Podcasts about public defenders

Today, Hunter was joined by Maggie Shepard and Bob McGovern. Bob and Maggie serve as communications directors for Public Defender agencies, and they joined to discuss how they are helping Public Defenders better engage with the media.   Guest: Maggie Shepard, Director of Communications, Law Offices of the Public Defender, New Mexico Bob McGovern, Director of Communications and Special Counsel, Committee for Public Counsel Services, Massachusetts   Resource: New Mexico LOPD https://www.lopdnm.us/offices/ CPCS https://www.publiccounsel.net/   Contact Maggie and Bob rmcgovern@publiccounsel.net maggie.shepard@lopdnm.us   Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****  

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Eric Tindal, a criminal defense lawyer in Iowa. He joined to explain issues Public Defenders in Iowa are facing. While the contract system is on the verge of breaking, the Public Defenders secured a major win for the right to stand up against excessive workloads. With the challenges the system faces, the two discuss if new tough on crime polices will be the straw that breaks the camels back?   Guest: Eric Tindal, Criminal Defense Lawyer, Iowa   Resource: Contact Eric eric@keeganlegal.com   Read about the Supreme Court Case Here https://www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/24301/embed/SupremeCourtOpinion   Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****  

Today, Hunter was joined by Nate Crippes of the Disability Law Center in Utah. Nate joined to discuss the proposed 1,300 bed homeless camp that might be built outside of Salt Lake City. Hunter and Nate discussed why this is happening, the danger it poses to the homeless community of Salt Lake City, and what Public Defenders can do to better represent those who are homeless or who have disabilities.   Guest: Nate Crippes, Public Affairs Supervising Attorney, Disability Law Center, Salt Lake City, Utah   Resource: DLC Website https://disabilitylawcenter.org/   Learn More About the Camp Here https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/09/03/utah-homeless-campus-site-unveiled-after-secretive-search/ https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/us/politics/utah-homeless-camp-stalls.html https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/us/politics/utah-trump-homeless-campus.html https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/11/19/massive-slc-homeless-shelter-plan/       Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****  

The uncontroverted facts: Cyrus was shot in the back. If someone is pointing a gun at you and you shoot them, they don't get hit in the back. Hawk also addresses that the jury was never told Mr. Chow had been involved in two prior shootings as a private citizen. Hawk reflects on his own criminal defense career and the moral weight of defending clients in cases involving rape and child sexual assault, and why he walked away from criminal defense law after just three years. Racism in America in 2026 is part of this conversation, and Hawk acknowledges the limits of his own perspective while using his platform to elevate Black creators speaking to that lived experience. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB

Today, Hunter was joined by Angela Chang and Sean Vicente of the Hamilton County, Ohio Public Defender Office. They joined the show to explain how they, along with their community, are fighting to hold police and prosecutors accountable for their unethical and illegal actions.   Guest: Angela Chang, Youth Defense Director, Hamilton County Public Defender, Ohio Sean Vicente, Municipal Director, Hamilton County Public Defender, Ohio     Resource: Contact the PDs https://www.hamiltoncountypd.org/ https://www.instagram.com/hamcopubdef/ https://www.facebook.com/hamcopubdef/   Issues around policing/accountability and intersection with discovery/defense Overview of Cincinnati Collaborative Agreement  https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/police/collaborative-agreement-refresh/ https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/police/collaborative-agreement-refresh/documents-and-media-resources/ Discussion of Ohio Public Records law change/ attempts to circumvent discovery exchange by the prosecutor/police https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-149.43 The bill with the redlined amendments https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/135/hb265  https://www.wosu.org/politics-government/2025-11-25/ohio-supreme-court-rules-police-officer-identities-can-be-hidden-from-public-under-marsys-law https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/06/ohio-lawmakers-step-back-from-sweeping-police-secrecy-measure.html       Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****  

Today, Hunter was joined by long time criminal defense lawyer Jim Castle. Jim is here to help people understand the legal ethics related to workload limits and to explain where the Office of the State Public Defender gets these ethics wrong.   Guest: Jim Castle, Criminal Defense Lawyer, Colorado   Resource: Google Drive with Relevant Documents  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NVuuL9L6BUH8xBggXKnUMvsqJvSygk38?usp=drive_link   Link to ABA Formal Opinion 06-441 https://www.in.gov/ccaa/files/ABA.Ethics06-441.pdf     Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****  

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Travis Weiner, the former Colorado Public Defender who is suing the Colorado Public Defender System. On a previous episode, Travis detailed that he sued the state because he believed that OSPD retaliated against him for trying to do something about his unethical workloads. Today, Travis joins to discuss the most recent substantive hearing in his case to discuss the important take aways.   Guest: Travis Weiner, Public Defender, New Mexico   Resource: Google Drive with Relevant Documents  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NVuuL9L6BUH8xBggXKnUMvsqJvSygk38?usp=drive_link   Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****  

Today, Hunter shared the results of unfair labor complaint against the Colorado State Public Defender system.   Guest:   Resource: Google Drive with Relevant Documents  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1poeBD8pjrxLaMDTaCgN1lX12n3NKE0h5?usp=drive_link   Contact Hunter Parnell:      Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****  

Public Defender & Author, Emily Galvin Almanza, joins Anthony Davis to discuss Trump's $1.8 billion criminal ‘slush fund' of corruption whilst working people struggle with the escalating cost of living due to his perilous foreign policies - only on The Weekend Show. Shopify: Sign up for a one-dollar per month trial at https://shopify.com/weekend Independent media has never been more important. Please support this channel by subscribing here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g?sub_confirmation=1 Join this channel with a membership for exclusive early access and bonus content: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g/join Five Minute News is an Evergreen Podcast, covering politics, inequality, health and climate - delivering independent, unbiased and essential news for the US and across the world. Visit us online at http://www.fiveminute.news Follow us on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/fiveminutenews.bsky.social Follow us on Instagram http://instagram.com/fiveminnews Support us on Patreon http://www.patreon.com/fiveminutenews You can subscribe to Five Minute News with your preferred podcast app, ask your smart speaker, or enable Five Minute News as your Amazon Alexa Flash Briefing skill. CONTENT DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed on this channel are those of the guests and authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Anthony Davis or Five Minute News LLC. Any content provided by our hosts, guests or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything, in line with the First Amendment right to free and protected speech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Jenny Andrews and for the first time Matthew Thiese and Sarah McCarthay. As was the case on Tuesday, this episode is a continued discussion about the National Public Defender Well-Being Study. This time, the focus is on the upcoming phase two that people can participate in starting June 1.       Guest:   Jenny Andrews, Director, Be Sustained   Matthew These Ph.D., Professor, Utah University School of Medicine   Sarah McCarthy, Chief Assistant Public Defender, Santa Clara, California   Resource:   Find Everything About the Study Here   https://besustained.org/   Contact Matthew Here   https://medicine.utah.edu/faculty/matthew-s-thiese   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

Today, Hunter was joined by Aaron Gottlieb and Melissa Mahabir to discuss how excessive workloads drive worse outcomes for the people public defenders work for. Guest: Aaron Gottlieb, Associate Professor, University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice Melissa Mahabir, Social Worker and Former Mitigation Specialist Resource: Read the Article Here https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/712924 Contact Aaron Here https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/directory/aaron-gottlieb Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home *** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER***

Today is Wednesday, May 20. Here are the latest headlines from the Fargo, North Dakota area. InForum Minute is produced by Forum Communications and brought to you by reporters from The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and WDAY TV. For more news from throughout the day, visit InForum.com.

