Stay ConnectedAnyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system is perpetuating cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people simply trying to get through another day.
Public Defenseless explores the rot in the justice system and what we can do about it. Join host, Hunter Parnell, as he interviews top defense attorneys and criminal justice stakeholders from across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system.
Without exception, every single state Public Defender system is facing a shortage of Public Defenders. In many of our episodes, we've discussed innovative ways to try and bolster the number of people in law school interested in pursuing a career in Public Defense. Unfortunately as today's guest reveals, there is simply no way for law schools to solve the shortage of people. John Gross has spent the better part of the last two decades trying to come up with ways to solve the crisis in Public Defense. Without drastic systemic changes, and perhaps a string of case refusals, he is certain that we cannot simply recruit our way out of the shortage of Public Defenders.
Guests:
Professor John Gross, Director of the Public Defender Project, University of Wisconsin School of Law
Resources:
John's Faculty Page
https://law.wisc.edu/profiles/jpgross3@wisc.edu
John's previous writings on Public Defense
https://www.publicdefenders.us/blog_home.asp?display=1062
https://www.publicdefenders.us/blog_home.asp?display=35
https://harvardlawreview.org/blog/2023/03/reframing-the-indigent-defense-crisis/
https://www.nacdl.org/Document/GideonI-RationingJusticeUnderfundedAssignedCounsel
Contact Hunter Parnell:
Publicdefenseless@gmail.com
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
Subscribe to the Patron
www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast
Donate on PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ
Donate on Stripe
Today, Hunter is joined by fellow podcaster David Moore. David is the host of the incredible Podcast, Another Not Guilty, that seeks to take a Public Defender twist on the true crime genre. As arguably the most popular genre of podcast, the true crime world often disregards the cases that result in a not guilty and are desperately lacking the perspective of the defense counsel who secure them. With ANG, David strives to give a platform for Public Defenders from around the country to showcase their victories in a manner that pokes fun at the comical stupidity our legal system.
Guests:
David Moore, Public Defender, Los Angeles and Host of the Another Not Guilty Podcast
Resources:
Another Not Guilty Podcast
https://www.anothernotguiltypod.com/
Another Not Guilty Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/3tSDZ0wKsXpwSHDqW81CU8
Another Not Guilty Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/another-not-guilty/id1395439829
Contact Hunter Parnell:
Publicdefenseless@gmail.com
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
Subscribe to the Patron
www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast
Donate on PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ
Donate on Stripe
Today, Hunter is once again joined by UCLA law student, Kaelen Perrochet, for another deep dive into the world of legal ethics. Last time he was on, Kaelen explored the reasons why we punish people, and today, he brings more excellent commentary on why it is so difficult for people to imagine a country that protects a person's positive and negative rights.
Guests:
Kaelen Perrochet, Law Student, UCLA School of Law
Resources:
Follow Kaelen on Twitter
https://twitter.com/KaelenPerrochet
Follow Kaelen on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/kperrochet/?hl=en
Contact Hunter Parnell:
Publicdefenseless@gmail.com
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
Subscribe to the Patron
www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast
Donate on PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ
Donate on Stripe
After speaking with Chief Public Defenders from most of the major metropolitan areas in California, Hunter turns today's episode to the smallest full time Public Defender Office in the state. Lael Kayfetz, Chief Public Defender in Siskiyou County California, joins the show to share her experience of leading an office in conservative, rural California. While not all the things that make her successful can easily be ported over to larger jurisdictions, there is a great many lessons to be learned from a leader who has successfully navigated this challenging political climate over an amazing 18-year career.
Guests:
Lael Kayfetz, Chief Public Defender, Siskiyou County, California
Resources:
Contact Lael
AB 625
https://pluralpolicy.com/app/legislative-tracking/bill/details/state-ca-20212022-ab625/787429
Lake County 6AC Report
https://6ac.org/lake-county-california-report/
Santa Cruz County 6AC Report
Contact Hunter Parnell:
Publicdefenseless@gmail.com
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
Subscribe to the Patron
www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast
Donate on PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ
Donate on Stripe
An unfortunate theme of the show is the reality that the Supreme Court is more than happy to close the doors of the courthouse to those who are factually or legally innocent. Preferring to uphold and support the concept of "finality" over truth, the Supreme Court once again found a way to keep a potentially innocent man from escaping an unjust sentence. Joining Hunter to discuss this and more is Alison Guernsey, Director of the University of Iowa College of Law Federal Criminal Defense Clinic, and Meredith Esser, Director of the University of Wyoming College of Law Defender Aid Clinic. As former Federal Public Defenders themselves, both hope to draw attention to the immense disparity between people's conception of justice and the "justice" available to those trapped in the Federal Criminal Legal System.
