Hunter Parnell

Public Defenseless

A Government , News and Politics podcast

About the show

Anyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system perpetuates cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people just trying to get through another day. Public Defenseless explores the rot in the system and what we can do about it. Host and public defender Hunter Parnell talks with defense attorneys, advocates, scholars and journalists from across the country as they pull apart the system's convoluted web. Views are the host's and guests' own, not their employers'. Not legal advice.

Newest episodes

536 | How Detroit Judges Tried and Failed to Punish Public Defenders Who Went on Strike w/Dan Eichinger, Megan Gokey and Joe McGuire

Nov 12, 2026 53 min

On this episode, three members of the Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS) Union in Detroit join Hunter: Dan Eichinger, Megan Gokey and Joe McGuire. The last time NDS Union members came on the show, in Ep. 503, they explained why they were on strike. After winning a new, fair contract, these three detail how two judges tried, and failed, to hold them in contempt for missing court while on strike. Guests: Dan Eichinger, Staff Attorney, NDS Detroit Megan Gokey, Staff Attorney, NDS Detroit Joe McGuire, Staff Attorney, NDS Detroit Resources: Learn more about the union: https://www.instagram.com/ndsunion/ Learn more about the contempt proceedings: https://michiganadvance.com/2026/09/01/public-defenders-accuse-two-detroit-judges-of-attempting-to-break-their-strike/ https://uaw.org/statement-on-wayne-county-judges-hollow-contempt-claims-against-striking-public-defenders-by-uaw-president-shawn-fain/ Related episodes: Ep. 503, on why NDS Union members went on strike: https://www.publicdefenseless.com/episodes/503-the-nds-union-went-on-strike-update-and-they-won Ep. 150, NDS Detroit Union members on what it takes to fix public defense in Detroit: https://www.publicdefenseless.com/episodes/150-to-fix-detroit-public-defense-there-must-be-a-fair-contract-for-the-neighborhood-defender-services-of-detroit Ep. 78, David Carroll on public defense in Oakland County, Michigan, and New Hampshire: https://www.publicdefenseless.com/episodes/78-whats-plaguing-public-defense-in-oakland-county-michigan-and-new-hampshire Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hu...

535 | What the History of Hate Speech Law Can Tell Us About the Modern Censorship Fights w/Samantha Barbas

Nov 10, 2026 1 hr 0 min

On this episode, Hunter spoke with law professor Samantha Barbas about her book "Hate Speech: The Legal and Cultural History of an American Dilemma." In the book, Samantha walks readers through the legal and cultural fights around hate speech. Since the early 20th century, Americans have struggled to define and combat hate speech. Through her historical dive into this controversial topic, Samantha provides key insights into modern-day fights about censorship. Guest: Samantha Barbas, Professor of Law and Aliber Family Chair, University of Iowa College of Law; Author, "Hate Speech: The Legal and Cultural History of an American Dilemma" Resources: Contact Samantha Here: https://law.uiowa.edu/people/samantha-barbas Pick up a Copy of the Book Here: https://www.ucpress.edu/books/hate-speech/hardcover Also on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0520401964 Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

534 |How The Bail Project Is Fighting to Abolish Cash Bail and Free People From Pretrial Incarceration w/Erin George

Nov 5, 2026 1 hr 5 min

On this episode, Hunter talks with Erin George, National Director of Policy at The Bail Project. Few topics in criminal legal policy have drawn more attention in recent years than bail reform. Erin explains what drives the intense, polarizing debates around bail reform and the policy changes we can fight for to eliminate cash bail. Guest: Erin George, National Director of Policy, The Bail Project Resources: Learn more about The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/ https://www.instagram.com/bailproject/ https://www.facebook.com/bailproject/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-49-TzVvamru9KecPuSYKw https://www.tiktok.com/@bailproject https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bail-project/ https://x.com/bailproject Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

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All episodes

The newest 50 of 548 episodes

536 | How Detroit Judges Tried and Failed to Punish Public Defenders Who Went on Strike w/Dan Eichinger, Megan Gokey and Joe McGuire

Nov 12, 2026 53 min

535 | What the History of Hate Speech Law Can Tell Us About the Modern Censorship Fights w/Samantha Barbas

Nov 10, 2026 1 hr 0 min

534 |How The Bail Project Is Fighting to Abolish Cash Bail and Free People From Pretrial Incarceration w/Erin George

Nov 5, 2026 1 hr 5 min

533 | The Former Public Defenders Trying to Expose the Truth of the Criminal Legal System to the Masses w/Eliza Orlins and Thea Johnson

Nov 4, 2026 1 hr 8 min

On this episode, Hunter talks with two former public defenders, Eliza Orlins and Thea Johnson, about their podcast, Criminally Online. From their years as public defenders, Eliza and Thea know the criminal legal system looks very different from the way mass media portrays it. They built Criminally Online to counter the copaganda so prevalent in mainstream media, showing people the reality of the system so that society thinks differently about it. Guests: Eliza Orlins, Co-Host, Criminally Online Thea Johnson, Co-Host, Criminally Online, and Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School Resources: Criminally Online, a Lemonada Media original series: https://link.podtrac.com/crimonline Follow Eliza: https://www.instagram.com/eorlins/ https://elizaorlins.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@eliza.orlins https://www.tiktok.com/@elizaorlins https://www.threads.com/@eorlins https://x.com/elizaorlins Follow Thea: https://www.instagram.com/theabjohnson/ https://bsky.app/profile/theabjohnson.bsky.social https://x.com/TheaBJohnson Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

532 | How American Samoans in Whittier, Alaska, Fought a Prosecution ... and Won w/Alex Burness

