Today, Hunter is joined by Hannah Van De Car to discuss the recent “tough on crime” policies that Louisiana Jeff Landry is pursuing in the Youth Justice space. From a repeal of raise the age to increased future punishment for children in possession of firearms, Governor Landry is taking an already punitive state and making it into one of the most pro carceral places on Earth. Guests: Hannah Van De Car, Deputy Legal Director, Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights Resources: Contact Hannah https:...
Oct 23, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 290
Today, Hunter is joined once again by Derwyn Bunton. The last time Derwyn was on the show, he was the chief Public Defender in the Orleans Parish of Louisiana, but he is now the Chief Legal Officer at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Today, Derwyn joined the show to discuss what has been happening with Louisiana’s Public Defender system. Specifically, Derwyn is here to discuss the consolidation of power into the hands of Remy Starns and the policies Remy is pursuing with his new found power. Gue...
Oct 22, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 289
Today, Hunter is joined by Pam Vickrey, Executive Director of the Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys to discuss a recent report, conducted in partnership with the Gault Center, about the problems and promises of Youth Defense in Utah. Guests: Pam Vickrey, Executive Director, Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys Resources: Read the Report Here https://www.defendyouthrights.org/wp-content/uploads/Utah-Assessment-Report.pdf Check out More of the Gault Center’s Work https://www.defendyouthrights.org/ Utah...
Oct 17, 2024•59 min•Ep. 288
Today, Hunter is joined by journalist Katey Rusch to discuss her recent bombshell reporting on California law enforcement agencies use of “clean record” agreements to keep police misconduct from defense lawyers, the public, and even other law enforcement agencies. Guests: Katey Rusch, Reporter, California Resources: Contact Katey https://journalism.berkeley.edu/person/katey-rusch/ katey.rusch@gmail.com https://x.com/KateyRusch https://www.facebook.com/kateyrusch/ Read the Reporting Here: https:/...
Oct 16, 2024•58 min
Today, Hunter is joined by Paul Bowen and Jacqueline van Wormer Ph.D. to discuss the juvenile treatment courts that they have helped set up around the country. As has been the case on previous episodes about youth defense, today we discuss both the politics and science behind ensuring that courts are considering the unique needs of the youth being processed through them. Guests: Paul Bowen, Project Director, Treatment Court Institute, All Rise Jacquline van Wormer Ph.D., Director, Center for Adv...
Oct 15, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 286
Today, Hunter is joined by civil litigator Park Stinar to discuss his work in suing people and organizations who have sexually violated his clients. Through his career, Parker has pursued justice against Larry Nassar and Michigan State, the Catholic Church, Juvenile Detention Facilities, and the University of Michigan because of their role in the sexual assault of his clients. While not a normal episode for the show, today we ask a vitally important question: If our criminal legal system is oper...
Oct 10, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 285
Today, Hunter is joined once again by Leah Nelson, and this time, she is joined by Judge Stepehen Wallace. On today’s episode, Leah and Judge Wallace are her to unveil their years long research into the fines and fees that the Jefferson County, Alabama Courts are extracting from criminal defendants. As will surprise no one who listens to the show, the fines and fees program fails the accused, fails victims, fails to fund the legal system, and thus, fails the entire state of Alabama. Guests: Leah...
Oct 09, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 284
Today, Hunter is joined by two people who’s work attempts to bring people together to heal after a wrongful conviction. Jennifer Thompson, Founder of Healing Justice, and Professor Jamie Lau from Duke University join the show to discuss how they help the wrongfully convicted, the victims in a wrongful conviction, the families of both, and the communities they are from come together to talk and hopefully heal from the bomb that is a wrongful conviction Guests: Jennifer Thompson, Founder, Healing ...
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 283
Today, Hunter is joined by former Public Defender and current Senior Advisor to District Attorney Larry Krasner, Matthew Stiegler. After Tuesday’s episode, we saw the promise and limitations of Public Defenders holding police accountable, and today, we examine those same promises and limitations for criminal legal reforms that progressive prosecution offers. Guests: Matthew Stiegler, Senior Advisor to District Attorney Larry Krasner, Philadelphia Resources: Follow Matthew on Twitter https://x.co...
