Public Defenseless

Today, Hunter was joined once again by New Mexico's Chief Public Defender, Ben Baur. A few years back, a workload study estimated that New Mexico had 1/3 of the public defenders it needed to meet its workload demands. At that time, the state set out on a five-year plan to address the staffing shortage. Unfortunately, the state has not stuck to the five-year plan. Now, with a shortage of attorneys in rural parts of the state, low pay for contract attorneys, and still too many cases, will the New Mexico public defenders have to stop taking new cases? Guest: Ben Baur, Chief Public Defender, New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender Resources: Contact the New Mexico Public Defender https://www.lopdnm.us/offices/ New Mexico Resources https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nAHtHZaAmu6My2tL04Dn_HlLhy-HARuP?usp=sharing New Mexico Workload Study https://www.lopdnm.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/LOPD-Attorney-Workload-Study2.pdf New Mexico Five Year Plan https://www.lopdnm.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Final-Draft-LOPD-5-Year-Plan.pdf 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

Today, Hunter was joined by Dennis Calhoun, Tim Ray Johnson, and Amanda Ulrich to discuss how Washington is helping people who were found not guilty by reason of insanity. Guest: Tim Ray Johnson, Criminal Defense Lawyer, Washington Dennis Calhoun, Student, Washington Amanda Ulrich, Public Defender Washington Resources: WA PD https://opd.wa.gov/ NGRI https://opd.wa.gov/forensic-civil-commitment Email Amdanda and Tim amanda@stebbinsullrich.com trj@trjdefense.com 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

Today, Hunter was joined by Nat Jacob, Elizabeth Mustin, and Rachel Cortez to discuss new efforts by the Washington to recruit and retain Public Defenders. Guest Nat Jacob, Recruitment and Retention Managing Attorney Western Washington, Washington Office of Public Defense Rachel Cortez, Recruitment and Retention Managing Attorney Eastern Washington, Washington Office of Public Defense Elizabeth Mustin, Supervising Attorney, Youth Criminal Defense Project, Washington Office of Public Defense Resources: WA PD https://opd.wa.gov/ Fellowship https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&feature=shared&v=g5QiPP3PEfo https://opd.wa.gov/recruitment-and-retention https://opd.wa.gov/recruitment-and-retention/rural-public-defense-fellowship Emails Nat.jacob@opd.wa.gov Rachel.cortez@opd.wa.gov 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

Today, Hunter was joined by federal public defender Amanda Bass Castro Alves to discuss the wrongful conviction of Tremane Wood. In 2004, Tremane was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to death in the State of Oklahoma. Just after that, his brother, who admitted to pulling the trigger and who stated Tremane was not responsible for the death, was given a life sentence just after Tremane's trial. So how is it that a person who did not kill anyone ended up on death row? All that and more on today's episode. Guest Amanda Bass Castro Alves, Assistant Federal Public Defender, District of Arizona Resources: More About Tremane's Case https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/stories/deeply-rooted-oklahoma-case-spotlight-tremane-wood https://www.huffpost.com/entry/death-row-felony-murder-oklahoma_n_67094c44e4b0f3da6456d60c https://www.huffpost.com/entry/oklahoma-sets-execution-tremane-wood_n_684afd19e4b0d6fb6cd8eabe 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

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Erica Nichols Cook, the head of the Iowa State Public Defender Wrongful Conviction Unit. On today's episode, Erica walks us through the case of Jerry Mark. In 1976, he was convicted of the murder of his brother, sister-in-law and their two children, but as you will hear, all the evidence points to the fact that Jerry Mark wasn't even in the state when the murder happened. Guest Erica Nichols Cook, Director, Wrongful Convictions Unit, Iowa State Public Defender Resources: More About Jerry's Case https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2024-11-19/jerry-mark-seeks-exoneration-for-murders-halloween-1975-cedar-falls Contact Erica https://www.drake.edu/law/clinics-centers/clinic/wrongfulconvictionsclinic/ https://www.facebook.com/enicholscook/ Send Jerry a Letter Non legal mail has to go through the mail processing facility: Jerry Mark, #0103896 Anamosa State Penitentiary (ASP) - 1106 PO Box 96777 Las Vegas, NV 89193 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

Today, Hunter was joined by Professor Megan Walsh and Anthony Benz from the University of Minnesota. As we did on Tuesday, Hunter sat down with these two to highlight the work of a law school clinic. This clinic focuses on combating gun violence through both offensive and defensive litigation. Guest Megan Walsh, Director, Gun Violence Prevention Clinic, University of Minnesota Anthon Benz, Student Attorney, University of Minnesota Resources: Contact Megan https://law.umn.edu/course/7408/spring-2023/gun-violence-prevention-clinic/walsh-megan https://bsky.app/profile/meganwalshgvp.bsky.social Jacob Charles Article https://firearmslaw.duke.edu/assets/the-dead-hand-of-a-silent-past_-bruen-gun-rights-and-the-shackl.pdf 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