Nov 3, 2026 43 min

On this episode, Hunter welcomes back Alex Burness, staff writer for Bolts. Last time Alex was on the show, he shared the gut-wrenching story of a community of American Samoans living in Whittier, Alaska, facing criminal prosecution for running for local office and voting in elections. Contrary to common belief, people born in American Samoa are U.S. nationals, not citizens, so they can't vote in state or federal elections. Alex is here to discuss how that community fought the prosecutions and won. Guest: Alex Burness, Staff Writer, Bolts Resources: Read Alex's reporting: https://boltsmag.org/prosecuted-for-voting-american-samoans-alaska/ https://boltsmag.org/charges-dropped-against-american-samoans-punished-for-voting-in-alaska/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

531 | What Does the Los Angeles County Public Defender Union Think of Their New Workload Study? w/Karl Fenske

Oct 29, 2026 1 hr 16 min

On this episode, Hunter is joined by Karl Fenske, a long time Los Angeles County Public Defender and lead steward for Local 148. On this episode, Hunter and Karl discuss the union's take on the newest workload study of the Los Angeles Public Defender Office. Guest: Karl Fenske, Lead Steward, Los Angeles County Public Defenders Union, Local 148 and Los Angeles County Deputy Public Defender Resource: Read the Report Here https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA5011-1.html Learn More About the Union Here https://local148.org/ https://www.facebook.com/LApubdefunion https://x.com/LApubdefunion https://bsky.app/profile/lapubdefunion.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/lapubdefunion Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

530 | What Will it Take to Abolish the Death Penalty in California w/Diane Lozano

Oct 28, 2026 1 hr 5 min

On this episode, Hunter speaks once again with Diane Lozano, the former Chief Public Defender for the State of Wyoming and current Executive Director of Full Picture Justice. In her new role, Diane is focused on helping defenders prepare for capital cases with the hope of abolishing the death penalty around the country. Guest: Diane Lozano, Executive Director, Full Picture Justice Resource: Learn More Here: https://www.fullpicturejustice.org/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

529 | How Does the Leadership of the Los Angeles County Public Defender Plan to Use Their New Workload Study? w/Ricardo Garcia and Traci Blackburn

Oct 27, 2026 1 hr 1 min

On this episode, Hunter is joined once again by Ricardo García and for the first time, Traci Blackburn. On September 10th, 2026, a new workload study of the Los Angeles Public Defender was published by RAND. Ricardo and Traci joined the show to discuss the findings of the study and how leadership plans on using the study to get more funding for the office. Guest: Ricardo García, Los Angeles County Public Defender Traci Blackburn, Assistant Public Defender, Los Angeles County Public Defender Resource: Read the Report Here https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA5011-1.html Learn More About the Office Here https://pubdef.lacounty.gov/ https://www.instagram.com/lapubdef/ https://www.facebook.com/LACOUNTYPD/ https://x.com/lapubdef https://www.linkedin.com/company/lapubdef/home/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

528 | Will Utah's Tough-on-Crime Policies Force Salt Lake's Public Defenders to Stop Taking New Cases? w/Richard Mauro.

Oct 22, 2026 1 hr 4 min

On this episode, Hunter welcomes back Richard Mauro, executive director of the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association. Richard explains how his office built Project Rio, a program that connects people experiencing homelessness with services instead of jail. Richard and Hunter also dig into how state-level criminal justice policy is piling workload pressure onto public defenders, and why that pressure may not be sustainable. Guest: Richard Mauro, Executive Director, Salt Lake Legal Defender Association, Utah Resource: Contact the Office Here: https://www.sllda.com/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

527 | Why it is so Important for Public Defenders to Expand the Right to Counsel to Family Defense w/Kelly Driscoll

Oct 20, 2026 1 hr 0 min

On this episode, Hunter speaks with Kelly Driscoll. As the Bureau Chief for the Family Defense Unit of the Montana Public Defender, Kelly is responsible for overseeing the defense of parents and kids in the family legal system. She joins the show to explain how Montana set up this system and why it is so important for Public Defenders to do more than just criminal defense. Guest: Kelly Driscoll, Family Defense Bureau Chief, Montana State Public Defender Resource: Learn More About the Office Here: https://publicdefender.mt.gov/ Case Law on the right to counsel in Family Court in Montana https://civilrighttocounsel.org/major_developments/montana-parents-have-constitutional-right-to-counsel-in-adoptions-says-high-court/ https://civilrighttocounsel.org/uploaded_files/183/4_AWS_Opinion_published.pdf https://www.leagle.com/decision/1993979852p2d1271976 Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

Bonus: Vote No on Proposition 132, the Colorado Fentanyl Measure From a Conservative Dark Money Group, with Kyle Giddings

Oct 16, 2026 37 min

On this episode, Hunter is joined once again by Kyle Giddings, the Deputy Director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and the Campaign Chair for Vote no on 132. These two sat down to discuss the Colorado Ballot Initiative, Prop 132, another attempt by the Colorado Conservative dark money group, Advance Colorado, to restart the war on drugs. Guest: Kyle Giddings, the Deputy Director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and the Campaign Chair for Vote no on 132, Colorado Resource: Learn More about Prop 132: https://noon132.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24337605029&gbraid=0AAAABE7pyO0T69Hy4YQZljkynzrlV47kC&gclid=CjwKCAjwrbfWBhAeEiwAc2e6PhFJoWANSo08mY0SACwL77PJbarugzIUGIfmWL7MdWwyezCRifv-ZxoCM7IQAvD_BwE Learn More about Advance Colorado: https://www.whoisadvancecolorado.org/ https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/10/11/the-most-influential-republican-in-the-state-doesnt-hold-office-6/ https://www.denverpost.com/2026/10/08/advance-colorado-ballot-measures-election-2026/ https://coloradonewsline.com/2026/09/17/warp-democracy-in-colorado/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