Oct 03, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 282
Today, Hunter is joined by two Philly Public Defenders, Michael Mellon and Paula Sen, to discuss how their work with the Philly Public Defender Police Accountability Unit helped to uncover a systemic pattern and practice of lies and illegal use of surveillance cameras. Guests: Paula Sen, Assistant Public Defender, Defender Association of Philadelphia Michael Mellon, Assistant Public Defender, Defender Association of Philadelphia Resources: Reporting on the Illegal use of Surveillance Cameras htt...
Oct 01, 2024•1 hr 12 min
Today, Hunter is joined by Stanislaus County Chief Public Defender, Jennifer Jennison. In the past year, Jennifer has been confronted with the most challenging question a Chief can face: Should I refuse to take on new cases because the current workload that my attorneys have is unethically high? Today’s episode attempts to understand that historical and current conditions that lead Jennifer to make this difficult decision. Guests: Jennifer Jennison, Chief Public Defender, Stanislaus County, Cali...
Sep 26, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 280
Today, Hunter is joined once again by Jessica Brand and Adrienne Johnson of the Wren Collective. This time, Jessica and Adrienne join to discuss their recent report about the failings of Public Defense in Nueces County, Texas. Guests: Jessica Brand, Founder, Wren Collective Adrienne Johnson, Senior Counsel, Wren Collective Resources: Wren Collective Website https://www.wrencollective.org/ Wren Collective Report https://www.wrencollective.orgfiles/ugd/8fe8f057ace02e045642318ef78fa366f9c32d.pdf Co...
Sep 24, 2024•1 hr
Today, Hunter is joined by former whistleblower Brittany Iriart and Civil Rights Attorney Andy McNulty to discuss a scandalous coverup with the Denver Sheriffs Department. When she moved to a civilian oversight position with the Denver Sheriff, Brittany hoped to bring some much needed accountability to a department with a history of burying misconduct. Unfortunately, the incremental changes around the edges did little to reign in a department that viewed itself above the law. Guests: Brittany Ir...
Sep 19, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Today, Hunter is joined by Colorado Newsline Journalist Chase Woodruff. Over the past several weeks, Aurora, Colorado has been thrust into the national spotlight thanks to right wing media and politicians. Despite their many sensationalist claims, Aurora and the state at large have not in fact been taken over by Venezuelan gangs. Today’s episode is meant to help compile reporting and walk through some of the “evidence” that have been paraded out so that you can have a more informed understanding...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 277
Today, Hunter is joined by Jessica Pishko to discuss her new book The Highest Law in the Land: How the Unchecked Power of Sheriffs Threatens Democracy. So far on the show, Hunter has spent a lot of time discussing the corruption and abuses of police and prosecutors, but the show has not spent much time discussing the issues of sheriffs. Thanks to years of incredible investigative journalism, Jessica provides an in depth and distributing account for how sheriffs around the country are posing a th...
Sep 17, 2024•1 hr 13 min
Today, Hunter is joined by Lisa Wayne, the Executive Director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In this episode, Lisa and Hunter discuss how NACDL is trying to help give Public and Private Defenders the tools, skills, and policies they need to fight for their clients in and out of the court room. Guests: Lisa Wayne, Executive Director, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Resources: Trial Penalty https://www.nacdl.org/Landing/TheTrialPenalty NACDL https://www.n...
Sep 12, 2024•59 min
Today, Hunter is by two Colorado State Public Defenders, James Hardy and Kayleigh TenBarge. When this episode was first recorded, James, Kayleigh, and Hunter were primarily focused on a piece of legislation that the Defenders Union of Colorado attempted and failed to get through the state house. That bill sought to get workload standards in place in Colorado by mid-2025. After recording that segment, an audit of the Colorado State Public Defender dropped, and revealed that at least 46% and maybe...
Sep 10, 2024•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 274
Today, Hunter is joined by Professor Rachel Kincaid to talk about her recent law review article about the junk science excited delirium. Through her research, we can trace how this science steeped in racism has been able to infect the legal system and provide police a shield for their unlawful uses of force. Guests: Rachel Kincaid, Professor of Law, Baylor University Resources: Read Rachel’s Article https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4831202 Professor Kincaid’s Faculty Page http...
