News and Press Releases

Effort to Release People Incarcerated at San Quentin Moves Forward In Marin County Superior Court  Habeas petitions allege that California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation actions constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” as decisions led to an explosive and deadly Covid-19 outbreak at San Quentin  SAN FRANCISCO – A Marin County Superior Court judge has ordered the California Department of Corrections and...

The San Francisco Examiner published a pledge signed by sixteen current and former elected officials, including San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju: City leaders pledge to reject SFPOA support. The leaders also urged other officials and candidates to reject the support of the SF Police Officers’ Association. “The poa must acknowledge and publicly apologize for its past words and actions....

Sarah Holder of the Bloomberg CityLab published The Imprisoners’ Dilemma – San Quentin’s deadly Covid-19 outbreak has intensified a national debate over releasing inmates and dramatically reducing the U.S. prison population — for good. In it, she notes the efforts of the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office to urge Governor Newsom to reduce the state’s prison population. “While we have missed the opportunity to prevent...

Nuala Bishari reported for SF Weekly: Former Prisoner Fights for Inmates’ Release – featuring Steph Liebb, a paralegal in the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office who was formerly incarcerated at San Quentin. Mr. Liebb now works on the post-conviction relief team offering assistance to people in California prisons with convictions from San Francisco who may want to petition for resentencing,...

ABC 7 News reported: In 1st ruling of its kind, SF judge declares witnesses will wear transparent face masks in court. Deputy Public Defender, Sierra Villaran, successfully argued the importance of being able to see facial expressions during the first jury trial San Francisco Superior Court after the pandemic interrupted the court schedule in March 2020 and delayed trials for...