FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 7, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Valerie Ibarra, PIO (628)249-7946 **PRESS RELEASE** Two Juries Acquit Man Who Defended Himself Against Shopkeeper While Trying to Use Shop Bathroom  Final Charge Dismissed Last Week SAN FRANCISCO – On Nov. 3, the District Attorney’s Office dismissed the final charge against Donovan Catron, who in...Read More

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...Read More

This piece in The Guardian highlights the continuing humanitarian crisis in San Francisco County jail. Nearly 900 people remain in isolation under 23-hour lockdown, and at least 25% of them are people whose trial deadlines have passed. We are litigating against the trampling of their speedy trial rights caused by ongoing court delays. “These aren’t...Read More

Reporter Laura Kusisto of the Wall Street Journal interviewed San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju about the legal actions he has taken to address the growing backlog of trials in San Francisco Superior Court during the COVID-19 pandemic. While many other counties have safely held jury trials throughout the pandemic, San Francisco Superior Court has...Read More