228 episodes

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.

Public Defenseless Hunter Parnell

    • Government
    • 4.9 • 62 Ratings

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.

    221: ALAA's Ceasefire Resolution and the Fallout From it: Part II w/Sophia Gurulé and Pooja Patel

    221: ALAA's Ceasefire Resolution and the Fallout From it: Part II w/Sophia Gurulé and Pooja Patel

    Today, Hunter is joined by Sophia Gurulé (immigration Public Defender at the Bronx Defender) and Pooja Patel (staff attorney at CAMBA Legal Services) to continue our discussion on ALAA's resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. In particular, today's episode offers us even more insight into how the resolution came about, the steps taken by those who opposed it to shut it down, and why ALAA members felt it was so vital to pass the resolution. 
     
    Guests:
    Sophia Gurulé, Staff Attorney and ALAA Member, Bronx Defenders
    Pooja Patel, Staff Attorney and ALAA Member, CAMBA legal services 
     
    Resources:
    ALAA 2325 Resolution Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza, an End to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, and Support for Workers’ Political Speech
    https://www.alaa.org/media-releases/resolution-calling-for-a-ceasefire-in-gaza-an-end-to-the-israeli-occupation-of-palestine-and-support-for-workers-political-speech
    Bronx Defenders Union Statement
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/15Hzyy_ufSJ9h8GjiYdg4eRKdGIUyikRE/view
    A Statement by Jewish Members of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys-UAW Local 2325
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJDXr9nANDCtcV76fxYNwNsxNbru3MYu5hLkCC3KrLY/edit
    New York Legal Aid Society Response
    https://legalaidnyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Statement-on-Resolution-from-ALAA-UAW-Local-2325.pdf
    Bronx Defenders Response
    https://www.bronxdefenders.org/the-bronx-defenders-response-to-its-unions-october-20-statement/
    News Coverage of the Resolution
    https://theintercept.com/2023/11/17/public-defender-gaza-legal-aid-bronx-defenders/
    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/association-legal-aid-attorneys-public-defenders-palestinian-israel-resolution_n_655d2541e4b0c91d8278efcd
    https://freespeechproject.georgetown.edu/tracker-entries/legal-aid-lawyers-approve-pro-palestinian-resolution-after-federal-judge-dissolves-state-court-order-preventing-vote/
    https://nypost.com/2023/12/19/metro/legal-aid-union-approves-pro-hamas-antisemitic-resolution-calling-for-boycott-of-apartheid-jewish-state-critics-say/
    https://www.nysun.com/article/congress-to-probe-legal-union-over-anti-israel-resolution-opposed-by-nearly-a-third-of-its-members
    https://nypost.com/2023/11/16/metro/legal-aid-society-denounces-unions-antisemitic-resolution/
    https://inthesetimes.com/article/palestine-resolution-unions-court-blocked
    https://www.thefp.com/p/alaa-legal-aid-attorneys-antisemitism-congress
    https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410256
     https://www.nyclu.org/en/press-releases/congressional-subpoena-over-pro-palestinian-speech-violates-free-speech-alleges 
    ALAA 2325 History of Anti War Votes and Comments
    https://alaa2325.wordpress.com/1999/03/26/history-of-the-association-of-legal-aid-attorneys-uaw-local-2325/
    https://alaa2325.wordpress.com/2003/04/14/alaa-antiwar-vote/
    https://alaa2325.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/2009-09-15-urgent-appeal-to-alaa-members-defend-free-speech-at-legal-aid/
    https://alaa2325.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/2014-07-29-updated-signers-173-of-mass-free-speech-grievance/
    https://alaa2325.wordpress.com/2023/12/19/adopted-resolution-calling-for-a-ceasefire-in-gaza-an-end-to-the-israeli-occupation-of-palestine-and-support-for-workers-political-speech-association-of-legal-aid-attorneys-united-auto-w/
    https://labornotes.org/blogs/2021/08/bottom-labor-solidarity-palestine-growing
    https://laborforpalestine.net/2022/07/26/press-release-uaw-2325-association-of-legal-aid-attorneys-votes-to-divest-from-israel-bonds/
    https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/e/2PACX-1vQzS8V0UkBAdiBRbaSasIvKuu45SjEuQKwXMxdMO92DZBn7QNhF2nWbKZI6ALAYoZfFkqpckIt1QMdW/pub
    https://laborforpalestine.net/2023/10/26/sf-public-defender-staff-in-solidarity-with-palestine/
    https://therealnews.com/ny-court-blocks-union-from-voting-on-gaza-ceasefire-palestine-resolution-uaw-legal-aid
    https://laborforpalestine.net/2023/11/26/digest-of-select-statements-and-position

