News and Press Releases

Unable to afford private attorneys amid a continuing recession, 28,000 San Franciscans turned to the city’s public defender last year –a trend that shows little sign of slowing. Felony cases handled by the San Francisco Public Defender’s office rose 21 percent over the past two years, according to the office’s Annual Report and 2010 Calendar, released today

A woman who was injured and falsely arrested by police in September has been acquitted of battery upon an officer and resisting arrest, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi announced today. Tisha Harvey, a 29-year-old teacher’s aide for disabled preschoolers, is currently cooperating with an Office of Citizen Complaints investigation against the police officer involved in the incident. Jurors unanimously...

A domestic violence victim accused of fatally stabbing her estranged boyfriend was acquitted Tuesday by a San Francisco jury. After four days of deliberation, jury members unanimously found DeEbony Smith, 28, not guilty of murder in the Dec. 30, 2008 death of Lazarus Pickett. Smith was also not guilty of voluntary or involuntary manslaughter, jurors found.

BMAGIC’s 5th Annual Winter Ball provides neighborhood youth with a free, formal party to celebrate their accomplishments in 2009 and welcome the New Year.

San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi will lend his support Monday to San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos’ resolution calling on the state to reverse its discriminatory new regulations governing in-home care for the sick, disabled and elderly.