a San Francisco jury deliberated for five hours and returned...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 27, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT:        Valerie Ibarra | Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | 628-249-7946 | S.F. Public Defender’s Office Laura Duarte Bateman | laura@ccijustice.org | 415-684-5463 | FreeTheYuba11 Coalition **PRESS RELEASE** BREAKING: Last Person in ICE Custody at the Yuba County Jail Released After Pressure from Advocates, Attorneys, and Members of Congress Termination of...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  October XX, 2021 CONTACT: Valerie Ibarra – SF Public Defender’s Office – (628) 249-7946 – Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org Anne Stuhldreher – SF Financial Justice Project – (415) 596-6138 – Anne.Stuhldreher@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju & San Francisco Treasurer José Cisneros Applaud Signing of New Bill Piloting Higher Compensation for Low-Income...Read More