    • 1 hr
    220: ALAA's Ceasefire Resolution and the Fallout From it: Part I w/Michael Letwin

    220: ALAA's Ceasefire Resolution and the Fallout From it: Part I w/Michael Letwin

    Today, Hunter is joined by Michael Letwin, former President of ALAA 2325 and longtime Public Defender at the New York Legal Aid Society. Today’s episode is part one of the two-part coverage of the ALAA 2325 Ceasefire in Gaza resolution. To understand the resolution fully requires us to fully understand the patterns, practices, and history of ALAA 2325 when it comes to speaking about international events. With this context in mind, hopefully those asking why ALAA 2325 would choose to issue a ceasefire resolution can understand how that is directly in line with their organizational ethics. Finally, Hunter makes his pitch for why Public Defender organizations should be speaking out about international affairs.
     
     
    Guests:
    Michael Letwin, Former President ALAA 2325 and long time Public Defender
     
    Resources:
    ALAA 2325 Resolution Calling for a Ceasefire in Gaza, an End to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, and Support for Workers’ Political Speech
    https://www.alaa.org/media-releases/resolution-calling-for-a-ceasefire-in-gaza-an-end-to-the-israeli-occupation-of-palestine-and-support-for-workers-political-speech
    Bronx Defenders Union Statement
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/15Hzyy_ufSJ9h8GjiYdg4eRKdGIUyikRE/view
    A Statement by Jewish Members of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys-UAW Local 2325
    https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MJDXr9nANDCtcV76fxYNwNsxNbru3MYu5hLkCC3KrLY/edit
    New York Legal Aid Society Response
    https://legalaidnyc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Statement-on-Resolution-from-ALAA-UAW-Local-2325.pdf
    Bronx Defenders Response
    https://www.bronxdefenders.org/the-bronx-defenders-response-to-its-unions-october-20-statement/
    News Coverage of the Resolution
    https://theintercept.com/2023/11/17/public-defender-gaza-legal-aid-bronx-defenders/
    https://www.huffpost.com/entry/association-legal-aid-attorneys-public-defenders-palestinian-israel-resolution_n_655d2541e4b0c91d8278efcd
    https://freespeechproject.georgetown.edu/tracker-entries/legal-aid-lawyers-approve-pro-palestinian-resolution-after-federal-judge-dissolves-state-court-order-preventing-vote/
    https://nypost.com/2023/12/19/metro/legal-aid-union-approves-pro-hamas-antisemitic-resolution-calling-for-boycott-of-apartheid-jewish-state-critics-say/
    https://www.nysun.com/article/congress-to-probe-legal-union-over-anti-israel-resolution-opposed-by-nearly-a-third-of-its-members
    https://nypost.com/2023/11/16/metro/legal-aid-society-denounces-unions-antisemitic-resolution/
    https://inthesetimes.com/article/palestine-resolution-unions-court-blocked
    https://www.thefp.com/p/alaa-legal-aid-attorneys-antisemitism-congress
    https://edworkforce.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410256
     https://www.nyclu.org/en/press-releases/congressional-subpoena-over-pro-palestinian-speech-violates-free-speech-alleges 
    ALAA 2325 History of Anti War Votes and Comments
    https://alaa2325.wordpress.com/1999/03/26/history-of-the-association-of-legal-aid-attorneys-uaw-local-2325/
    https://alaa2325.wordpress.com/2003/04/14/alaa-antiwar-vote/
    https://alaa2325.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/2009-09-15-urgent-appeal-to-alaa-members-defend-free-speech-at-legal-aid/
    https://alaa2325.wordpress.com/2014/07/29/2014-07-29-updated-signers-173-of-mass-free-speech-grievance/
    https://alaa2325.wordpress.com/2023/12/19/adopted-resolution-calling-for-a-ceasefire-in-gaza-an-end-to-the-israeli-occupation-of-palestine-and-support-for-workers-political-speech-association-of-legal-aid-attorneys-united-auto-w/
    https://labornotes.org/blogs/2021/08/bottom-labor-solidarity-palestine-growing
    https://laborforpalestine.net/2022/07/26/press-release-uaw-2325-association-of-legal-aid-attorneys-votes-to-divest-from-israel-bonds/
    https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/e/2PACX-1vQzS8V0UkBAdiBRbaSasIvKuu45SjEuQKwXMxdMO92DZBn7QNhF2nWbKZI6ALAYoZfFkqpckIt1QMdW/pub
    https://laborforpalestine.net/2023/10/26/sf-public-defender-staff-in-solidarity-w

