Public Defenseless 260 | How the Lack of Independence Weakens Federal Public Defense w/Melody Brannon
Today, Hunter spoke with the Chief Federal Public Defender for the District of Kansas to discuss independence, or the lack thereof, for federal public defenders. Unlike many state systems, the federal system is at the mercy of the federal judiciary. As a result of this judicial oversight, the federal public defenders can be hesitant to be as vocal and aggressive in their public advocacy. Over the past year, the hiring freeze for federal public defense demonstrated the pressing need to remove the federal public defenders out from the control of the bench.
Guests:
Melody Brannon, Chief Federal Public Defender, District of Kansas
Resources:
Annual Federal Defenders Reports
https://www.uscourts.gov/statistics-reports/defender-services-annual-report-2022
https://www.uscourts.gov/statistics-reports/defender-services-annual-report-2023
NACDL Coverage on Lack of Independence
https://www.nacdl.org/Article/August2015-InsideNACDLAFundamentalFlawint
2017 REPORT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT
NACDL Testimony to Judicial Conference
https://www.nacdl.org/getattachment/84b11595-12a0-43d9-89ed-6af4fd732d84/gerry-morris-testimony.pdf
Hiring Freeze
Eval of Interim Recommendations from the Cardone Report
Contact Hunter Parnell:
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
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*As a reminder, any statements made on the show do not reflect the views or policies of the Colorado Office of the State Public Defender*