526 | How Public Defenders can use New Second Amendment Supreme Court Case to Win Self-Defense Claims w/Jacob Charles

Oct 15, 2026 1 hr 5 min

On this episode, Hunter was joined once again by Professor Jacob Charles. Last time Jacob was on the show, he and Hunter discussed the groundbreaking Second Amendment cases of Bruen and Rahimi. This time, Jacob sat down to examine the two newest Supreme Court Second Amendment Cases Wolford and Hemani and detail what these cases could mean for criminal defense lawyers. Guest: Jacob Charles, Professor of Law, Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law Resource: Contact Jacob Here https://law.pepperdine.edu/faculty-research/jacob-charles/ https://bsky.app/profile/jacobdcharles.bsky.social Read the Cases Here Hemani https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1234_g2bh.pdf Wolford https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1046_nmio.pdf Public Defenders of D.C. Filings https://efile.dcappeals.gov/public/caseView.do?csIID=67629&utm https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/oral-arguments/Amicus%20Curiae%20Brief%2023-CF-514.pdf Contact Hunter Parnell: Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram: @PublicDefenselessPodcast YouTube: @publicdefenselesspodcast Facebook: Public Defenseless Podcast Bluesky: @pdefenselesspod.bsky.social Twitter: @PDefenselessPod Website: 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***

525 | Will Police Soon be Deploying Armed Autonomous Drones to a Neighborhood Near You? w/Matthew Guariglia

Oct 14, 2026 42 min

On this episode, Hunter is joined once again by Matthew Guariglia. At his work at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Matthew has become one of the leading voices sounding the alarms about the proliferation of mass surveillance technology. Now, Matthew is here to discuss a new, frightening technology that may be coming to a neighborhood near you: Armed Autonomous Drones. Guest: Matthew Guariglia, Senior Policy Analyst, Electronic Frontier Foundation Resource: Follow Matthew's Work Here: https://www.eff.org/about/staff/dr-matthew-guariglia-0 https://www.matthewguariglia.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/mguariglia.bsky.social Read More About the Drones Here: https://www.404media.co/new-orleans-cops-published-policy-document-allowing-weaponized-drones/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

524 | How Police and Their Unions Became One of the Most Powerful Forces in American Politics w/Stuart Schrader

Oct 13, 2026 1 hr 11 min

On this episode, Hunter is joined by Professor Stuart Schrader to discuss his book Blue Power: How Police Organized to Protect and Serve Themselves. In his book, Stuart walks readers through the long history of how police departments around the country organized themselves to create some of the most influential organizations in all of American politics. Guest: Stuart Schrader, Associate Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University Resource: Pick up a Copy of the Book Here: https://shorturl.at/O0yaq Follow Stuart Here: https://bsky.app/profile/stschrader1.bsky.social https://soc.jhu.edu/directory/stuart-schrader/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

523 | How the Number One Tool for Mass Deportations Might be Unconstitutional w/Eric Fish

Oct 8, 2026 56 min

On this episode, Hunter speaks once again with Professor Eric Fish about a law review article he published about our immigration system. Since it was implemented in 1996, expedited removal has become the number one tool for deportations in America. However, Eric is here to explain how the whole system might be unconstitutional and ripe for challenge. Guest: Eric Fish, Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law Resource: Read Eric's Article Here https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6568060 Contact Eric https://law.ucdavis.edu/people/eric-fish Show note: Hunter mentions a U.S. citizen deported to Mexico after agents refused to let him get his birth certificate. That's Brian José Morales García, born in Denver and deported in April 2026 after a traffic stop in Texas. He returned to the United States on Aug. 30, 2026, after the federal government reached an agreement with his lawyers in his lawsuit. Read the Texas Tribune's reporting: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/04/23/texas-united-states-citizen-deported-ice-detention-brian-morales/ https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/30/texas-us-citizen-deported-central-texas-returns-america/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer....

522 | After Nearly Two Decades as an Immigration Judge, Why Did She Decide to Leave Under the Second Trump Administration? w/Judge Mimi Tsankov

Oct 6, 2026 57 min

On this episode, Hunter speaks with Judge Mimi Tsankov, former president of the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ). Over nearly two decades on the bench, she served under five administrations and led the association that speaks for the country's immigration judges. Now she joins the show to explain what's broken in a court system that answers to the Justice Department, and why she decided to leave. Guest: Judge Mimi Tsankov, Former President, National Association of Immigration Judges Resources: Judge Tsankov's website: https://neutralstrategy.com National Association of Immigration Judges: https://www.naij-usa.org/ TRAC Immigration: https://tracreports.org/immigration/reports/judgereports/00291NYC/index.html Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

521 | How the Media is Missing What is Really Causing Alaska's Legal System to Fail w/Amanda Harber and David Case

Oct 1, 2026 1 hr 0 min

In this episode, Hunter speaks with two criminal defense lawyers and former Public Defenders from the state of Alaska, Amanda Harber and David Case. For the entire 21st Century, the Alaska Legal System has been in a crisis. Too few lawyers. Too much space to cover. And recently, a tough on crime Governor who has pushed to solve social problems with incarceration. Along the way, many in the media have missed what is causing the Alaska legal system to fail. Guest: Amanda Harber, Criminal Defense Lawyer and Former Public Defender, Alaska David Case, Criminal Defense Lawyer and Former Public Defender, Alaska Resource: Read More About Alaska Here https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2025/03/25/alaska-supreme-court-places-new-limits-on-pretrial-delays/ https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2025/02/14/alaskas-chief-justice-vows-to-reduce-trial-delays-we-must-and-we-will-improve/ https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2025/01/09/the-neverending-case-how-10-years-of-delays-have-prevented-a-horrendous-sexual-assault-allegation-from-going-to-trial/ https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska-legislature/2026/01/21/alaska-lawmaker-calls-for-hiring-more-prosecutors-and-public-defenders-to-reduce-extreme-delay-in-criminal-cases/ Contact Amdanda and David https://www.49thstatelaw.com/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this sho...