Today, Hunter was joined by Professor Megan Graham to discuss how her law an technology clinic is helping Public Defenders deal with technology issues in their client's cases. Guest Megan Graham, Associate Clinical Professor of Law, Director of Technology Law Clinic, University of Iowa College of Law Resources: Contact Megan https://law.uiowa.edu/people/megan-graham https://bsky.app/profile/megankgraham.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

Today, Hunter was joined by Co-Founders and Co-Executive Directors of Unchained Emily Napier-Singletary and Derek Singletary. Unchained is a non-profit organization based out of New York that seeks to "empower those currently and formerly incarcerated in the state of New York through policy development, community organizing and advocacy, research, and liberation education." On today's episode, Derek and Emily discuss what happened both inside and outside of New York prisons during the New York Correctional Officer Illegal Wild Cat Strike. Guest Emily Napier Singletary, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Unchained Derek Singletary, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director, Unchained Resources: Unchained's Work https://www.weareunchained.org/ Murder of Robert Brooks https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/05/us/robert-brooks-beating-security-guard-plea https://cnycentral.com/news/local/this-is-whats-next-after-eight-former-cos-rejects-offers-in-robert-brooks-death-case-oneida-county-court-murder-manslaughter-inmate-marcy-correctional-facility https://13wham.com/news/local/former-correction-officers-return-to-court-now-facing-trial-for-inmates-death-robert-brooks-marcy-correctional-prison-new-york-crime-murder-beating-case-national-charges-officers-video-bodycam-attorney-general-governor- https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/murder-charges-announced-death-robert-brooks-man-beaten-new-york-corre-rcna193019 https://theappeal.org/robert-brooks-murder-new-york-prisons-racism-brutality/ Illegal Wild Cat Strike https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-york-fires-2000-prison-guards-refuse-return-work-wildcat-strike-rcna195765 https://www.wkbw.com/news/i-team/low-staffing-levels-535-new-york-state-corrections-officers-resign-during-after-wildcat-strike https://prisonjournalismproject.org/2025/03/10/what-was-the-ny-wildcat-strike-like-for-incarcerated-people/ HALT Act https://www.albanylaw.edu/government-law-center/explaining-the-halt-act https://ig.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/08/nys-oig-doccs-halt-report-8.5.24.pdf https://nysba.org/the-halt-act-and-solitary-confinement-in-new-york-state/?srsltid=AfmBOors7C8DaJYbPV9NWj-2lue3qO4vIgnoW145V5NDdkTAz6_OYCQ1 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

Today, Hunter was joined by investigative journalist Anat Rubin to discuss her recent reporting on Public Defender Investigators in California. At times, investigators are the single most important person in a criminal defense case, and yet around the country, nearly all public defenders do not have access to necessary investigative resources. Today, Anat joins the show to discuss how the systemic underfunding of public defense investigators increases the risk of wrongful convictions by highlighting the story of an investigator who unsolved a murder. Guest Anat Rubin, Investigative Journalist, CalMatters Resources: Anat's Reporting https://calmatters.org/investigation/2025/06/public-defense-investigators-takeaways/ https://calmatters.org/investigation/2025/06/public-defense-investigators/ 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

Today, Hunter was joined by Dujuan "Zoe" Kennedy of Force Detroit a Community Violence Intervention organization in Detroit. For decades, Detroit was known around the country for being the poster child for the decaying state of U.S. manufacturing. With this reputation as a decaying city came a reputation for high rates of violent crime, but over the past few years, Detroit has seen some of the lowest rates of homicides, gun crimes, and violent crimes it has in 60 years. Zoe joins the podcast to explain how through community interventions, and not policing, the city has provided a model for alternative solutions to violence. Guest Dujuan "Zoe" Kennedy, Executive Director, Force Detroit, Michigan Resources: Force Detroit https://forcedetroit.org/ More About Zoe https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/man-convicted-of-murder-turns-his-life-around-to-stop-violence-in-the-community/ https://www.instagram.com/dujuanzoe/ More About Remarkable Crime Rate Reductions in Detroit https://detroitmi.gov/news/detroit-partnerships-result-another-historic-drop-violent-crime-2024-fewest-homicides-1965-shootings https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/detroit-reports-historic-drop-in-violent-crime-2024/ https://detroitmi.gov/news/detroit-ends-2023-fewest-homicides-57-years-double-digit-drops-shootings-and-carjackings-thanks-dpd https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/detroit-homicide-drop-2024-1.7423641 https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/khalil-alhajal/2025/01/22/detroit-murder-rate-violent-crime-lansing-neighborhoods/77587006007/ 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