News and Press Releases

The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office has launched a new, paid fellowship position that honors the late Paul Redd, who was freed in 2020, with the office’s help, after 44 years in prison. The Paul Redd Freedom Fellowship position, funded by private donations, is part of the office’s Freedom Project, which helps individuals who are ready for release from long...

A San Francisco judge has dismissed all charges against 33-year-old Kenneth McCurry after finding that two SFPD officers displayed implicit racial bias against McCurry in violation of the state Racial Justice Act. Judge Patrick Thompson found that the way the officers followed McCurry, who is Black, shoved him off his scooter and into a wall without warning, and later described...

Public defender’s office client was accused of assault and robbery, but was actually the victim of theft.

San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju's statement regarding the California Supreme Court's Kowalczyk decision, which affirmed that it is unconstitutional to keep a person in jail simply because they cannot afford bail.

Joining with public defenders across the country, San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju is calling on everyone who supports the Constitutional right to counsel to wear black on Thursday, April 23 to show solidarity with public defenders.