520 | Can Prisons be Reformed? What History Tells Us About the Failed Attempts w/C.J. Ciaramella

Sep 30, 2026 1 hr 5 min

On this episode, Hunter is joined by C.J. Ciaramella of Reason. Recently, C.J. authored an article for Reason that provides an overview of different eras of prison policy and failed reform. In their discussion, Hunter and C.J. explore these eras of prison policy, the reasons why reforms failed, and what those failures tell us about the hope for future prison reforms. Guest: C.J. Ciaramella, Reporter, Reason Resource: Read the Article Here: https://reason.com/2026/09/08/the-american-prison-experiment/ Find More of C.J. here: https://reason.com/people/cj-ciaramella/ https://bsky.app/profile/cjciaramella.bsky.social Read More of Reason Here: https://reason.com/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

519 | How the Maryland Defender Union is Organizing for Better Working Conditions, Pay, and Workloads w/Rachel Kiefer, Alexis Rossetti, and Kalia Woods

Sep 29, 2026 1 hr 19 min

On this episode, Hunter speaks with three members of the Maryland Defender Union, Rachel Kierfer, Alexis Rossetti, and Kalia Woods. They join to explain the recent victory the union secured to enforce their current contract and how the union is finding its voice to fight for better pay and workloads. Guest: Rachel Kiefer, Assistant Public Defender, Baltimore County, Maryland Alexis Rossetti, Assistant Public Defender, Southern Maryland Kalia Woods, Administrative Aide, Prince George's County, Maryland Resource: Read the Report Here https://dbm.maryland.gov/budget/FY2026Testimony/C80B00.pdf Follow the Union Here https://www.instagram.com/marylanddefendersunion/ \ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

518 | Did the Supreme Court Finally Ensure the Fourth Amendment Protects Our Data? Part 2 w/Andrew Ferguson

Sep 24, 2026 1 hr 3 min

On this episode, Hunter speaks once again by Professor Andrew Ferguson to discuss the Fourth Amendment and the right to privacy. Previously, Hunter spoke with Jumana Musa of the Fourth Amendment Center to discuss the recent Supreme Court case of Chatrie v United States. Now, Andrew and Hunter theorize how this case might be used to further protect our data in this digital age. Guest: Andrew Ferguson, Professor of Law, GW School of Law Resource: Read Chatrie https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/chatrie-v-united-states/ Read Andrew's Article Here https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=7174398 Read Judge Carlton Reeve's Decision https://www.courtwatch.news/p/judge-rules-tower-dumps-search-inherently-unconstitutional Contact the Fourth Amendment Center https://www.nacdl.org/Landing/FourthAmendmentCenter Contact Andrew https://www.law.gwu.edu/andrew-guthrie-ferguson Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

517 | Did the Supreme Court Finally Ensure the Fourth Amendment Protects Our Data? Part 1 w/Jumana Musa

Sep 22, 2026 1 hr 2 min

On this episode, Hunter speaks once again Jumana Musa, Director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer's Fourth Amendment Center. Hunter and Jumana discuss the recent landmark case of Chatrie vs United States. In that case, the Supreme Court took a major step towards ensuring our data is protected by the Fourth Amendment. Guest: Jumana Musa, Director, Fourth Amendment Center, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Resource: Read Chatrie https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/chatrie-v-united-states/ Read Judge Carlton Reeve's Decision https://www.courtwatch.news/p/judge-rules-tower-dumps-search-inherently-unconstitutional Contact the Fourth Amendment Center https://www.nacdl.org/Landing/FourthAmendmentCenter Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

516 | Will a New Commission Finally Get California to Fund Public Defense? w/Chesa Boudin

Sep 17, 2026 47 min

On this episode, Hunter speaks once again with Chesa Boudin. This time, the two discussed a new commission in California tasked with studying the best path forward for a state wide solution for Public Defense. Guest: Chesa Boudin, Executive Director, UC Berkeley Law's Criminal Law and Justice Center Resource: Learn More About the Commission Here Follow Chesa's Work https://www.law.berkeley.edu/research/criminal-law-and-justice-center/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

515 | How Public Defense is Failing in Rural California w/Rio Scharf and Josh Schwartz

Sep 15, 2026 54 min

On this episode, Hunter speaks with Rio Scharf and Josh Schwartz to discuss a report detailing the incredible failing of public defense in rural California. Guest: Rio Scharf, Staff Attorney, UC Berkeley Law's Criminal Law and Justice Center Josh Schwartz, Principal, Wren Collective Resource: Read the Report Here: https://wrencollective.org/contracted-to-fail-part-2-how-flat-fee-contracts-undermine-the-right-to-counsel-in-california/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

