Public Defenseless

Hunter Parnell

Anyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system is perpetuating cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people simply trying to get through another day. Public Defenseless explores the rot in the justice system and what we can do about it. Join host, Hunter Parnell, as he interviews top defense attorneys and criminal justice stakeholders from across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system. Like so many of you, Hunter is not an attorney, simply tired of a news cycle and talking heads that offer no real solutions to the ever-growing list of problems we face. Hunter hopes that with this information, you will share his belief that ordinary people still can make a difference.

  1. 441 | With Dems in Control, Will Virginia Finally Pass More Progressive Criminal Justice Policies? w/Rob Poggenklass and Bryan Kennedy

    5 HRS AGO

    441 | With Dems in Control, Will Virginia Finally Pass More Progressive Criminal Justice Policies? w/Rob Poggenklass and Bryan Kennedy

    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

    1h 11m
  2. 440 | How Public Defenders Can Build Political Coalitions that Support Criminal Justice Policy Reforms w/Stephen Saloom

    2D AGO

    440 | How Public Defenders Can Build Political Coalitions that Support Criminal Justice Policy Reforms w/Stephen Saloom

    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

    1h 6m
  3. 439 | The Lawsuit Challenging Louisiana's use of Slave Labor on Angola's Infamous "Farm Line" w/Samantha Pourciau

    3D AGO

    439 | The Lawsuit Challenging Louisiana's use of Slave Labor on Angola's Infamous "Farm Line" w/Samantha Pourciau

    Today, Hunter was joined by Samantha Pourciau of the Promise of Justice Initiative to discuss litigation they are brining to end the "Farm Line" at Angola State Prison. On previous episodes, the show has explored how Louisiana's mass incarceration system is rooted in the state's slave holding, colonial past. Few practices are more reminiscent of that past than the "farm line." This immoral practice forces men to labor in brutal, dangerous conditions for the sole purpose of sadistic punishment. Samantha joins the show to discuss their upcoming trial that aims to end the practice once and for all.   Guest: Samantha Pourciau, Senior Staff Attorney, Promise of Justice Initiative   Resources: Read the report Punitive by Design: The Farm Line at Louisiana State Penitentiary   More Coverage on the Suit https://promiseofjustice.org/news/incarcerated-farm-line-workers-win-class-certification https://vimeo.com/877204358?fl=pl&fe=sh https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fe0e9cce6e50722511b03cc/t/66fc02c82b34224736f02cf5/1743624596616/2024.09.30+RELEASE+Farm+Line+Class+Cert+Filed.pdf https://www.wwno.org/law/2026-01-13/angola-prison-farm-line-suit-becomes-class-action Read the Complaint https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fe0e9cce6e50722511b03cc/t/66427a930927131a043029e9/1715632788191/21%2C+2023.12.15+AMENDED+COMPLAINT.pdf Find PJI's Socials https://www.instagram.com/justicespromise/ https://www.facebook.com/promiseofjustice https://www.facebook.com/promiseofjustice https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMj-FFyyoOf-u0WbH-A6AGg https://www.linkedin.com/company/pjinola       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

    1h 6m
  4. 438 | How to Build Emotional Intelligence Skills in Public Defense w/Ali Bloomquist and Cherise Fanno Burdeen PhD

    JAN 29

    438 | How to Build Emotional Intelligence Skills in Public Defense w/Ali Bloomquist and Cherise Fanno Burdeen PhD

    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

    1h 11m
  5. 437 | The Cruelty is the Point: Immigration Detention Expansion Under the Trump Administration w/Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

    JAN 27

    437 | The Cruelty is the Point: Immigration Detention Expansion Under the Trump Administration w/Aaron Reichlin-Melnick

    Today, Hunter was joined by the American Immigration Council's Aaron Reichlin-Melnick to discuss a new report published by AIC. Over the past two years, the Trump administration has rapidly expanded the use of and capacity of immigration detention. Aaron joins to detail how this has happened, what might come next, and the best ways to prevent it in the future.   Guest: Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Senior Fellow, American Immigration Council Resources: Read the Report https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/report/immigration-detention/ Contact Aaron https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/authors/aaron-reichlin-melnick/  https://x.com/ReichlinMelnick?lang=en https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social   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

    1h 12m
  6. 436 | The New York Laws that Could Chip Away at the State's Mass Incarceration Policies w/Thomas Gant

    JAN 22

    436 | The New York Laws that Could Chip Away at the State's Mass Incarceration Policies w/Thomas Gant

    Today, Hunter was joined by Thomas Gant, a Community Organizer with the Center for Community Alternatives. Thomas joins the show to describe three different bills pending in New York that could chip away at the impacts of mass incarceration.   Guest: Thomas Gant, Community Organizer, Center for Community Alternatives   Resources:   Email Thomas tgant@communityalternatives.org Join the Coalition here https://www.communitiesnotcagesny.org/take-action https://www.communityalternatives.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

    1h 9m
  7. 435 | How Alaska is Punishing American Samoans for Believing They Had the Right to Vote w/Alex Burness

    JAN 21

    435 | How Alaska is Punishing American Samoans for Believing They Had the Right to Vote w/Alex Burness

    Today, Hunter was joined by Alex Burness of Bolts Magazine to discuss his recent piece of reporting on American Samoans in Alaska. Specifically, Alex walks us through the history that gave American Samoans passports, social security numbers, but no right to vote. From there, Alex tells the story of a small American Samoan community that is facing decades in prison for voting when everyone thought they had the right to.   Guest: Alex Burness, Staff Writer, Bolts Magazine   Resources:   Read the Piece Here https://boltsmag.org/prosecuted-for-voting-american-samoans-alaska/ Contact Alex https://boltsmag.org/authors/alex-burness/       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

    1h 6m
  8. 434 | Why is a San Francisco Judge Threatening to hold the Public Defender in Contempt? w/Mano Raju

    JAN 20

    434 | Why is a San Francisco Judge Threatening to hold the Public Defender in Contempt? w/Mano Raju

    Today, Hunter was joined once again by Mano Raju, the elected Chief Public Defender in the San Francisco Public Defender Office. Last time he was one the show, Mano explained why he decided to stop having his attorneys accept new case assignments on certain days of the week. Now, six months later, a judge has given the office an ultimatum: Accept new cases or be held in contempt.     Guest: Mano Raju, Chief Public Defender, San Francisco, California   Resources:   Read the Order https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SyOK2OVQobVjmnA99BL1tXOycjWvVMyD?usp=drive_link   Coverage of the Office https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/389343-sf-public-defender-faces-contempt-over-refusal-to-take-felony-cases https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/12/public-defender-manu-raju-crime-san-francisco-court/   Contact Mano or the Office manohar.raju@sfgov.org https://sfpublicdefender.org/ https://www.facebook.com/sfpublicdefender https://x.com/sfdefender https://www.instagram.com/sfpublicdefender/ https://bsky.app/profile/manorajupd.bsky.social https://x.com/manorajupd?lang=en     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

    1h 17m
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Trailer

About

Anyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system is perpetuating cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people simply trying to get through another day. Public Defenseless explores the rot in the justice system and what we can do about it. Join host, Hunter Parnell, as he interviews top defense attorneys and criminal justice stakeholders from across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system. Like so many of you, Hunter is not an attorney, simply tired of a news cycle and talking heads that offer no real solutions to the ever-growing list of problems we face. Hunter hopes that with this information, you will share his belief that ordinary people still can make a difference.

Information

  • Creator
    Hunter Parnell
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    452
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Public Defenseless

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