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

    13h ago

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

    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****

    1h 10m
  2. 491 | The Hidden Punishments in Pre-Trial Detention That Disproportionately Impact LGBTQ People w/Deborah Lolai

    1d ago

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

    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****

    1h 1m
  3. 490 | How the Civil Rights Corps Secured a Massive Victory in the Fight Against Cash Bail w/Salil Dudani and Carson White

    2d ago

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

    Today, Hunter was 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****

    59 min
  4. 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

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

    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****

    1h 3m
  5. 487 | Iowa Public Defender Secured a Major Victory for Workload Controls, but will New Tough on Crime Policies Send the System into a Crisis? w/Eric Tindal

    Jun 11

    487 | Iowa Public Defender Secured a Major Victory for Workload Controls, but will New Tough on Crime Policies Send the System into a Crisis? w/Eric Tindal

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

    1h 10m
  6. 486 | How to Ensure Local Governments Cannot Cooperate with Federal Immigration Enforcement w/Alex Kornya

    Jun 9

    486 | How to Ensure Local Governments Cannot Cooperate with Federal Immigration Enforcement w/Alex Kornya

    Today, Hunter was joined once again by Alex Kornya. In this episode, Alex and Hunter discuss a range of topics including court fines and fees in Iowa and how to pass policies that stop local governments from co-operating with federal immigration enforcement.   Guest: Alex Kornya, Litigation Director, Legal Aid Justice Center, Virginia     Resource: No Immigration Fines https://noimmigrationfines.org/   Legal Aid Justice Center https://www.justice4all.org/   Ability to Pay Calculator https://abilitytopay.org/interview?i=docassemble.ATPCalculator:data/questions/ATP.yml#page1     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****

    1h 11m
  7. 485 | Will Utah Force Homeless People to Move to a Camp Outside of Salt Lake City? w/Nate Crippes

    Jun 4

    485 | Will Utah Force Homeless People to Move to a Camp Outside of Salt Lake City? w/Nate Crippes

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

    59 min
4.7
out of 5
98 Ratings

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.

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