    • 1 hr 13 min
    RE-RELEASE: How Moral Injury, Stress, and Trauma Impact Public Defense with Jenny Andrews

    RE-RELEASE: How Moral Injury, Stress, and Trauma Impact Public Defense with Jenny Andrews

    Today is a re-release of my conversation with Jenny Andrews. It comes as a right before two episodes covering the ceasefire resolution put out by the UAW ALAA 2325 union that represents Public Defenders and Legal Aid Workers at the New York Legal Aid Society, the Bronx Defenders, Camba Legal Services, and much more.
     
    Jenny Andrews is the Director of Training for California’s Indigent Defense Improvement Division. She’s here today to teach you what public defense is truly like from the defender’s side. Public defenders are often trapped between a rock and a hard place because they want to provide equal representation access, yet are expected to work too many hours for not enough pay. Because of this, “martyr complex” is prevalent in this field. You’ll learn that public defense is an area of service, but that this often comes at the expense of the defender’s mental health. Jenny will walk you through how she’s helping implement self-care practices into nationwide and why self-care is vital to providing zealous representation! Throughout this episode, remember that ultimately, it is the client who suffers when the public defender suffers in silence
    Key Topics and Takeaways:
    Jenny’s background and how she got started in public defense. [7:50]
    Why Jenny burnt out and left the industry. [14:18]
    Moral injury. [21:58]
    Self-care in public defense. [26:32]
    Secondary trauma. [33:36]
    How Jenny has been building a culture of self-care. [42:50]
    How individual offices are promoting self-care. [48:28]
    The line between service and self-care. [53:14]
    Guest:
    Jenny Andrews, Director of Training, Indigent Defense Improvement Division, Office of the State Public Defender, California
    Resources:
    Be Sustained 
    https://besustained.org/
    Body Keeps the Score
    https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748
    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

    • 1 hr 17 min
    219: The Future Looks Bright for New Jersey Public Defense w/Jennifer Sellitti

    219: The Future Looks Bright for New Jersey Public Defense w/Jennifer Sellitti

    Today, Hunter is joined by the newest Chief Public Defender of the State of New Jersey, Jennifer Sellitti. Drawing on her background in public relations, Jennifer has exciting plans for the future of Public Defense in the state. As the new leader, Jennifer hopes she will be able to capitalize on a legislature and governor that appear eager to continue reimagining what a criminal legal system can and should look like.
     