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Jenny Andrews and for the first time Professor Jon Jachimowicz. Over the past year, Jenny, Jon, and the amazing team working with Be Sustained have been conducting a study about Public Defender Well Being. This episode details the findings from phase one of that study.   Guest: Jenny Andrews, Director, Be Sustained Jon Jachimowicz, Assistant Professor, Harvard Business School   Resource: Find Everything About the Study Here https://besustained.org/ Contact Jon Here https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=1175257   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom… First, public defenders are looking to reform Washington's bail system, but not everyone is on board. Next, we visit the Yakima Nation, who say they feel pushed aside for energy development. And finally, beavers have a complicated relationship with Washington landowners. But they’re learning to coexist. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Jane Fox and for the first time Alexi Shalom. These two have been working tirelessly to develop programs that can help members of their union deal with crushing student debt. Today, these two join to explain those programs and what else Public Defender leaders can do to help their people with student debt.       Guest: Jane Fox, Legal Aid Society and Unit Chair, ALAA Local 2325 Alexi Shalom, Ed Rep, UAW Region 9A   Resource: Learn More Here https://region9a.uaw.org/education Contact Jane jfox@alaa.org   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Professor John Gross. This time, the two discuss a recent article published by John that offers public defenders another strategy to deal with excessive workloads.       Guest: John Gross, Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin   Resources: Read John's Article Here https://www.uclalawreview.org/caseload-transparency-a-new-approach-to-the-ethics-of-excessive-caseloads/ Contact John Here https://law.wisc.edu/profiles/john.gross   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

Today, Hunter was joined by five former public defenders, all running for a judicial position in Multnomah County, Oregon. Hunter and the candidates discuss how they view the role of a judge to solve various issues that might come before the court.       Guest: Kristine Almquist, Full Time Judicial Officer, Candidate for Judicial Position 14, Multnomah County, Oregon Peter Klym, Deputy Public Defender, Appellate Division, OPDC, Candidate for Judicial Position 12, Multnomah County, Oregon Joanna Perini-Abott, Professor of Law, Lewis and Clark School of Law, Candidate for Judicial Position 5, Multnomah County, Oregon Chris Behre, Public Defender, Candidate for Judicial Position 2, Multnomah County, Oregon Joe Hagedorn, Referee/Judge Pro Tem, Juvenile Court, Candidate for Judicial Position 14, Multnomah County, Oregon   Resources: Learn More About the Candidates Here: https://www.almquistforjudge.com/ https://www.peterforjudge.com/ https://behreforjudge.com/home https://jpaforjudge.com/ https://www.hagedornforjudge.com/     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

Have you ever wondered what really goes on in our country's criminal courts? Many want to believe in the hallowed halls of justice, with ethical and equitable legal processes that pursue truth and enforce the law fairly. But one author argues that this perception hides the reality that the system is broken. Emily Galvin Almanza, also a former public defender, presents her latest work The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America. The text takes us behind closed doors of America's criminal courts, arguing that the institutions that claim to protect us are doing the exact opposite. Examples include data showing that jails actually increase future crime, police corruption in overtime pay, an example of a man incarcerated for decades because scientists mistook dog hair for his own, incentives that push prosecutors to seek convictions, and even how judges may decide cases differently after lunch. Almanza presents examples and offers a blueprint for fixing these issues at their core, and by engaging the general public in helping to shape our collective future. Emily Galvin Almanza is the co-founder and executive director of Partners for Justice, a nonprofit creating a new collaborative model of public defense designed to empower defenders nationwide. Prior to founding PFJ, Emily fought for clients inside the L.A. County Public Defender's Office, the Santa Clara County Public Defender's Office, and the Bronx Defenders, and with the Stanford Three Strikes Project. Her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Newsweek, Teen Vogue, and Time, among other publications. Michele E. Storms is the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU of Washington), former Deputy Director of the ACLU of Washington, and previous Assistant Dean for Public Service and executive director of the William H. Gates Public Service Law program at the University of Washington School of Law.  Preceding those roles, she served as a statewide advocacy coordinator first at Columbia Legal Services and later at the Northwest Justice Project. She was also previously on faculty at the University of Washington School of Law where she founded what is now the Child and Youth Advocacy Clinic and taught several other courses.

The Public Defender of San Francisco has taken bold actions to protect the rights of non-affluent defendants to a defense as good or better than the one they could receive from a private attorney. He was challenged for his actions and beat the challenge. Hear all about it on today's show. Education Today is a radio show hosted by Kitty Kelly Epstein and Jaron Epstein that airs every week at 2:30. The post Education Today – April 29, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Today, Hunter was joined by Lucy Frick and Tim Smith of the Marion County Public Defender Office in Indianapolis, Indiana. Over the past two years, Lucy, Tim and the rest of the office fought hard to unionize their office. This episode aims to help people understand why they fought so hard and why others should unionize their offices.       Guest: Lucy Frick, Attorney, Major Felony Division, Marion County Public Defender Tim Smith, Social Worker, Major Felony Division, Marion County Public Defender   Resources: Contact Lucy Lucy.Frick@indy.gov Learn More About the Office https://www.indy.gov/agency/marion-county-public-defender-agency       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Jennifer Sellitti, the Public Defender for the state of New Jersey. This time, Hunter and Jennifer discussed a slew of topics including her efforts to expand holistic defender services across the state and how her office is leading the way in integrating AI tools into their practice.     Guest: Jennifer Sellitti, The Public Defender for the State of New Jersey   Resources: Learn More About NJ Public Defense https://www.nj.gov/defender/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/89256782/ https://www.facebook.com/njopd https://www.facebook.com/njopd https://x.com/opd_nj     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

Ryan and Lou talk to Greg about his work as a public defender and why Monroe County's Public Defenders have unionized.

This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Asia Scarlett-Jones. The two talk about Asia's inspiring journey, what drove her to commit to family law, her fearless leap to start her own practice at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lessons she's learned about leadership, building authentic relationships, and asking for help along the way. In this episode, we discuss: How Asia built her book of business from one client and a whole lot of courage, personally reaching out to everyone she knew, leveraging her court attorney and public-interest experience, owning her story on social media, and slowly refining who her true "ideal clients" are. What truly matters to her in networking: smaller, heart-to-heart relationship building, enjoying the room, becoming a trusted resource, and inviting others to "come meet my friends" rather than treating events like transactional referral hunts.​ When she realized she couldn't do it all, and chose to hire an executive assistant first to calm the chaos, followed by clerks, associates, and interns, she proudly helps them grow into their next chapters. Why Asia sees accepting help as a leadership strength, not a weakness. How she moved from "generic networking" to purpose-driven involvement, aligning with organizations like Women Owned Law, FamilyKind, and FDMC that match her values around women business owners, mediation, and healthier family transitions.​ Asia Scarlett-Jones, Esq. Founder & Managing Attorney, ASJ Law Office Asia Scarlett-Jones, Esq. is a force in family law, known for her forward-thinking leadership and dedication to helping professionals navigate divorce with strategy, efficiency, and dignity. As the Founder and Managing Attorney of ASJ Law Office, a boutique New York-based firm, she has redefined the family law experience, offering concierge-level legal services with a deep commitment to protecting what matters most: family, legacy, and peace of mind. Before launching ASJ Law Office, Mrs. Scarlett-Jones built a strong foundation in public service. She served as a Public Defender at the Nassau County Legal Aid Society, where she advocated for parents in custody and support matters, and later as a Principal Court Attorney in Nassau County Family Court, where she worked directly with Family Court judges to resolve complex legal issues and draft judicial decisions. Under her leadership, ASJ Law Office has become a trusted name for professionals seeking resolution- not conflict- in family matters. Her firm focuses on divorce, custody, child support, prenuptial agreements, and mediation, with a mission to guide clients through transitions with clarity and confidence. Mrs. Scarlett-Jones has been repeatedly recognized for her legal acumen and leadership. Her honors include Top 40 Under 40, The National Black Lawyers, New York Metro Rising Star, Super Lawyers Rising Star, Family Kind (2024), and National Academy of Family Law Attorneys. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Family Kind, Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York (FDMC), and Women Owned Law (WOL). She also holds leadership roles, including Co-Chair of the Matrimonial and Family Law Committee of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York and Co-Chair of the DEI Subcommittee of the Small Law Firm Committee, New York City Bar Association. Mrs. Scarlett-Jones is an active member of the New York City Bar Association, Family and Divorce Mediation Council, Women-Owned Law, Metropolitan Black Bar Association, New York Women's Bar Association, Family Kind, New York State Bar Association, Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, and American Bar Association. She earned her Juris Doctor from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law and her Bachelor's from the University at Albany.  Website: https://asjlawoffice.com/ Social Media Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asiascarlettjonesesq/    

