News and Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2022 MEDIA CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Valerie Ibarra (628)249.7946 **PRESS STATEMENT** SF Public Defender Mano Raju Urges More Public Health Support for Opioid Crisis “Today, Mayor London Breed, SFPD Chief Bill Scott, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, and Supervisor Matt Dorsey held a press conference to discuss San Francisco’s efforts to address...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 4, 2022 MEDIA CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Jessie.Seyfer@sfgov.org | (628) 249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** SF Resident Who Acted in Defense of Friend in Mission District Fight Released After Acquittal and MistrialProsecutors lacked sufficient evidence to re-try the case against Nelson Hernandez-DeLeon.  SAN FRANCISCO – On Sept. 28, San Francisco prosecutors dropped all charges...

Over 550 people’s trial deadlines have passed; Over 150 of them are still in jail. Hundreds more are in line behind them. On September 16th, our mock trial and press rally captured the attention of local news outlets who turned up to hear ‘testimony’ from public defenders, community members, and those directly impacted by the trial delays in San Francisco...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 21, 2022 MEDIA CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | (628) 249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** Jury Acquits SF Man Who Acted in Self-Defense in New Year’s Day Fight Thomas Ortiz was caged for nearly five years. Trial began 15 months past his Constitutional deadline due to the Court’s failure to hold speedy trials. An...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2022 MEDIA CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org;  Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** SF Public Defenders and Community Hold Mock Trial to Indict the Court for Violating Speedy Trial Rights Amid Oppressive Backlog Public Defenders filed motions for release for a dozen clients languishing in jail & a batch of motions to dismiss cases...