News and Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 22, 2021 CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Elderly Man of Attempted Murder in Act of Self-Defense Against Ex-Wife Jury hangs heavily towards innocence on other charges SAN FRANCISCO – A San Francisco jury acquitted 81-year-old Damien Alvarez of attempted murder and all lesser included charges of the...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 18, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT:  SF Public Defender’s Office | Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** Judge Rules California Department of Corrections Inflicted Cruel and Unusual Punishment on Incarcerated People at San Quentin During COVID-19 Pandemic Historic ruling comes nearly 18 months after a COVID outbreak claimed 29 lives, but offers little relief SAN FRANCISCO – On Tuesday,...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 10, 2021 CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | (628) 249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Man Who Called 911 After Arguing with an Aggressive Repair Shop Owner SAN FRANCISCO – Today, a San Francisco jury acquitted a man (whose name we are omitting by request) on charges stemming from an argument he had with...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Ibarra |Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Takes Only 5 Hours to Reach a Not Guilty Verdict for a Man Who’s Been Waiting 17 Months to Fight False Accusations in Court  SAN FRANCISCO – Yesterday, a San Francisco jury deliberated for five hours and returned a verdict of not guilty...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 27, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT:        Valerie Ibarra | Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org | 628-249-7946 | S.F. Public Defender’s Office Laura Duarte Bateman | laura@ccijustice.org | 415-684-5463 | FreeTheYuba11 Coalition **PRESS RELEASE** BREAKING: Last Person in ICE Custody at the Yuba County Jail Released After Pressure from Advocates, Attorneys, and Members of Congress Termination of ICE Contract with Yuba may...