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Vichal Kumar. On previous episodes, Vichal joined to discuss the incredible work he has accomplished with Partners for Justice. Today, he joins the show to discuss how the lessons he has learned as a line PD and with PFJ are driving him to run for Congress in New York's 7th Congressional District.     Guest: Vichal Kumar, Candidate for New York's 7th Congressional District   Resources: Learn More About His Campaign Here https://www.kumar4ny.com/     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

Today, Hunter was joined by Kay Edwards from the Far West Texas Regional Public Defender Office. There, Kay is the Mental Health Supervisor and she joins the show to discuss how her office has implemented a new organizational structure and way of thinking that empowers social workers to take more active roles in cases.     Guest: Kay Edwards, Mental Health Supervisor, Far West Texas Public Defender   Resources: NAPD Social Workers https://publicdefenders.us/audiences/social-worker/ Contact the office or Kay https://www.farwesttxrpd.org/ kay@farwesttxrpd.org     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Anat Rubin, an Investigative Journalist with Cal Matters. This time, Anat joins to discuss her reporting about the "Wal-Mart" of Public Defense. Coined decades ago, these private law firms who accept contracts to provide Public Defender services to rural parts of California have long faced scrutiny for their cost cutting practices.     Guest: Anat Rubin, Investigative Journalist, Cal Matters   Resources: Read Anat's Reporting Here https://calmatters.org/investigation/2025/12/the-walmart-of-public-defense/       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

Today, Hunter was joined by Mary Anne Mendenhall, the Director of Family Defense Initiatives with Partners for Justice. On previous episodes, Hunter has explored the dire need for Public Defense to expand its services to include family defenders. Today, Mary Anne joins to provide a deep dive into the family separation industrial complex and how to better integrate family defenders into Public Defender offices. Guest: Mary Anne Mendenhall, Director, Family Defense Initiatives, Partners for Justice Resources: Find Mary Anne's Work with P4J https://partnersforjustice.org/family-defense Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home *** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER***

Meet Jerri Green — a Memphis City Councilwoman and the current public defender for Shelby County who's running as a Democratic candidate for Tennessee's open gubernatorial seat. She sits down with executive producer Whitney Pastorek to talk about what she learned as a “baby attorney” in Nashville, and how being a mom fuels her campaign. Get more from City Cast Nashville when you become a City Cast Nashville Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm/nashville Want some more City Cast Nashville news? Then make sure to sign up for our City Cast Nashville newsletter.  Follow us @citycastnashville You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 615-200-6392 Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.

Today, Hunter was joined by Dalourny Nemorin, a public defender with the Legal Aid Society and candidate for NY's 15th Congressional District. Dalourny joins the show to discuss her candidacy, why she is running, and how her background as a public defender makes her the perfect fit to represent the South Bronx in Congress.     Guest: Dalourny Nemorin, Public Defender and Candidate for New York's 15th Congressional District, Legal Aid Society   Resources: Check out Dalourny's Campaign Here: https://www.dalourny.nyc/     Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit https://events.americanbar.org/event/12d07164-1011-4723-9352-e8e3168db945/welcome     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home **** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

As a public defender in California and New York, Emily Galvin Almanza became frustrated by an overburdened justice system focused on locking people up while having, she says, “essentially zero impact on the crime rate.” Time and again, she saw ordinary peoples' lives upended by the court system. So she co-founded an organization, Partners for Justice, aimed at supporting and empowering public defenders. Now operating in more than 20 states, the group places advocates in public defenders' offices to help clients find stable housing, employment and other services . . . and stay out of jail.  In her new book, The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America, Galvin Almanza draws on these first-hand experiences and the latest crime data to argue that institutional decisions, such as prosecutorial incentives, policing tactics, or even when a judge has lunch, can have disastrous impacts on people who find themselves in the judicial process.  She looks at how police overtime practices affect justice, how jail conditions can increase future crime, and how flawed forensic technology has resulted in the incarceration of innocent individuals. Despite these sobering facts, she also emphasizes solutions: such as how public defenders enhance community stability and health, and how small environmental investments, such as planting trees, can actually reduce crime rates.  Join Emily Galvin Almanza to hear her blueprint for transforming our criminal justice system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Devin Morse is a criminal defense attorney in Alaska, specializing in the state's most serious charges. In this episode, Devin explains the distinction between factual and legal guilt, her intensive intake process, and why she deliberately delays hearing a client's version of events. She also discusses what it means to review a "phone dump" — an entire digital life — and how that shapes the attorney-client relationship. After a decade as a public defender, Devin and two colleagues spent a year plotting the launch of their own firm. She walks through the realities of billing, compensation conversations, and what it feels like to know a family sold their home to fund the defense. Devin Morse is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law.This episode is hosted by Kyle McEntee.Mentioned in this episode:Loyola Law SchoolLearn more about Loyola Law SchoolAccess LawHub today!

Episode Summary In this episode of The Jabot Podcast, host Kathryn Rubino sits down with public defender, reform advocate, and author Emily Galvin Almanza to discuss her new book The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Broken System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America. Emily shares her unexpected path into law, her deep commitment to criminal defense, and the emotional realities of representing clients navigating one of the most consequential systems in American society. Drawing from years in public defense and her work co-founding Partners for Justice, she explains why the criminal legal system often punishes instability rather than crime — and how policy choices, not individual morality, frequently determine who enters the system. The conversation explores burnout among defenders, systemic misconceptions about criminal courts, the role of compassion in policy reform, and the economic and social costs of incarceration. Ultimately, the episode reframes justice not as punishment, but as a question of public safety, community stability, and human dignity. Links & Resources emilygalvinalmanza.com Keywords Public defense Criminal justice reform The Price of Mercy Emily Galvin Almanza Public defender experience Mass incarceration Justice system reform Holistic defense model Legal burnout Court system inequality Compassion in policy Criminal legal system Wrongful convictions Socioeconomic inequality Recidivism data Legal advocacy Community safety policy Justice and economics Legal storytelling Human-centered justice Episode Highlights 00:05–02:17 - Emily's accidental journey into law school and discovering criminal law 02:17–04:19 - Finding purpose through public defense and helping clients "come home" 04:19–05:55 - Why passion for clients sustains lawyers through intense legal work 05:55–08:05 - Burnout in public defense and operating under constant crisis conditions 08:05–10:05 - Institutional change and caseload reform as keys to lawyer wellbeing 10:05–11:13 - Fighting not only for clients but for constitutional rights and communities 11:13–12:39 - Why Emily stepped back from trial work to build systemic solutions 12:39–14:11 - Founding Partners for Justice and expanding holistic defense nationwide 14:11–15:28 - Writing the book to make reform knowledge accessible to everyday voters 15:28–17:28 - Misconception #1: people enter the system because of policy choices, not just crime 17:28–18:44 - Court process realities and why 98% of cases end in guilty pleas 18:44–20:05 - Junk science and myths about forensic evidence 20:05–21:35 - Humanizing defendants and challenging public stereotypes 21:35–22:27 - Success stories after incarceration rarely told in public narratives 22:27–24:15 - Why social services function as public safety strategies 24:15–25:59 - Economic costs of incarceration and long-term societal impact 25:59–26:23 - Using data and storytelling to change public conversations about justice  

We talk with Hamilton County's prosecutor and a public defender about their work and the county's rates of recidivism.

