News and Press Releases

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...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 20, 2023CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender PIO Valerie Ibarra | (628) 249-7946 | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org   **MEDIA ADVISORY** SF Public Defender’s Office Continues “Summer Sit-Ins” to Draw Attention to Worsening Trial Backlog; Seventh in Series to Focus on Legal Challenges to the Backlog NOTE SPECIAL LOCATION: Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister St. More than 1,100 trials are delayed past their Constitutionally...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  May 16, 2023MEDIA CONTACTS:  Jessie Seyfer, SF Public Defender’s Office | (415) 851-2212 | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org   Sepi Esfahlani, M Strategic Communications | (714) 746-7090 | se@m-consultants.net S.F. Implements New State Law Allowing Thousands of Previously Ineligible Individuals to Expunge Conviction Records SF Supervisors, Public Defender, State’s Leading Advocates for Community Safety Spoke at Press Conference; Clean Slate Clinic...

On April 27, 2023, the California State Assembly Public Safety Committee is holding a Special Session to discuss this year’s state bills related to fentanyl. The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office joins a coalition of 35+ statewide organizations and agencies that have signed onto a letter to the Committee Members urging them to reject these bills, invest in harm reduction,...