514 | How the Prison System fails to Offer Second Chances w/Jesse Crosson

Sep 10, 2026 1 hr 1 min

In this episode, Hunter speaks with Jesse Crosson about his book The Best Part of Prison: The Power of Second Chances and Reclaiming Life Out of Darkness. Jesse spent nearly 20 years incarcerated for a robbery and non-fatal shooting. Now, he is describing his journey through the legal system, how he was able to get back on his feet, and how our current approach to giving people a second chance is woefully failing. Guest: Jesse Crosson, Author, The Best Part of Prison: The Power of Second Chances and Reclaiming Life Out of Darkness Resource: Pick up a Copy of the Book Here https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Best-Part-of-Prison/Jesse-Crosson/9781637748015?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24186787124&gbraid=0AAAAADv-uEl7dSEWJK_Ld-ZgXzL0srEzj&gclid=Cj0KCQjwteTUBhD4ARIsAEYjs3pEPvLQ3xUroeMHBqjQl7-Z91iaFe5lplMmTHpV98KW6kEJq3yp3ZAaAgNwEALw_wcB Follow Jesse Here https://www.instagram.com/second_chancer434/?hl=en https://jessecrosson.com/ Contact Hunter Parnell: Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram: @PublicDefenselessPodcast YouTube: @publicdefenselesspodcast Facebook: Public Defenseless Podcast Bluesky: @pdefenselesspod.bsky.social Twitter: @PDefenselessPod Website: 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****

513 | How to Teach Kids to Think like a Public Defender w/Emily Galvin Almanza

Sep 8, 2026 54 min

In this episode, Hunter speaks once again with Emily Galvin Almanza about a new book she is publishing. While her last book sought to teach adults about the failings of our criminal legal system, Emily's newest book, Andromeda Diaz and the Reasonable Doubt, is aimed at teaching kids about legal principles through a public defender's lens. In doing so, Emily hopes to instill a different type of civic education in schools around the country. Guest: Emily Galvin Almanza, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Partners for Justice Resource: Pick up a Copy of the Book Here https://www.amazon.com/Andromeda-Reasonable-Doubt-Galvin-Almanza/dp/B0G5WVXFSQ Follow Emily's Work https://www.emilygalvinalmanza.com/ https://www.instagram.com/galvinalmanza/?hl=en Learn More About Partners for Justice https://partnersforjustice.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=15231703396&gbraid=0AAAAAoL1I_LuXR_6d_5khg4qkdAQN6d77&gclid=Cj0KCQjwteTUBhD4ARIsAEYjs3otlUtZa1n7oPjFoT0NWL_Lg3CFUNJVuvKxK0xJQZKRHXg2j1D9zvkaAlSbEALw_wcB Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram: @PublicDefenselessPodcast YouTube: @publicdefenselesspodcast Facebook: Public Defenseless Podcast Bluesky: @pdefenselesspod.bsky.social Twitter: @PDefenselessPod Website: 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****

512 | How Public Advocacy Secured Missouri Public Defenders Pay Parity and Much More w/Matthew Crowell and Jet McDonald

Sep 3, 2026 1 hr 1 min

In this episode, Hunter revisits with Matthew Crowell, Director of the Missouri State Public Defender, and for the first time Jet McDonald, MSPD's newest Comms Strategist. They discussed how Matthew was able to use public and private advocacy to secure desperately needed pay raises for the system and their plans to continue expanding their public advocacy to fight for even more improvements to the system. Guest: Matthew Crowell, Director, Missouri State Public Defender Jet McDonald, Communications Strategist, Missouri State Public Defender Resource: Learn More about the Office https://publicdefender.mo.gov/ Contact Jet Jet.McDonald@mspd.mo.gov Read the Article Here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/162r6fsCin_ROQLdhfgAYEZFpl1-HdujG?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****

511 | God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood w/Jasper Craven

Sep 1, 2026 1 hr 9 min

On this episode, Hunter speaks with Jasper Craven, author of the book God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood. While this episode takes us away from the world of Public Defense, this conversation is an illuminating look at how military education like JROTC, ROTC, and the Service Academies help shape American masculinity. By understanding the culture inculcated at these institutions, we are better able to understand how that hyper violent culture spreads to police departments and other young men around the country. Guest: Jasper Craven, Investigative Reporter Resource: Follow More of Jasper's Work Here https://x.com/Jasper_Craven Pick up a copy of the book Here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/god-forgives-brothers-don-t-the-long-march-of-military-education-and-the-making-of-american-manhood-jasper-craven/ff6d1cf46c2d9b69 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 OPINIONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER****

510 | What are a Defense Lawyer's Ethical Obligations When They Use A.I.? w/Mason Clark

Aug 27, 2026 1 hr 11 min

On this episode, Professor Mason Clark joins to discuss a new white paper he authored for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers titled Parity in Practice: The Defender's Duty to Ethically Use AI. Guest: Mason Clark, Associate Professor of Law, St. Mary's School of Law, Texas Resource: Read the Report Here https://www.nacdl.org/Document/ParityinPracticeDefenderAIUse Contact Mason Here https://law.stmarytx.edu/academics/faculty/mason-clark/ 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****

509 | How to Create Workload Standards for Public Defenders w/Malia Brink

Aug 25, 2026 1 hr 4 min

Since the release of the National Public Defender Workload Study, Malia Brink travelled the country helping Public Defenders create and implement workload standards. Now, she joins the show to discuss the new tool the Deason Center created to help Public Defenders create their own workload standards. Guest: Malia Brink, Policy Director, Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center, Southern Methodist University Resource: Deason Center Website https://www.smu.edu/law/centers-and-initiatives/deason-center Access the Workload Tool Here https://www.smu.edu/law/centers-and-initiatives/deason-center/work/news/articles/2026-7-28-workload-release 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****

508 | Will Underfunding Push the Defenders Association of Philadelphia to Stop Accepting New Cases? w/Keisha Hudson