Today, Hunter was joined by three people, Maggie Bott, Brandon Garcia, and Bob Kolstad, who have lived through the federal occupation of Minneapolis. They join the show to detail what ICE, CBP, and DHS have been doing in the city and how the city has organized and resisted those efforts.   Guest: Brandon Garcia, Policy Aide to City Council President Elliot Page, Minneapolis, Minnesota Maggie Bott, Public Defender, Hennepin County, Minnesota Bob Kolstad, Public Defender, Hennepin County, Minnesota   Resources: Mutual Aid to Minnesota https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ https://defend612.com/     Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit https://events.americanbar.org/event/12d07164-1011-4723-9352-e8e3168db945/welcome     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter spoke w/Stacey Lowe, Executive Director of the Southwest Oregon Public Defender Services. They discussed why Stacey joined Shannon Wilson's lawsuit challenging the new contract conditions put in place by the Oregon Public Defense Commission.     Guest: Stacey Lowe, Executive Director, Southwest Oregon Public Defender Services   Resources: SWOPDS https://swopds.org/   Contact Stacey  slowe@swopds.org   Read More About the Suit https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/oregon/2025/11/15/court-opdc-marion-county-public-defenders-contract/87279929007/ https://www.pdmarion.org/information-for-the-media https://kobi5.com/news/top-stories/southern-oregon-public-defense-success-clouded-by-quota-lawsuit-288302/   OPDC Response "We are unable to comment on pending litigation, but for questions about workload standards, I refer you to pages 20-22 (pages 26-28 in the search) of our recent status report. The section on long-term planning describes our goal of transitioning to a workload model.     For questions about contracts, I encourage you to visit our website, where you can find the following information:      Contracts for 2025-2027 Contracts for 2023-2025 A timeline of the contracting process, which included soliciting contractors' feedback on draft contracts through online feedback forms. We also held informational sessions for contractors. Our responses to questions that public defense providers asked while reviewing drafts of the contracts. Maximum attorney caseloads (MAC) – Click on Contracts 2023-2025 and scroll down to "What are the Maximum Attorney Caseloads under the 2023-25 contracts?"    OPDC's contracts are based on maximum attorney caseloads. The MAC standards in the 2025-2027 contracts are identical to those that were in the 2023-2025 contracts. The MAC standards can be found in Exhibit B of the 2025-2027 contracts. They are listed on page 19 under the section titled Rolling Annual Caseload Limits. They are listed on page B-1 under Annual Caseload Limits in the 2023- 2025 contracts."      Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit https://events.americanbar.org/event/12d07164-1011-4723-9352-e8e3168db945/welcome     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter spoke w/Shannon Wilson and Stephen Hanlon. Last fall, Shannon, the Executive Director of the Marion County Public Defender, filed a lawsuit against the Oregon Public Defense Commission to challenge new requirements in Oregon Public Defender contracts. Now, Shannon and Stephen join the show to explain why and what comes next for Oregon Public Defense.   Guest: Shannon Wilson, Executive Director, Marion County Public Defender, Oregon Stephen Hanlon, Public Interest Lawyer   Resources: Contact Shannon https://www.pdmarion.org/shannon-wilson Read More About the Suit https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/local/oregon/2025/11/15/court-opdc-marion-county-public-defenders-contract/87279929007/ https://www.pdmarion.org/information-for-the-media (The hearing can be found here!!) https://kobi5.com/news/top-stories/southern-oregon-public-defense-success-clouded-by-quota-lawsuit-288302/ Contact Stephen https://lawyerhanlon.com/   Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit https://events.americanbar.org/event/12d07164-1011-4723-9352-e8e3168db945/welcome     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Send a textA rural county's safety net is only as strong as the deputies willing to hold the line.In Episode 128, we sit down with TMPA Regional Attorney and former Polk County District Attorney Lee Hon alongside TMPA Field Representative Robby Campbell to break down the growing controversy surrounding Polk County leadership and its impact on law enforcement.At the center of the discussion is Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy and the debate over Texas Senate Bill 22, a bill intended to help rural agencies raise salaries and remain competitive. We examine how Judge Murphy reduced the county-funded pay raise specifically for law enforcement because of SB22 funding, effectively offsetting the purpose of the state assistance.The episode follows the money from courthouse construction costs and elected officials' pay increases to a grant-funded Public Defender's Office that could exceed one million dollars annually once state funding sunsets. Meanwhile, the sheriff's office and jail face retention challenges, staffing shortages, and declining morale.We also touch on the Brady List as another topic impacting officers and accountability.Most importantly, we discuss solutions: transparent multi-year compensation plans, retention incentives, and leadership that honors the true intent of SB22.Public safety is a promise. Episode 128 asks whether that promise is being protected.Support the showemail us at- bluegrit@tmpa.org

"We are still dealing with a system which tolerates rampant abuse of accused people." — Emily Galvin AlmanzaBack in April 2024, we interviewed Thelton Henderson, one of the first African American federal judges in America. What disturbed me about our conversation was that even though Henderson grew up in the late Jim Crow era, he didn't seem to think that America is a profoundly more just place now than it was back then. Today's guest clerked for Judge Henderson, and her new book suggests he's right.Emily Galvin Almanza is a public defender turned activist, and The Price of Mercy is her data-driven indictment of a criminal justice system that, as she puts it, "tolerates rampant abuse of accused people, tolerates the blatantly racist application of the law, and tolerates a total lack of transparency." According to Almanza, the numbers are damning: 80% of cases are misdemeanors. 80% of people prosecuted are poor enough to need a public defender. 70% of people in jail haven't been convicted—they just can't afford bail. California's gang database was 99% people of color, she says, and famously included literal babies listed as having "admitted their gang affiliation."And here's both the good and bad news: crime is actually down. If you're under 50, she notes, you're living through the safest period of your lifetime. The solutions aren't mysterious either—housing reduces arrest rates by 80%, after-school programs cut youth violent crime in half. That's all good news for us. But it remains bad for those being unjustifiably prosecuted. We just lack the political will to implement what works. And as Galvin Almanza points out, this isn't a federal issue: 87% of prisoners are in jail on state charges. Change happens at the local level—DAs, sheriffs, state legislatures. The fixes, she says, are realizable. We just need the collective political will. That's the price of mercy in America today.About the GuestEmily Galvin Almanza is Executive Director of Partners for Justice and teaches at Stanford Law School. A former public defender, she clerked for Judge Thelton Henderson. Her new book is The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America (2026).ReferencesPeople mentioned:●      Thelton Henderson was one of the first African American federal judges in America, a civil rights pioneer for whom Galvin Almanza clerked.●      Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, blurbed the book. Galvin Almanza agrees "without hesitation" that we're living in a new Jim Crow system.●      Alec Karakatsanis coined the term "copaganda" for media narratives that undermine smarter criminal justice solutions.●      Clara Shortridge Foltz was a 19th-century lawyer who coined the phrase "free and equal justice" and pioneered the public defender system.●      Andrew Ferguson of GW University appeared on the show recently with a book warning about surveillance.Key statistics from the book:●      80% of cases in the system are misdemeanors—trespassing, driving without a license, fare evasion.●      80% of people prosecuted are poor enough to be assigned a public defender.●      70% of people in jail haven't been convicted—they're awaiting trial and can't afford bail.●      87% of prisoners are there on state charges, not federal—making this a local issue.●      Every year of incarceration shaves two years off a person's expected lifespan.●      Being incarcerated cuts a person's expected lifetime earnings in half.●      Giving an unhoused person housing reduces their chances of future arrest by 80%.●      After-school programs can reduce youth involvement in violent crime by 50%.Concepts discussed:●      Cash bail is a $2 billion per year industry in America. Most civilized countries don't allow you to buy your freedom back from the government.●      "Failure to protect" laws criminalize women who are present while an abusive partner also abuses their child—charging victims as perpetrators.●      Self-defense laws were "designed with two men fighting in an alley in mind"—making them nearly useless for abused women who fight back.●      Gang databases in California were 99% people of color and included babies listed as having "admitted their gang affiliation."About Keen On AmericaNobody asks more awkward questions than the Anglo-American writer and filmmaker Andrew Keen. In Keen On America, Andrew brings his pointed Transatlantic wit to making sense of the United States—hosting daily interviews about the history and future of this now venerable Republic. With nearly 2,800 episodes since the show launched on TechCrunch in 2010, Keen On America is the most prolific intellectual interview show in the history of podcasting.WebsiteSubstackYouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyChapters:(00:00) - Introduction: Thelton Henderson (02:22) - Has anything changed since the 1960s? (03:31) - Why isn't there more outrage? (05:46) - Michelle Alexander and the New Jim Crow (08:52) - Why is the system this way? (10:49) - Democrats vs. Republicans on criminal justice (13:14) - Breaking the cycle of poverty and criminalization (16:53) - Crime is actually going down (19:15) - Peeing on your stoop is a sex crime (19:59) - Women in the system: failure to protect (23:09) - Moving past punishment (26:06) - Nobody wants to marginalize the police (28:16) - Black Lives Matter and the march toward justice (29:32) - The Minneapolis killings (33:04) - Two Americas: Epstein and cash bail (39:10) - Can technology help? (41:20) - The price of mercy