Guests:
Professor Alison Guernsey, Director Federal Criminal Defense Clinic, University of Iowa College of Law
Professor Meredith Esser, Director Defender Aid Clinic, University of Wyoming College of Law
Resources:
Jones v Hendrix
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-857_4357.pdf
https://theappeal.org/supreme-court-jones-v-hendrix-hurting-innocent-people/
Shinn v Ramirez
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-1009_19m2.pdf
Rehaif v US
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/17-9560_e2p3.pdf
Changes to Compassionate Release
https://www.fd.org/news/sentencing-commission-votes-expand-compassionate-release
FCI Dublin Coverage
Meredith's Law Review Article "Extraordinary Punishment: Conditions of Confinement and Compassionate Release"
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4410197
Allegra McLeod Law Review Article "Prison Abolition and Grounded Justice"
https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2502&context=facpub
Alison's Faculty Page
https://law.uiowa.edu/people/alison-k-guernsey
Follow Alison on Twitter
https://twitter.com/alison_guernsey?lang=en
Meredith's Faculty Page
https://www.uwyo.edu/law/directory/meredith-esser.html
Contact Hunter Parnell:
Publicdefenseless@gmail.com
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
Subscribe to the Patron
www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast
Donate on PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ
Donate on Stripe
Today, Hunter is once again joined by Delaware Chief Public Defender, Kevin O'Connell. Last time, Kevin came on to discuss the uniquely terrible Delaware Law Enforcement Bill of Rights. This time, Hunter and Kevin did a deeper dive into the past, present, and future of Public Defense in the state of Delaware. Of all the important parts of this episode, the journey taken by Delaware Public Defense following their Sixth Amendment Center report is strong evidence that meaningful change is possible!
Guests:
Kevin O'Connell, Chief Public Defender, Delaware
Resources:
Delaware Public Defender Report
https://6ac.org/delaware-report/
Public Defender Delaware
Delaware Campaign to End Debtor's Prisons
Contact Hunter Parnell:
Publicdefenseless@gmail.com
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
Subscribe to the Patron
www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast
Donate on PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ
Donate on Stripe
Today, Hunter sat down with a fierce, lifelong advocate for a better system of Youth Justice. Betsy Clarke, the Founder of the Juvenile Justice Initiative, joins the show today to talk about her hope for continuing to improve the youth justice system at the state level. Drawing on decades of work and important lessons from the youth justice systems of other nations, Betsy is an amazing resource for all those trying to find ways to overhaul our exceptionally cruel juvenile justice system.
Guests:
Betsy Clarke, Founder, Juvenile Justice Initiative
Resources:
Convention on the Rights of the Child
https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child
Juvenile Justice Initiative
https://www.jjustice.org/new-page-1
Contact Hunter Parnell:
Publicdefenseless@gmail.com
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
Subscribe to the Patron
www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast
Donate on PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ
Donate on Stripe
Today, Hunter is once again joined by two amazing advocates from Partners for Justice. Rebecca Solow, Founder and Co-Executive Director, and Vichal Kumar, Director of Capacity Building, join us today to discuss the amazing progress of their partnerships with state and local public defender offices around the country. The best part of these Partners for Justice programs is the way they build the capacity of Public Defense by responding to the individual needs of each office and jurisdiction. From California, Missouri, Kansas, and Cook County, Partners For Justice is a leader in finding innovative, cost effective ways to create better, more vibrant public defender offices.
Guests:
Rebecca Solow, Founder and Co-Executive Director, Partners for Justice
Vichal Kumar, Director of Capacity Building, Partners for Justice
Resources:
Partners for Justice
https://www.partnersforjustice.org/
PFJ Twitter
Contact Hunter Parnell:
Publicdefenseless@gmail.com
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
Subscribe to the Patron
www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast
Donate on PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ
Donate on Stripe
Today, Hunter is joined by Sean Wilson, the Organizing Director at Dream Corp Justice, to discuss his journey from incarceration to community organizing to driving major criminal legal reforms. After 17 years of incarceration, Sean understood the ways our mass incarceration system fails to help people rehabilitate and re-enter society with the skills they need to thrive. From his local community in Milwaukee to communities around the country, Sean brings incredible passion and drive to help people avoid ever interacting with the criminal legal system.
Guests:
Sean Wilson, the Organizing Director at Dream Corp Justice, Dream.org
Resources:
Sean Wilson Dream.org
https://dream.org/team-members/sean-wilson/
Dream.Org
https://twitter.com/thedreamcorps
https://www.instagram.com/dream.corps/
https://www.facebook.com/thedreamcorps
Contact Hunter Parnell:
Publicdefenseless@gmail.com
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
Subscribe to the Patron
www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast
Donate on PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ
Donate on Stripe
Today, Hunter sat down with Professor Keramet Reiter to discuss her decades+ research into solitary confinement and the American Prison System. In her immense scholarship, it is easier to say what Keramet has not written about than what she has. With her vast array of American and International solitary confinement practices, she is the perfect guest to explain the problems with solitary confinement and the prison system as a whole
Guests:
Keramet Reiter, Professor & Vice Chair of Criminology, Law & Society and School of Law, University of California Irvine School of Social Ecology
Resources:
Keramet's Website (where you can find all of her books!)
Keramet's Faculty Page
https://faculty.sites.uci.edu/reiter/
Contact Hunter Parnell:
Publicdefenseless@gmail.com
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
Subscribe to the Patron
www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast
Donate on PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ
Donate on Stripe
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
