News and Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 28, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT:  San Francisco Public Defender PIO Valerie Ibarra | (628) 249-7946 | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org   **PRESS RELEASE** SF Public Defender’s Office Concludes “Summer Sit-In” Series Protesting Speedy Trial Violations and Court Backlog;Reports Progress in Felony Courts, Continued Violations in Misdemeanors  More than 1,100 trials are delayed past their Constitutionally-mandated deadlines, with 115 people languishing in SF jail...

July 11, 2023 Media Contact: PubDef-Mediarelations@sfgov.org **PRESS STATEMENT** SF Public Defender’s Office Rebukes Supervisor Dorsey’s Attack on Due Process and Immigrants SAN FRANCISCO – On July 11, 2023, San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey announced during a Board of Supervisors meeting that he was submitting a letter to the Budget and Legislative Analyst requesting an inquiry into the eligibility of taxpayer-funded legal...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 10, 2023 Media Contact: PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS STATEMENT** SF Public Defender Mano Raju Condemns SFPD Tactics Detaining Youth at Dolores Street Skateboarding Event The militarized police response to a youth-led skateboarding event was a tremendous overreach that escalated tensions, endangered young people and onlookers, and violated people’s rights. Showing up in riot gear, pointing their weapons at...

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 did not share any Brady...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 28, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | PIO Valerie Ibarra (628)249-7946  **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Legally Blind Man Who Chose Jail to Get a Faster Misdemeanor Trial Amid a backlog of 1,100 overdue trials in SF Superior Court, strict pretrial conditions can hinder the lives of those awaiting trial SAN FRANCISCO – A San Francisco jury...