Today, Hunter was joined by Judyanne Vallado, the Chief Public Defender in San Joaquin County, California. With a tough on crime DA and large amounts of gun crime, the San Joaquin County Public Defenders have long delt with difficult workloads, but now, with Prop 36 prosecutions increasing felony charges, the office may soon have to make the choice about when enough is enough.   Guest: Judyanne Vallado, Chief Public Defender, San Joaquin County, California   Resources: Learn more about the Office Here https://www.sjgov.org/department/pubdef/home https://www.instagram.com/sjcpublicdefender/?hl=en Contact Judyanne jvallado@sjgov.org Read more about issues in the County  https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/politics/government/2024/11/27/stockton-declares-local-homelessness-emergency-toughens-camping-ban/76490580007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z118989d00----v118989b0089xxd118965&gca-ft=101&gca-ds=sophi https://www.sjgov.org/department/bos/board-news/board-news-detail/2025/09/10/sjc-board-and-probation-celebrate-sj-cares   Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit https://events.americanbar.org/event/12d07164-1011-4723-9352-e8e3168db945/welcome     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

In episode 2004, Jack and Miles are joined by poet, former public defender, co-founder and Executive Director of Partners for Justice, and author of The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America, Emily Galvin-Almanza, to discuss… MAGA Thinks Disney Deep Cuts Justify Trump’s Racist AI Post, That’s Weird... There Was A DOJ Press Release Announcing Epstein’s Death Drafted The Day Before He Was Actually Killed? Epstein Isn’t Secretly Alive, According To Fortnite, Kamala Harris Is Back – This Time With More Cringey Memes! Department Of Defense Deploys Military To Theaters Playing “Melania” and more! Trump takes down racist AI video of Barack and Michelle Obama as monkeys Republicans rarely criticize Trump in his second term. A racist post briefly changed that Troll Who Created Trump’s Racist Obama Video Was Behind Another Viral Outrage Trump’s Dangerous Diversionary Device: Using Race to Erase Discourse 'I Didn’t Make a Mistake’: Trump Declines to Apologize for Racist Video of Obamas Trump accused of role in Epstein’s death in explosive email sent to FBI, documents reveal Epstein Files Reveal Prosecutors’ Announcement Dated Before His Death Jeffrey Epstein is not actually alive and playing 'Fortnite,' Epic Games says 'Jeffrey Epstein still alive?': Truth behind viral photo amid Epstein files release Epstein confirmation of death dated one day before he was found discovered in files Harris relaunches her old ‘Kamala HQ’ account as an online organizing project Kamala Harris Reboots KamalaHQ as Headquarters, a ‘Progressive’ Media Hub Aimed at Gen Z Voters Kamala Harris' first post since election day sparks 2028 presidential bid speculation CNN just described the Kamala headquarters_67 account as cringe. Chillingly Vain’ ‘Melania’ Documentary Absolutely Savaged by Critics Military Pressured to See ‘Melania’ Against Their Will Amazon MGM Goes on Offense as ‘Melania’ Gets Sacked at Super Bowl Box Office LISTEN: Vamonos by Elkin & NelsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The shortcomings and inequities of the American criminal justice system are painfully clear to those who have worked in it. Former public defender and legal activist Emily Galvin-Almanza will walk us through the many  points in our system where justice fails. We talk to her  about what reform should like and her new book, “The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America.” Guests: Emily Galvin-Almanza, author of “The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America. Co-founder and executive director of Partners for Justice, which aims to support and empower public defenders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Hunter spoke once again with Rob Poggenklass and Bryan Kennedy from Justice Forward Virginia. Last year, Justice Forward Virginia joined the show to discuss the 2025 criminal justice policies being floated in Virginia. Today, Rob and Bryan are here to discuss what the 2026 legislative session has in store for criminal justice reform in Virginia, and how things might be different now that the Dems control all three branches of government.    Guest Rob Poggenklass, Executive Director, Justice Forward Virginia Bryan Kennedy, Public Defender, Fairfax County, Treasurer, Justice Forward Virginia   Resources: Justice Forward Virginia 2026 Legislative Priorities https://justiceforwardva.com/issues-2  Justice Forward Virginia Socials https://www.facebook.com/JusticeForwardVa https://x.com/justicefwdva  https://www.instagram.com/justicefwdva https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDC0qXV1Mbx27ibJXgy28uQ    Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit https://events.americanbar.org/event/12d07164-1011-4723-9352-e8e3168db945/welcome   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home

Today, Hunter was joined by Stephen Saloom, the Director of Concerts of Indigent Defense. He joined the show to discuss Concerts for Indigent Defense and the share with us the lessons he has learned over a career of advocating for and passing criminal justice reform policies.   Guest: Stephen Saloom, Director, Concert for Indigent Defense   Resources: Learn More About Concerts for Indigent Defense https://concertsforindigentdefense.org/   Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit https://events.americanbar.org/event/12d07164-1011-4723-9352-e8e3168db945/welcome     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Today, Hunter was joined by Ali Bloomquist and Cherise Fanno Burdeen PhD about their new paper titled "Emotion First Theory & Practice: Emotional Intelligence as Foundational Infrastructure for Equity Practice." In it, Ali and Cherise detail the importance of making the development of Emotional Intelligence as something that public defender systems and organizations need to prioritize. Without a system based approach, public defender's alone cannot be expected to develop the emotional intelligence needed to meet the needs of the communities they serve.   Guest: Ali Bloomquist, Public Defender, Co-Founder, EIDEIA Institute Cherise Fanno Burdeen PhD, Community Psychologist, Co-Founder, EIDEIA Institute   Resources: EIDEIA Website https://www.eideia.org/ eideiainstitute@gmail.com   Register for the Webinar Here https://www.eideia.org/trainings       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 Publicdefenseless@gmail.com  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home  