Aug 20, 2026 1 hr 6 min

In the last budget cycle, Keisha Hudson, Chief Defender of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, asked the city for $5 million. Instead, the city council and the mayor gave her office $0. Now, Keisha is looking at cutting back client services and even potentially refusing to accept new DUI and drug possession cases. On this episode, you will hear Keisha explain how this all happened and what comes next for the office. Guest: Keisha Hudson, Chief Public Defender, Defender Association of Philadelphia Resource: Defender Association of Philadelphia's Contact https://phillydefenders.org/ https://www.facebook.com/phillydefenders/ https://www.instagram.com/phillydefenders/ https://x.com/phillydefenders/ 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****

507 | Robin "Rocky" Myers was Wrongfully Convicted of Murder. Was his Defense Lawyer in the Ku Klux Klan? w/Leah Nelson

Aug 18, 2026 1 hr 25 min

The State of Alabama sentenced Robin "Rocky" Myers to death after he was convicted of murder in 1994. Over the next 30 years, Rocky fought to prove his innocence, and with each passing year, the evidence of his innocence continued to grow. There was a lack of DNA evidence. Inconsistent witness testimony. Police and Prosecutorial misconduct. On top of all that, there were serious problems with the verdict itself. Taken together, these factors pushed Governor Kay Ivey to commute Rocky's death sentence. Yet, Rocky is still serving a life sentence. Now, our guest, Leah Nelson, is here to present evidence that Rocky's trial lawyer might have been in the Ku Klux Klan. Guest: Leah Nelson, Special Investigator, Alabama Resource: Justice 4 Rocky Website https://www.justice4rockymyers.com/ Undisclosed Podcast https://www.undisclosedpod.com/seasons-cases/rockymyers https://open.spotify.com/episode/40VBEwOtdaO6suwPRx8SLa 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****

506 | Pink Crime: How to Fight the Criminalization of Motherhood, Pregnancy, and Queer Identity w/Valena Beety

Aug 13, 2026 1 hr 8 min

Hunter is joined once again by Professor Valena Beety. Valena joins the show to discuss her new book, Pink Crime: Fighting Against the Criminalization of Motherhood, Pregnancy, and Queer Identity. In it, she discusses the cognitive biases, junk sciences, and the systemic policies used to surveil, police, and incarcerate women and queer communities. Guest: Valena Beety, Professor of Law, Indiana School of Law Resource: Pick up a Copy of the Book Here https://thenewpress.org/books/pink-crime/ Contact Valena https://www.linkedin.com/in/valenabeety/ https://law.indiana.edu/about/people/details?name=beety-valena https://valenabeetyjd.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****

505 | Will Automation Make it Harder to Keep Junk Science out of Court? w/Lisa Waters

Aug 11, 2026 56 min

Hunter is joined once again by Professor Lisa Waters to discuss her law review article, Automating Junk Science. In it, Lisa details a troubling trend where police officers are using automated technology to "verify" that gun matches a bullet found at the scene of a crime. The only problem? The underlying tool mark science is complete junk. How can defenders respond to this automation of Junk Science? Lisa offers a few insights. Guest: Lisa Waters, Professor of Law, CUNY School of Law, New York Resource: Read the Article Here https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5440637 Contact Lisa Here https://www.law.cuny.edu/faculty-profile/lisa-waters/#profile 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****

504 | By Helping Victims and Perpetrators, Domestic Violence can Be Solved Without Relying on the Criminal Legal System w/Liz Ortenburger

Aug 6, 2026 1 hr 2 min

Hunter is joined by Liz Ortenburger, the CEO of Safe Nest. Liz and her team at Safe Nest operate a shelter and aid center for victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. As Liz sees it, the conventional approach to domestic violence, policing and incarceration, is simply insufficient to end the cycles of violence that lead to domestic violence. Liz joined the show to discuss the different approach Safe Nest takes to try and eradicate domestic violence. Guest: Liz Ortenburger, CEO, Safe Nest, Clark County, Nevada Resource: Check out Safe Nest Here https://safenest.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****

503 | Why is the NDS Union on Strike? UPDATE THEY WON!! w/Ashley Munger, Katherine Shamsie, and Samantha Rudelich

Aug 4, 2026 1 hr 8 min

Breaking news: As the evening of Aug 4, the NDS Union won a contract!! Hunter is joined by Ashley Munger, Katherine Shamsie, and Samantha Rudelich of the NDS Union. The union, representing NDS Harlem, NDS Detroit, and NDS Texas, have been on strike. Hunter sits down with them to discuss why they went on strike, what they hope to accomplish, and what management needs to do to end this strike. Guest: Ashley Munger, Staff Attorney, Criminal Division, NDS Detroit Katherine Shamsie, Staff Attorney, Criminal Division, NDS Texas Samantha Rudelich, Staff Attorney, Family Defense Division, NDS Harlem Resource: SUPPORT THE STRIKE FUND HERE https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-striking-legal-service-workers-n3x56?attribution_id=sl:ca61e32e-c420-4d6f-a848-cdde768cb52c&lang=en_US&ts=1785196351&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp20_control&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link Follow the Union https://www.instagram.com/ndsunion/ 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****

502 | How a Not Guilty Verdict in a Homicide Case Shows the Promise of Idaho's Statewide Public Defense System w/Eric Fredericksen and Doug Nelson

Jul 30, 2026 52 min

Today, Hunter was joined once again by two guests from the Idaho State Public Defender System. Eric Fredericksen, State Public Defender, and Doug Nelson, Litigation Director, join the show to provide an update on the Idaho State System and to highlight a case that shows why the state wide system is better for the people of Idaho. Guest: Eric Fredericksen, State Public Defender, Idaho Doug Nelson, Litigation Director, Idaho Resource: Learn More about the System Here https://spd.idaho.gov/ 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****

501 | Why Public Defenders Need the Insights and Expertise of Formerly Incarcerated People in Their Offices w/Jennifer Jennison and Sammy Provencio