     
    Guests:
    Jennifer Sellitti, The Public Defender, New Jersey Office of the Public Defender
     
     
    Resources:
    Follow Jennifer on Twitter
    https://twitter.com/j_sellitti?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
    N.J.’s 1,200 public defenders have a new leader. You’ll be hearing from her, she promises.
    https://www.nj.com/politics/2024/02/njs-1200-public-defenders-have-a-new-leader-youll-be-hearing-from-her-she-promises.html
    New Jersey Office of the Public Defender
    https://www.nj.gov/defender/
    https://twitter.com/opd_nj?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
    https://www.facebook.com/njopd/
     
     
    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
     

    • 1 hr 7 min
    218: The Cuyahoga County Youth Public Defenders Want More Cases, So Why Aren't They Getting Them? w/Nikki Baszynski

    218: The Cuyahoga County Youth Public Defenders Want More Cases, So Why Aren't They Getting Them? w/Nikki Baszynski

    Today, Hunter is once again joined by an amazing former Public Defender from the Wren Collective to discuss their report about youth representation in Cuyahoga County Ohio. Nikki Baszynski joins Hunter today to talk about, perhaps for the first time on the shoe, a Public Defender office that feels they don’t have enough cases! Unlike most of the major metropolitan areas in Ohio, juvenile public defense is largely provided by contract counsel and not the Public Defender office. Unfortunately, this is happening despite evidence that the Public Defender office is consistently getting better outcomes for their clients and doing so at a cheaper cost to the county.
     
     
    Guests:
    Nikki Baszyinski, Principal and Former Public Defender, The Wren Collective
     
     
    Resources:
     
    Wren Collective Report on Cuyahoga County
    https://www.wrencollective.org/_files/ugd/8fe8f0_1079cdb763ae4fd4b86cffa5a5f3631e.pdf
    Reporting from Signal
    https://signalcleveland.org/every-child-accused-of-a-crime-has-a-right-to-an-attorney-is-cuyahoga-county-providing-the-best-possible-representation/
    https://signalcleveland.org/how-cuyahoga-county-picks-attorneys-to-represent-children-accused-of-crimes/
    Follow the Wren Collective on Twitter
    https://twitter.com/wrencollective
    Ohio Public Defender Commission
    https://opd.ohio.gov/
     Listen to the Comitte Meeting Here!
    https://opd.ohio.gov/about-opd/commission/commission-meetings
     
     
    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
     

    • 53 min
    217: Securing Life over Death in the Aurora Theater Shooting Case w/Doug Wilson

    217: Securing Life over Death in the Aurora Theater Shooting Case w/Doug Wilson

    Today, Hunter sat down once again with the former Chief Public Defender of Colorado, Doug Wilson. This time, Doug and Hunter discuss the Aurora Theater Shooting case. Just like the episode about the Parkland shooting, today’s episode is designed to help people understand how such a heinous crime could end in a life over death sentence. In examining these cases, hopefully people can understand the power of mitigating evidence and a well- funded criminal defense team can have on a criminal case.
     
    Guests:
    Doug Wilson, Former Chief Public Defender of the State of Colorado
     
    Resources:
    THE “EVIL” DEFENDANT AND THE “HOLDOUT” JUROR: UNPACKING THE MYTHS OF THE AURORA THEATER SHOOTING CASE AS WE PONDER THE FUTURE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN COLORADO
    https://www.coloradodefenders.us/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nelson-FINAL-1.pdf
    Aurora theater shooting trial: DA George Brauchler scolded over tweet
    https://sentinelcolorado.com/metro/theater-shooting-trial-da-brauchler-scolded-tweet/
    A Record 9,000 People Were Called For Jury Duty In The Aurora Theater Shooting Trial
    https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/a-record-9000-people-were-called-for-jury-duty-in-the-aurora-theater-shooting-trial/
     
     
    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
     

    • 1 hr 23 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
62 Ratings

62 Ratings

Steve Hanlon ,

Lawyer Hanlon

Required listening for anyone interested in America’s criminal processing system.

Greenland.Sharks ,

Elizabeth Cadiz - Chief Public Defender (Aurora, Colorado)

Hunter- thank you for this amazing source of inspiration, creativity, and community. You are so important.

Luckyluckylucky5 ,

Important!

If you support the Death Penalty, believe that the US justice system is largely fair, and think that stories of failings are scant exceptions to the rule, this should be your next podcast to listen to. Example after example of the capriciousness of US crime law is presented. Powerful! and Needed. Listening feels like having a backstage pass to monumental court proceedings. Thank you! Highly recommend.

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