Prosecutors tried to eke a felony plea out of an unhoused man who defended himself against a drunk security guard who challenged him to an alley fight. Instead, he demanded a trial. Public Defender Tal Klement pushed for a dismissal, and prosecutors finally saw that they had no case.Read More

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...Read More

A man who testified he acted in self-defense against a roommate who raped him was acquitted of all charges in the roommate’s 2011 death, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi announced today.Read More

A recycler accused of attacking the self-appointed sheriff of a SOMA alley was acquitted of all charges after a jury determined he acted in self-defense, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi announced today.Read More

A 52-year-old man accused of smashing a champagne bottle over his 30-year-old coworker’s head after the younger man changed the music from classic Michael Jackson to dubstep has been acquitted of all charges, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi announced today.Read More

A motorist acted in self-defense when he used a knife to fend off a an off-duty San Francisco police officer during a road rage incident, a jury found Friday.Read More