News and Press Releases

In December 2022, CBS News Innovation Lab interviewed San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju, Deputy Public Defender Alexandra Pray, and Ms. Pray’s client Sarina Borg for an in-depth report looking at the national problem of court backlogs: Growing backlog of court cases delays justice for crime victims and the accused Ms. Borg waited 2.5 years in jail – while her...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec 2, 2022MEDIA CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | (628)249-7946 LGBT immigrant leader receives outpouring of support from community groups at upcoming bond hearing. Salesh Prasad, beloved artist and activist, fears he’ll face anti-LGBT violence if deported   VAN NUYS, CA – Community organizations across California are mobilizing to support Salesh (“Sal”) Prasad—an LGBT immigrant, artist,...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 2, 2022  MEDIA CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Jessie.Seyfer@sfgov.org | (415) 851-2212  **PRESS RELEASE** At Statewide Judges Meeting, Impacted Community Members Speak Out Against SF Superior Court for Violating Speedy Trial Rights  Impacted community members, community leaders, SF Public Defenders demand that SF Superior Court open trial courts for hundreds of people caged...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 10, 2022 MEDIA CONTACT: PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | (628) 249-7946 **PRESS STATEMENT** San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju’s Statement on Starting a New Four-Year Term in Office SAN FRANCISCO — On Nov. 8, San Francisco voters re-elected Mano Raju for a four-year term as the city’s Public Defender. Here is a statement from Public Defender Raju: “I am...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 8, 2022 MEDIA CONTACT: PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | (628) 249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** Judge Dismisses Case Against Woman Held in SF Jail for 2.5 Years, Citing Lack of Evidence Sarina Borg was jailed nearly two years past her Constitutionally mandated trial deadline SAN FRANCISCO — On Nov. 7, a San Francisco Superior Court judge dismissed charges against Sarina Borg,...