Jul 28, 2026 58 min

Hunter is joined once again by Jennifer Jennison and joining us for the first time is Sammy Provencio. After spending more than 30 years in custody, Sammy has joined the Stanislaus County Public Defender Office to help run their newest community-centred initiative, the Hub. Jennifer and Sammy join the show to share what the Hub is, what it does, and to share the power of having formerly incarcerated people work in a Public Defender Office. Guest: Jennifer Jennison, Chief Public Defender, Stanislaus County, California Sammy Provencio, Client Support Specialist, Group Facilitator, Stanislaus County, California Resource: Learn More Here https://www.stancounty.com/publicdefender/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DVhDRWsEoYD/ https://www.facebook.com/thehubcenterforchange/ 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****

500 | Public Defense is Underfunded, but by How Much? Putting a Conservative Number on the Cost of the Right to Counsel w/Ben Polk

Jul 23, 2026 55 min

Hunter is joined by Ben Polk, Director of the Transformative Justice Project at New York University School of Law, Robert and Helen Bernstein Institute for Human Rights to discuss a recent law review article he authored where he conservatively estimated it would cost $28 billion to fund Public Defense nationwide. Guest: Ben Polk, Director, Transformative Justice Project and Research Scholar, New York University School of Law, Robert and Helen Bernstein Institute for Human Rights, Resource: Read the Article Here https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6359060 Ben's Faculty Page https://www.law.nyu.edu/centers/bernstein-institute/team 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****

499 | When Delays in the Appointment of Counsel Violate the Constitution w/Eve Primus

Jul 21, 2026 1 hr 8 min

Hunter is joined once again by Professor Eve Primus to discuss another excellent law review article about Public Defense. This time, Professor Primus details how delays in the appointment of counsel can and do create Constitutional violations that PDs can challenge. Guest: Eve Primus, Professor of Law, University of Michigan Resource: Read the Article Here https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6288018 Contact Eve https://michigan.law.umich.edu/faculty-and-scholarship/our-faculty/eve-brensike-primus MDefenders https://michigan.law.umich.edu/mdefenders 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****

498 | How the Allegheny County Public Defender is Getting their Clients Out of Custody and into Care w/Alena Chulick

Jul 16, 2026 53 min

Today, Hunter was joined by Alena Chulick, the Co-Founder and Project Manager of Project Rehabilitate out of the Allegheny County Public Defender. Thanks to a federal grant, Project Rehabilitate has been able to keep people out of custody and kept them in the care they need to get back on their feet. Guest: Alena Chulick, Co-Founder and Project Manager, Project Rehabilitate, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Resource: Project Rehabilitate https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Government/Court-Related/Public-Defender/Project-Rehabilitate Allegheny County PD Website https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Government/Court-Related/Public-Defender\ 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****

497 | How Did the Tribal Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Build a Model Holistic Defender Service w/Ann Miller, Susette Billedeaux, and Josh Cahoon

Jul 14, 2026 1 hr 2 min

Today, Hunter was joined by Ann Miller, Susette Billedeaux, and Josh Cahoon from the Tribal Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. They joined the show to the tell the history of this office and how they've built it into a model holistic office. Guest: Ann Miller, Managing Attorney, Tribal Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Montana Susette Billedeaux, Holistic Programming Director Tribal Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Montana Josh Cahoon, Lead Case Manager Tribal Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Montana Resource: https://cskt.org/tribal-defenders-office/ 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****

496 | Why the Lawyers Handling 80% of Massachusetts's Public Defender Cases Stopped Taking New Cases Part 2 w/Shira Diner

Jul 9, 2026 55 min

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Professor Shira Diner. Last time she was on the show, she explained why the bar advocates in Massachusetts stopped accepting new cases. This time, she joins to explain how the Legislature and Judiciary responded and what comes next for the state. Guest: Shira Diner, Professor of Law, Boston University Resource: Read the Case Here https://statecourtreport.org/case-tracker/committee-public-counsel-services-v-middlesex-and-suffolk-county-district-courts Updated Coverage https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2026-03-17/following-high-court-ruling-mass-bar-advocates-turn-to-lobbying-lawmakers https://www.masslive.com/news/2026/05/defense-lawyers-sue-over-mass-law-they-say-stops-them-from-fighting-for-better-pay.html https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/04/04/massachusetts-continues-to-address-bar-advocate-shortage-with-incentive-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****

495 | Will a Severe Budget Deficit in Santa Clara County Require the Public Defender to Stop Taking New Cases? w/Damon Silver

Jul 7, 2026 1 hr 16 min

Today, Hunter was joined by Damon Silver Chief Defender of the Santa Clara County Public Defender. Home to Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County is struggling with a large budget deficit due to federal budget cuts. As such, the Public Defender Office has lost full time positions and is facing a severe workload crisis. Guest: Damon Silver, Chief Public Defender, Santa Clara County, California Resource: Read More Here https://sanjosespotlight.com/santa-clara-county-public-defenders-crushed-by-caseloads/ https://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/san-jose-spotlight-santa-clara-county-public-22236000.php 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****

494 | Why did the Spokane County Public Defenders Sue the County Over New Workload Requirements? w/Colin Charbonneau and Victoria Blumhorst

