San Francisco jury verdicts in three cases reveal a troubling pattern: vulnerable San Franciscans are being jailed and prosecuted based on weak or misunderstood evidence, rather than offered help. Juries saw through the flaws in the prosecutions and acquitted individuals who should never have been charged.Read More
On Feb. 19, 2025, elected San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju gave our office’s annual community budget presentation. PD Raju discussed our office’s critical work defending more than 20,000 indigent clients per year, and our services that strengthen communities. Learn about our budget and priorities for 2025-2026 that will allow us to continue pursuing justice...Read More
Police union’s suit challenges new policy that limits pretext stops FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 5, 2025PRESS CONTACT: Public Relations Officer Jessie Seyfer | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org | (628) 271-9800 SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office has filed an amicus brief joining the City of San Francisco as it fights a lawsuit brought by the SF Police Officers Association regarding...Read More
Body-worn camera footage shows officers shoved, knocked to the ground, and ridiculed a woman who was on her way to work FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 18, 2024PRESS CONTACT: Public Relations Officer Jessie Seyfer | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org | (628) 271-9800 SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco police in riot gear repeatedly shoved a woman, violently tackled her to...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 31, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Public Relations Officer Jessie Seyfer | (628) 271-9800 **PRESS RELEASE** Jury Acquits Legally Blind Man for Second Time in Two YearsCharles Underwood, who is unhoused, was arrested after a man kicked the boxes he was sleeping in SAN FRANCISCO — For the second time in two years, a San Francisco...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 10, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: Jessie Seyfer, public relations officer | (628) 271-9800 | San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Man Who Acted in Self-Defense After Stranger–Unprovoked–Screamed at Him and Trespassed Into His Apartment Stranger also returned to his apartment building and was believed to be armed...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 27, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Father of Battery Who Asked Two People to Stop Cutting in Line at Children’s EventOne accuser admitted in court she and her friend made sure their stories matched before talking to police SAN FRANCISCO – On Aug. 13, a San Francisco jury deliberated...Read More
SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the San Francisco Superior Court dismissed 69 misdemeanor cases against SF Public Defender clients, after an appellate court ruled last month that the Superior Court had unlawfully delayed a misdemeanor trial for over a year using COVID-19 as an excuse. The appellate court ruling had signaled that many other misdemeanor cases...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 8, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: Jessie Seyfer, public relations officer | (628) 271-9800 | San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Man Wrongly Accused of Purposely Running Over Friend’s Foot SAN FRANCISCO — On July 31, a San Francisco jury acquitted Anthony Sonnier, 55, of felony assault charges...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 6, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** Charges Dismissed Against Black Crime Victim Who Was Wrongfully Charged and Jailed After MUNI Altercation (Please note photos below that corroborate our client’s account) SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco man spent two weeks in jail after being falsely...Read More
