News and Press Releases

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 process SAN FRANCISCO — Public...

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 acquitted Hasira Sutton, an unhoused...

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 June 2021 defended himself against...

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 to abuses by ICE, and...

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 announced the formation of a...