Jul 2, 2026 1 hr 7 min

Today, Hunter was joined by Colin Charbonneau and Victoria Blumhorst, two Public Defender leaders from Spokane, Washington. They joined the show to explain why they decided to sue their county over the workload standards the county recently imposed. Guest: Colin Charbonneau, Director, Spokane County Public Defenders, Washington Victoria Blumhorst, Director, Counsel for Defense, Spokane, Washington Resource: Read the Complaint Here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1j9QTRxm6VXpiZQTmvdkgY9HHwgauBt_L?usp=drive_link Read more about the story here https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/may/11/public-defenders-sue-spokane-county-over-work-stan/ https://www.kxly.com/news/public-defenders-sue-spokane-county-over-excessive-caseloads/article_fc46807b-d0f0-4171-9533-0c5acdf2a59f.html https://www.inlander.com/news/spokane-county-public-defenders-challenge-their-caseloads-in-court-and-at-the-bargaining-table/article_e883ca3a-4f51-4373-959c-2684f35ccf31.html https://www.spokanecounty.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/6067 https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/spokane-county-sued-public-defender-caseload-limits/293-568f4e4c-a03c-4671-a74f-d3c0fcf081ec https://www.spokanecounty.gov/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/6049 Contact Colin and Victoria Here CHARBONNEAU@spokanecounty.gov vblumhorst@spokanecounty.gov 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 HUNTE...

493 | Two Oregon Public Defenders Sued the Oregon Public Defense Commission and Won. Now What? w/Shannon Wilson and Stacey Lowe

Jun 30, 2026 1 hr 13 min

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Shannon Wilson and Stacey Lowe. The last time these two Public Defender Leaders in Oregon were on the show, they discussed why they were suing the Oregon Public Defense Commission. Today, they join to discuss their victory in court and what it means for Public Defense in Oregon. *** Note for the show: After recording, editing and publishing the show, Carl McPherson, the Executive Director of The Metropolitan Public Defender in Portland, responded to my request for comment with the following statement: "Regarding the current contract, our office is already using an internal workload model and believe we have ethical caseloads. So, the lawsuit is not impacting our current practice. The lawsuit will impact negotiations for our next contract (and terms) that will begin on July 1, 2027." Please keep that in mind when you listen to the episode! Guest: Shannon Wilson, Executive Director, Public Defender of Marion County Inc., Oregon Stacey Lowe, Executive Director, South West Oregon Public Defender Services, Oregon Resource: Check out the Trial Transcript Here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LoISTUXKRJ8lO9W7uogBRW9l3bf_1UR9?usp=drive_link Contact Stacey and Shannon Here https://swopds.org/ https://www.pdmarion.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 THO...

492 | How Will Pennsylvania Respond to its Supreme Court Striking Down Mandatory LWOP for Felony Murder Convictions? w/Nia Holston and Sean Damon

Jun 25, 2026 1 hr 10 min

Today, Hunter was joined by Nia Holston from the Abolitionist Law Center and Sean Damon of Straight-Ahead to discuss a case out of Pennsylvania. In Commonwealth v. Lee, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down mandatory life without the possibility of parole for felony murder convictions because those sentences violated the states prohibition on cruel punishments. Guest: Nia Holston, Staff Attorney, Abolitionist Law Center Sean Damon, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Straight-Ahead Resource: Read the Case Here https://statecourtreport.org/case-tracker/commonwealth-v-lee Contact ALC and Straight-Ahead https://abolitionistlawcenter.org/person/nia-holston/ sean@straight-ahead.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****

491 | The Hidden Punishments in Pre-Trial Detention That Disproportionately Impact LGBTQ People w/Deborah Lolai

Jun 24, 2026 1 hr 1 min

Today, Hunter was joined by Professor Deborah Lolai to discuss her law review article, Out of the Closet, in on Bail. In the article, Deborah details the systemic issues within the bail system, especially as they relate to LGBTQ+ individuals. She explores how pretrial detention disproportionately impacts queer and trans people and how Public Defenders can help get their clients the individualized considerations they deserve. Guest: Deborah Lolai, Clinical Professor and Lecturer, Harvard Law Resource: Read the Paper Here https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5172965 Contact Deborah Here https://hls.harvard.edu/faculty/deborah-lolai/ 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****

490 | How the Civil Rights Corps Secured a Massive Victory in the Fight Against Cash Bail w/Salil Dudani and Carson White

Jun 23, 2026 58 min

Hunter is joined by Salil Dudani and Carson White from the Civil Rights Corps. Since they were founded, the Civil Rights Corps has been one of the leaders in the fight to end cash bail. Today, Carson and Salil joined to explain the recent California Supreme Court Case, In re Gerald Kowalczyk, and what it means for the fight against cash bail. Guest: Carson White, Supervising Attorney, Civil Rights Corps Salil Dudani, Senior Attorney, Civil Rights Corps Resource: More from Civil Rights Corps Here https://civilrightscorps.org/case/kowalczyk-california-bail-pretrial-detention/ Read the Case Here https://courts.ca.gov/opinion/published/2026-04-30/s277910 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****

489 | Why did a 35 Year Career Prosecutor Walk Away from the DOJ Under the Second Trump Administration? w/John Haried

Jun 18, 2026 1 hr 4 min

Today, Hunter was joined by John Haried a career prosecutor in the Department of Justice. After more than 30 years with the Department, John walked away after seeing the abuses in under the Second Trump Administration. Today, he joined the show to help us understand why he left. Guest: John Haried, Former Director of Electronic Litigation, Department of Justice Resource: 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****

488 | How Public Defenders Can Fight for Our Clients and for Funding by Engaging with the Media w/Maggie Shepard and Bob McGovern

Jun 16, 2026 1 hr 3 min

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****

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536 | How Detroit Judges Tried and Failed to Punish Public Defenders Who Went on Strike w/Dan Eichinger, Megan Gokey and Joe McGuire

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Podcast details

Created by: Hunter Parnell
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 12, 2026
Episodes: 548
Release period: Several times a week
Avg. episode length: 1 hr 5 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

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