Aider and Abettor Podcast Sajid Khan and Avi Singh

On this episode of the pod, we talk all about Proposition 25 and what pretrial justice would look like in a Prop. 25 world. To do this, we get together with Carlie Ware (@carlieware11) and Carson White. Carlie and Carson specialize in pretrial release advocacy and pre-arraignment representation.

Omniboi composed the intro and outro for this pod.

Send us your thoughts on Prop. 25 (@thesajidkhan @avanindar @aiderandabettor)

In this episode, Sajid and guest host Sarah Ruby (fellow pd out of San Jose) interview Assemblymember Ash Kalra (twitter @ash_kalra) about the Racial Justice Act (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB2542) https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-legislators-racial-justice-act-passes-senate-committee/

The bill passed the legislature and is on Governor Newsom's desk. To support the AB 2542, write the governor, call in, or post to social media #2542 #confrontracism

The intro and outro are by Omniboi. The break remix of this is america is also by Omniboi.

Sajid and Avi meet with Eliza Orlins. Eliza has been a public defender in New York for around 10 years. She decided to run for District Attorney of Manhattan. They talk about what called her to the work and her decision to run for DA. Learn more about Eliza’s work and campaign here: https://twitter.com/elizaorlins

Omniboi composed and performed the intro, outro, and break remix.

“For the People”: Finding the Humanity in Our Criminal Legal System with Sajid Khan and Avi Singh: In this crossover episode with the cohosts of Aider and Abettor podcast, Bay Area public defenders Avi Singh and Sajid Khan join DA Boudin and Rachel to examine what it means when a prosecutor represents “the people.” The group asks who are the people represented by the system at each stage and is the system really serving them? How can the system better recognize the humanity of defendants and victims? They also explore whether lawyers working in the system should find more collaboration in an adversarial system. The discussion walks through various stages of the criminal legal system (from charging, bail, plea bargains, trials, through sentencing) and reimagines all the ways in which the system should honor the humanity of the people touched by it but too often denies it. Finally, Avi leads DA Boudin, Rachel and Sajid in a “lightning round” of questions submitted by Aider and Abettor fans.

Sajid joined Another Not Guilty Pod (David Moore and Nikhil Ramnaney) for a two-part interview. Part 1 is about what happened when Sajid wrote a blog post calling for civil rights protesters to look at what District Attorneys have done to contribute to the system of mass incarceration and abusive police practices. Part 2 will come out next week. Sajid will debrief on a homicide trial with David and Nikhil. You can check out and support their excellent work here: https://www.anothernotguiltypod.com/

We are grateful to ANG for the collab.

Here is the post (as published in San Jose Inside): https://www.sanjoseinside.com/opinion/op-ed-be-mad-at-police-but-also-at-the-prosecutors-who-protect-and-enable-their-abuses/

Here is an op-ed by Sajid in the Mercury News calling on implementation of reforms now: https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/16/opinion-da-shouldnt-wait-to-implement-reforms/

Here is coverage of the situation in San Jose Inside, including a letter from 650 public defenders around the nation speaking out against practices designed to chill criminal reform speech: https://www.sanjoseinside.com/opinion/letter-650-public-defenders-stand-behind-sajid-khan/

Here is a letter issued by CAIR: https://ca.cair.com/sfba/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/06/DA-Rosen-Letter-06.23.20.pdf

Here is a story in the San Jose Mercury News about Jeff Rosen's decision to withdraw his complaint in response to the backlash: https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/06/23/district-attorney-backs-off-whistleblower-claim-against-line-level-public-defender/

Here is a post Sajid wrote everything went down about what we need to do going forward: https://www.publicdefenders.us/blog_home.asp?Display=854

COVID: Courts, Content, Care

Avi and Sajid talk about what defense practice looks like during the COVID-19 pandemic, including video arraignments in mostly empty courthouses. They also talk about the content that they have enjoyed consuming and self-care practices while sheltering in place.

Lee Rosevere (@leeroservere) composed and performed the intro and outro of the pod. Omniboi (@omniboi) composed and performed the music during the breaks.