public defense crisis Archives

Everyday Injustice Podcast Episode 315: Kate Chatfield on Public Defense, Felony Murder Reform, and the Limits of Incarceration

By David GreenwaldJanuary 12, 20260 comments

Kate Chatfield, executive director of the California Public Defenders Association, discusses the crisis in California’s public defense system, the need for increased funding, and the failure of increased incarceration to provide public safety.

Opinion: SF DA Can’t Have It Both Ways on Drug Filings and ‘Abundance’ of Public Defenders

By David GreenwaldNovember 19, 20250 comments

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office is attempting to reframe the public defender’s claims of an overloaded system, while simultaneously touting their own success in prosecuting felony narcotics cases, resulting in a contradiction between the two narratives.

SF Public Defender Manager Says Misdemeanor Unit Is Overloaded and Cannot Take More Cases

By David GreenwaldNovember 15, 20250 comments

The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office is facing an increased caseload, resulting in an increased workload for attorneys and managers, making it difficult to take on additional felony appointments.

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