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Legal correspondent Jeremy Sharon joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. WATCH the full episode here: After the Public Defender's Office of the Justice Ministry was forced to reveal reports about visits to four prisons in 2024, showing systematic violence and unsanitary conditions for Palestinian detainees, Sharon discusses the disturbing findings and the year-long battle by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel to get ahold of the report. Sharon also reports on last week's rally, at which protestors demanded the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews. He talks about the sense of solidarity shown at the gathering of thousands from the secular and national religious camps as they spoke out against government-backed legislation seeking to reinstate blanket military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Palestinians in Israeli jails face ‘conditions unfit for human beings,’ state agency says Thousands rally in Jerusalem to demand ultra-Orthodox IDF enlistment Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. IMAGE: Handcuffed Hamas terrorists sit next to a picture of Palestinians walking past destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip and an Israeli flag, in a prison in central Israel, May 6, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brea and Mallory discuss their most anticipated books for the start of 2026! Plus, they talk to Danika Ellis from Book Riot about their 2026 Read Harder Challenge! Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com!Reading Glasses MerchRecommendations StoreThe Reading Glasses Book!Sponsors -Apron Notebookswww.apronnotebooks.comCODE: GLASSESGreenChefwww.greenchef.com/GLASSESGRAZACODE: GLASSESGRAZALinks -Reading Glasses Facebook GroupReading Glasses Goodreads GroupWish ListNewsletterLibro.fmTo join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership!www.maximumfun.org/join2026 Read HarderThe LesbraryDanika EllisRead Harder Newsletter Books Mentioned -Bright Young Women by Jessica KnollLove in Exile by Shon FayeJoy to the Girls by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson DerrickReally Cute People by Markus Harwood JonesLu and Ren's Guide to Geozoology by Angela HsiehJanuaryCall Me Ishmaelle by Xiaolu GuoLiterary fiction, feminist retelling of Moby DickThe Hitch by Sara LevineMagical realism, funny, woman trying to help nephew who is possessed by a dead corgiIs This a Cry for Help? by Emily AustinLiterary fiction, queer, lesbian, librarians fighting book bannersIf I Ruled the World by Amy DuboisLiterary fiction, late 1990s, hip hop, magazine industryScavengers by Kathleen BolandLiterary fiction, dysfunctional mother-daughter team looking for buried treasureThe Charmed Library by Jennifer MoormanMagical realism, books about books, small town, librarian protagonist, book magicThe Jills by Karen ParkmanThriller, Buffalo Bills cheerleader solving the murder of a fellow cheerleadersThe Unwritten Rules of Magic by Harper RossFantasy, magic typewriter, grief, three generations of women, family historyDandelion is Dead by Rosie StoreyContemporary romance, woman sets up a date on her dead sister's dating appThe Future Saints by Ashley WinsteadLiterary fiction, music executive trying to bring band back from the brink, sisters, friendshipLost Lambs by Madeline CashLiterary fiction, humor, family dysfunctionThe Old Fire by Elisa ShuaLiterary fiction, translated, family drama in a crumbling house in the French countrysideSheer by Vanessa LawrenceLiterary fiction, beauty industry, female mogul, secrets, queerHow to Commit a Postcolonial Murder by Nina McConigleyLiterary, historical, 1980s, murder mystery, Indian-American tween protagonist who murders her uncle but she blames it on the BritishThe Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise WilliamsLiterary, multi-generational epic family saga, secretsThe Last of Earth by Deepa AnapparaHistorical, 1800s Tibet, journey, Indian schoolteacher spying for the empire, English lady explorer disguising herself as a manThe Bookbinder's Secret by A.D. BellHistorical fiction, thriller, bookbinder finds confession hidden in a burned book and hunts a story of murder and loveWomen of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna EverhartHistorical fiction, 1940s North Carolina, a young woman subjected to involuntary medical treatment fights backMeet the Newmans by Jennifer NivenHistorical fiction, behind the scenes drama on a 1960s family sitcomNowhere Burning by Catriona WardHorror, Peter Pan inspired, gothic, two fleeing siblings find sanctuary at mysterious ranchDefinitely Maybe Not a Detective by Sarah FoxMystery, romcom, woman's fake detective agency accidentally hired to solve a real murderCross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder MokeMystery, romcom, rich people behaving badlyAll the Little Houses by May CobbThriller, 1980s Texas, mean girls and mean moms, family secretMy Husband's Wife by Alice FeeneyThriller, mind-bending psychological marriage mysteryThe Storm by Rachel HawkinsThriller, Alabama, hurricane, old hotel, gothic, old murderMissing Sam by Thrity UmrigarThriller, queer, lesbian, missing wife, suburban dreadHumboldt Cut by Allison MickHorror, eco-horror, northern California, dark humor, bark monstersHollow by Celina MyersHorror, paranormal romance, romantasy, vampires, found familyOn Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah Yah ScholfieldHorror, southern gothic, Georgia, ghosts, haintsA Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. JamesHorror, siblings returning to childhood home after being called by dead brotherThis House Will Feed by Maria TureaudHistorical horror, 1840s Ireland, haunted house, gothic, suspenseNine Goblins: A Tale of Low Fantasy and High Mischief by T. KingfisherYA fantasy, novella, humor, band of hapless goblins on a questA Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang by Lee Onhwa, translated by Slin JungFantasy, Korean, cozy, woman who inherits magical bakeryThe Poet Empress by Shen TaoRomantasy, epic fantasy, historical, hot evil prince, poetry magicThrough Gates of Garnet and Gold by Seanan McQuireNext Wayward Children bookWe Who Have No Gods by Liza AndersonRomantasy, witches, gothic, dark academia, magic academy, secret societiesGraceless Heart by Isabel IbañezRomantasy, historical, renaissance Italy, competition hosted by secret immortal familyThe Wolf and His King by Finn LongmanQueer retelling of Bisclavret the werewolf, historical, 12 century, court intrigueA Vow in Vengeance by Jaclyn RodriquezRomantasy, tarot, magic, dark academia, enemies to lovers, forced proximityThe Book of Blood and Roses by Annie SummerleeRomantasy, sapphic, paranormal, vampires, mysterious universityThe Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotta YambaoCozy fantasy, train that takes you to your life's purposeTwo Left Feet by Kallie EmblidgeQueer romance, MLM, contemporary sports romance, British premier league footballMost Eligible by Isabelle EngelContemporary romance, journalist sneaks onto a reality TV dating showThe Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann KrentzParanormal romance, romantic suspense, psychic dangers, warring paranormal familiesGreta Gets the Girl by Melissa MarrContemporary sapphic romance, forbidden romance, publishingThe Lust Crusade by Jo SeguraContemporary romance, librarian and archaeologist fake dating, Greek mythologyLast First Kiss by Julian WintersQueer romance, contemporary, MLM, second chance, rom comAin't Nobody's Fool: The Life and Times of Dolly Parton by Martha AckmannNonfictionThe Royal Insider: My Life with the Queen, the King, and Princess Diana by Paul BurrellNonfiction, memoirFly, Wild Swans: My Mother, Myself, and China by Jung ChangNonfiction, memoir, three generations of womenThe Flower Bearers by Rachel Eliza GriffithsNonfiction, memoir, grief, death of a sister, friendship, marriageBlood Bible: An American History by DaMaris HillNonfiction, history, racism, slave trade history, national identity, personal identityWinter: The Story of a Season by Val McDermidCreative nonfiction, history of winter community events, ScotlandWhen Trees Testify: Science, Wisdom, History, and America's Black Botanical Legacy by Beronda L. MontgomeryNonfiction, history of Black botany through seven treesHalf His Age by Jennette McCurdyLiterary fiction, drama, age gap romance,Catch Her if You Can by Tessa BaileyRomance, contemporary, sports, baseball, marriage of convenienceVigil by George SaundersLiterary fiction, magical realism, eco-drama, dying oil CEOFruit of the Flesh by I.V. OpheliaHistorical fantasy, gothic romance, marriage of convenience, dark appetitesThe Bones Beneath My Skin by T.J. KluneQueer thriller, MLM, 1990s, gay couple helping little girl with powersFootball by Chuck KlostermanNonfiction about footballCry Havoc by Rebecca WaitHistorical mystery, 1980s failing English boarding school, dark academia, funny, strange contagion among studentsHemlock by Melissa FalivenoLiterary, gothic, queer, woman investigating mother's disappearenceFebruaryLaws of Love and Logic by Debra CurtisLiterary fiction, love triangle - first love vs devoted husbandOne of Us by Elizabeth DayLiterary thriller, drama between old friends and wealth, murderEverything Lost Returns by Sarah DometLiterary fiction, historical, twin timelines, 1910s and 1980s, friendshipWhere the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton HarrisLiterary fiction, fugitive hides out at rural Alabama flower farm, found familyBad Asians by Lillian LiLiterary fiction, friend group sagaI Hope You Find What You're Looking For by Bsrat MezghebeLiterary fiction, historical, 1990s Washington DC, Ethiopian immigrant communityThis Book Made Me Think of You by Libby PageLiterary fiction, woman receives books recommended by her dead husbandRoyal Spin by Robin Benway and Omid ScobieLiterary fiction, workplace drama inside Buckingham PalaceSuperfan by Jenny Tinghui ZhangLiterary fiction, popstar and his superfan collide, fandom, lonelinessBelgrave Road: A Love Story by Manish ChauhanLiterary fiction, two young immigrants in a forbidden romanceThis is Not About Us by Allegra GoodmanLiterary fiction, funny, multi generational family drama, griefRebel English Academy by Hanif MohammedLiterary fiction, Pakistan, political power, language, friendshipThe Secret of Snow by Tina Harnesk, translated by Alice MenziesLiterary fiction, elderly couple crosses paths with two twentysomethings and discovers surprising shared historyThe Renovation by Kenan OrhanLiterary fiction, woman discovers her bathroom has been remodeled into a prison cellMessenger Cat Cafe by Nagi Shimeno, translated by M. JeanMagical realism, cozy, cat in the afterlife who must deliver 5 messages to people on earth before he can see his beloved owner againA Crown of Stars by Shana AbéHistorical fiction, retelling of the last days of the LusitaniaThe Fourth Princess by Janie ChangHistorical fiction, gothic, 1910s Shanghai, crumbling mansion, secretsCleopatra by Saara El-ArifiHistorical fiction, retelling of Cleopatra's life from her POVBook of Forbidden Words by Louise FeinHistorical fiction, 1500s Paris, 1950s NYC, book banning, inspired by Voynich manuscriptThe Pohaku by Jasmi ‘Iolani HakesHistorical fiction, generations of women tasked with protecting Hawaiian historyA Slow and Secret Poison by Carmella LowkisHistorical Gothic thriller, 1900s England, young gardener at lush manor falls for her mysterious bossMurder Will Out by Jennifer BreedloveMystery, gothic, Maine, heartwarmingI'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus CraigMystery, recently released from prison serial killer moves into retirement home when a murder happens and she has to prove she didn't do itDirty Metal by Allison LaMotheHistorical mystery, 1990s NYC, reporter investigating two huge storiesWolf Hour by Jo Nesbø, translated by Robert FergusonThriller, Minnesota, true crime, serial killer, secretsThe Final Problem by Arturo Perez-Reverte, translated by Frances RiddleHistorical mystery, locked room, 1960s Greek island resort, washed up actor turned detectiveHer Last Breath by Taylor AdamsThriller, two friends go on a cave expedition and one gets murdered!!!Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse, translated by Florian DuijsensThriller, lawyer finds peace through mindfulness and will do anything to protect it, even murderPinky Swear by Danielle GirardThriller, an expecting mother whose surrogate disappears days before birthThe Girls Before by Kate Alice MarshallThriller, search and rescue expert looking for missing womanPaper Cut by Rachel TaffThriller, woman infamous for escaping a cult as a teen has secrets that come back to haunt herMaria the Wanted by V. CastroHorror, thriller, newly turned vampire in Mexico is on the runDead First by Johnny ComptonHorror, private investigator hired by mysterious billionaire to find out why he can't dieShe Made Herself a Monster by Anna KovatchevaHorror, gothic thriller, 1800s Bulgaria, fake vampire slayer joins forces with teen to make a monsterThe Body by Bethany C MorrowHorror, woman must survive bizarre attacks on her failing marriageDollface by Lindy RyanHorror, serial killer, 1990s, Barbie meets ScreamThe Glowing Hours by Leila SiddiquiHorror, gothic, retelling of the fabled summer Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, as told by her Indian housemaid, Mehrunissa “Mehr” BegumWeavingshaw by Heba Al-WasityFantasy, gothic, young woman who can see the dead strikes a deal with a mysterious and ruthless merchant to save her brother's lifeAfter the Fall by Edward AshtonSci fi, buddy comedy, alien invasion, humans as petsThe Fox Hunt by Caitlin BreezeFantasy, boarding school, secret society, girl transforms into magical beastOperation Bounce House by Matt DinnimanFantasy, a man must fight for his planet when gamers from Earth attempt to remotely annihilate itSing the Night by Megan Jauregui EcclesFantasy, inspired by Phantom of the Opera, musical magician competitionThe Hospital at the End of the World by Justin C. KeySci fi, near future where AI runs the world, medical student unravels family secretsThe Forest on the Edge of Time by Jasmin KirkbrideSci fi, Future of Another Timeline meets The Bone Clocks, time travel, cli-fiNightshade and Oak by Molly O'NeillFantasy, Iron Age goddess must grapple with becoming human, historical, magicThe Astral Library by Kate QuinnFantasy, book about books, magic books that are portals to worldsThe Iron Garden Sutra by A.D. SuiSci fi, locked room murder mystery, monk and researchers trapped on a spaceshipThe Obake Code by Makana YamamotoSci fi, caper, hacker forced by gangsters to take down crooked politicianThe Daughter Who Remains by Nnedi OkoraforSci fi, She Who Knows book 3Wicked Onyx by Debbie CassidyRomantasy, magical academy, girl must unravel dark family secrets, make alliances, and get revengeAgnes Auburt's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather FawcettRomantasy, gentle fantasy, woman running cat rescue in 1920s Montreal and a grouchy charming magician who helps save her shelterHalf City by Kate GoldenRomantasy, young demon hunter enrolls in Harker Academy for Deviant DefenseThe Legend of the Nine-Tailed Fox by Katrina KwanRomantasy, a nine-tailed fox and the hunter who captured her are banished to the underworld togetherThe Lies that Summon the Night by Tessonaja OdetteRomantasy, world where making art is illegal, revenge, sexy monster hunterCrown of War and Shadow by J.R. WardRomantasy, fated mated, magic, hot mercenary, only one bed, touch her and dieThrone of Nightmares by Kerri ManiscaloRomantasy, librarian, dangerous book magic, perilous questThe Ballad of Fallen Dragons by Sarah A. ParkerMoonfall, book 2Dawn of the North by Demi WintersAshen, book 3The Heir and the Spare by Harper L. WoodsA Of Flesh and Bone novellaBrawler by Lauren GroffLiterary fiction, short storiesKin by Tayari JonesLiterary fiction, lifelong female friendship in the American SouthLove and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah BrohmContemporary romance, academic rivals to lovers, two neuroscientists fake datingInsignificant Others by Sarah JioSci fi romance, woman stuck in time loop of one day relationships with past boyfriendsSkate It Till You Make It by Rufaro Faither MazaruaContemporary sports romance, female hockey player, fake dating, rom-comThe Ex-Perimento by Maria J MorilloContemporary romance, woman enlists her favorite musician to win her ex back, rom-com, VenezuelaTwo Can Play by Ali HazelwoodContemporary romance, novella, enemies to loves, world of video gamesGet Over It, April Evans by Ashely Herring BlakeContemporary romance, sapphic, lake town resortAnd Now, Back to You by B.K. BorisonContemporary romance, competing meteorologists, opposites attractIn Her Spotlight by Amy SpaldingContemporary romance, sapphic, second chance, film industryA Hymn to Life by Gisele PelicotNonfiction, memoirThe Company of Owls by Polly AtkinMemoir, chronic illness, owlsBernie for Burlington: The Rise of the People's Politician by Dan ChiassonNonfiction, biographyStarry and Restless: Three Women Who Changed Work, Writing, and the World by Julia CookeNonfiction, biography of three groundbreaking female journalistsThe Last Kings of Hollywood: Coppola, Lucas, Spielberg—and the Battle for the Soul of American Cinema by Paul FisherBiographyLeaving Home: A Memoir in Full Colour by Mark HaddonMemoir of the author who wrote The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night TimeUnread: A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) To Read on TikTok by Oliver JamesMemoir about learning how to read as an adultNonviolent: A Memoir of Resistance, Agitation, and Love by James Lawson Jr & Emily YellinNonfiction, posthumous memoir of Rev. James Lawson Jr, a principal architect of a nonviolent resistance movementWe the Women: The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America by Norah O'DonnellNonfiction, history I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right by Matt KaplanNonfiction, science, historyA World Appear: A Journey into Consciousness by Michael PollanNonfiction, scienceThe Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender's Search for Justice in America by Emily Galvin AlmanzaNonfictionThe People Can Fly: American Promise, Black Prodigies, and the Greatest Miracle of All Time by Joshua BennettNonfictionCitizenship: Notes on an American Myth by Daisy HernándezNonfictionFear and Fury: Bernie Goetz, the Reagan '80s, and the Rebirth of White Rage by Heather Ann ThompsonNonfictionOn Morrison by Namwali SerpellNonfiction, dive into work of Toni Morrison 

True Crime Today's week in review covers the Nick Reiner case — the stunning attorney withdrawal and the years of warning signs nobody could act on.Alan Jackson walked into a Los Angeles courtroom and told the judge he had "no choice" but to withdraw from Nick Reiner's defense. He said circumstances "beyond Nick's control" forced his exit. Sources tell Deadline money is the reason. The pattern that protected Nick for seventeen years — eighteen rehab programs, seventy thousand a month in treatment, a rent-free guesthouse, a ten-thousand-dollar monthly allowance, and sources say estate money funding his defense even after his parents' deaths — appears to be over. Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene was informed last night. She met her client for thirty seconds before the hearing. Arraignment postponed to February 23rd.But we also examined what led here. This wasn't sudden. A neighbor told reporters Nick had been violent before. An LAPD insider confirmed "quite a few calls for service" to the Reiner home over the years. The night before Rob and Michele were found stabbed to death, Nick was reportedly so erratic at Conan O'Brien's Christmas party that guests were unnerved. Rob allegedly told friends that night he was terrified his own son could hurt him.Bob Motta joined us to break down what law enforcement officers see in the years before tragedies like this — and what California's mental health laws actually allow them to do. The LPS Act requires imminent danger for involuntary commitment. Not probable. Not deteriorating. Imminent. Rob and Michele were legally trapped. For the first time in his life, Nick faces consequences without unlimited resources behind him.#NickReiner #RobReiner #MicheleReiner #TrueCrimeToday #AlanJackson #BobMotta #PublicDefender #LPSAct #MentalHealthCrisis #WeekInReviewJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Watch the full coverage of the live stream on The Emily D. Baker YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/bILFgB6kFo4  In this Case Brief, we analyze the latest developments from the Los Angeles arraignment of Nick Reiner, who is charged with the murder of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. A look at the surprise withdrawal of Nick Reiner's private attorney, Alan Jackson, due to "circumstances beyond our control" and the immediate appointment of the Public Defender's office. The Deputy Public Defender, Kimberly Green, is assigned to the case and successfully puts over the arraignment to a new date, February 23rd. We dissect Alan Jackson's strong public statement that "pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder," which appears to foreshadow a defense strategy centered on a "not guilty by reason of insanity" plea (or a similar mental disease or defect defense). The DA's office expressed their full confidence that a jury will "convict Nick Reiner beyond a reasonable doubt of the brutal murders of his parents." A breakdown of the legal meaning and impact of the court issuing and holding "body attachments" for defense subpoenas, a process used to maintain jurisdiction over non-compliant parties until the next court date. The case is expected to move slowly, and the legal process will be crucial in revealing the true facts surrounding the situation. RESOURCES NGI Explanation - https://youtu.be/7CyXskv1k2Y&t=2178s  Nick Reiner Case Emily Show - https://youtu.be/US2ZB6U7iPc Taylor Schabusiness Trial Playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbUyvZas7gIKgoVAu8f0lrZl6LkXQm4s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alan Jackson walked into court this morning as Nick Reiner's attorney. He walked out as his former attorney, telling reporters that Nick is "not guilty of murder" under California law — but that he won't be the one proving it.Jackson told Judge Theresa McGonigle he had "no choice" but to withdraw. He cited "circumstances beyond our control, but more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick's control." He said he's legally and ethically prohibited from explaining why.Sources tell Deadline that money is the likely reason. If true, the estate funding that was reportedly paying for Nick's elite defense has apparently ended.Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene stepped in immediately. She has nineteen years of experience. She learned last night that she'd be taking over. She had about thirty seconds to introduce herself to Nick before the hearing began.Nick appeared in court with a shaved head, wearing a brown jail jumpsuit. He sat behind glass, shackled at the wrists and ankles. When the judge asked if he agreed to postpone his arraignment to February 23rd, he said, "Uh, yeah, I agree with your honor on that." Those were nearly his only words.Jackson told reporters his team had devoted "every waking hour" to investigating the case for three weeks. He said they examined it "top to bottom, back to front." He said they're convinced Nick is not guilty under California law. But now that work transfers to the public defender's office.DA Nathan Hochman responded that prosecutors are "fully confident" a jury will convict Nick of the "brutal murders" of Rob and Michele Reiner.The arraignment is February 23rd. The insanity defense is still expected. But the resources behind it just changed dramatically.#NickReiner #AlanJackson #RobReiner #TrueCrimeToday #MicheleReiner #PublicDefender #MurderCase #TrueCrime #BreakingNews #ReinerCaseJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Please meet Cynthia Pong. She came to me by way of super-connector and personal board director an occasional SVU actor, Sarah Storm. Cynthia Pong packs a lot of punch. A one time public defender turned career coach / founder of Embrace Change. We have a wide-ranging conversation about the disadvantages women, and especially women of color, face in the workplace . We also talk about starting your own business and the elusive topic of helping people answer the question “What Do You Want.”Watch full episode on YouTube. Get full access to WORK at erikaayersbadan.substack.com/subscribe