Sep 05, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 273
Today, Hunter is joined by our first North Carolina Public Defender, Beth Stang. Today, we will be discussing all that is going right, going wrong, and what the future holds for Public Defense in Beth’s office that covers Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk counties. Guests: Beth Stang, Chief Public Defender, Henderson, Transylvania, and Polk County, North Carolina Resources: Email Beth beth.w.stang@nccourts.org Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcas...
Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 272
Today, Hunter is joined once again by Alex Kornya to discuss the intersection between the criminal and civil legal systems. Last time, Alex detailed how fines and fees abuse people in the criminal and civil legal systems, and today, Alex joins us to discuss crime nuisance ordinances and “Crime Free” Housing programs. Guests: Alex Kornya, Litigation Director and General Counsel, Iowa Legal Aid Resources: 2020 story from the Atlantic about this issue and some history: https://www.theatlantic.com/p...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 271
Today, Hunter is joined by journalist Jeremiah Hayden. Over the past several months, Jeremiah has been covering the reality for homeless people in Grants Pass, Oregon. If you are familiar with that town, it is likely because it was the town at the center of the recent Supreme Court case saying it was okay to criminalize homeless people. Instead of diving into the decision, Jeremiah is here to help people understand what it was like for a homeless person living in the town and what will happen no...
Aug 29, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 270
Today, Hunter is joined once again by Alexandra Bailey, senior campaign strategist with the Sentencing Project, to discuss how her and a coalition of amazing activists were able to get a Domestic Violence Survivor Justice Act passed in Oklahoma. Guests: Alexandra Bailey, Senior Campaign Strategist, The Sentencing Project Resources: OK Survivor Justice Coalition https://oksurvivorjusticecoalition.org/legislation Sentencing Project https://www.sentencingproject.org/ Email Alexandra abailey@sentenc...
Aug 28, 2024•1 hr 8 min
Today, Hunter is joined once again by Ricardo Garcia and joining the show for the first time Marcus Huntley. On today’s show, Ricardo and Marcus detail how they were able to get a mobile court established in Los Angeles that brings court to a location that is easier for their clients to access. Guests: Ricardo Garcia, Chief Public Defender, Los Angeles Public Defender Marcus Huntley, Head Deputy of Collaborative & Restorative Justice, Los Angeles Public Defender Resources: Email Marcus MHunt...
Aug 27, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 268
Today, Hunter is joined by Erica Nichols Cook, an Iowa State Public Defender and Director of the Iowa State Public Defense Wrongful Conviction Unit. On today’s episode, we are discussing the case of Mr. Bill Beeman, a client of Erica’s. In this case you will hear about a shoddy investigation, Brady violations, ineffective assistance of counsel, and the destruction of evidence that would exonerate Mr. Beeman. Guests: Erica Nichols Cook, Director Wrongful Conviction Unit, Iowa Public Defender Reso...
Aug 22, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 267
Today, Hunter is joined by Kathrina “Kasia” Szymborski Wolfkot from the Brennan Center for Justice. On today’s episode, Hunter and Kasia explore a rare area for hope on the show: State Courts. While much of the focus of teaching and discussion about our legal system starts and ends with the Supreme Court, state courts offer a path to meaningful, major changes to our criminal and constitutional legal systems. Guests: Kathrina (Kasia) Szymborski Wolfkot, Senior Counsel, Brenan Center for Justice, ...
Aug 20, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 266
Today, Hunter is joined by the Sixth Amendment Center’s Deputy Director Aditi Goel. This time, Hunter and Aditi the Sixth Amendment Center’s newest report on the state of Public Defense on the island of Guam. Relative to Public Defense systems in the continental United States, Guam’s Public Defender system is in its infancy, but the problems are familiar. Lack of independence, lack of lawyers, and an Attorney General who thinks better Public Defense=more crime all create a system that is in desp...
Aug 15, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 265
Today, Hunter is joined by professor Samantha Simon, an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Arizona. This episode is a deep dive into Professor Simon’s book, Before the Badge: How the Academy Training Shapes Police Violence. In it, Professor Simon embed herself into various police academy training programs to try and understand how police academies select, train, and prepare the next generation of police officers. Through her work, we gain an excellent insight into the challeng...
Aug 13, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 264
Today, Hunter is joined by Jim Billings, the Executive Director of the Maine Commission on Public Defense Services. At the very start of the show, Hunter spoke with then Executive Director of the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services, Justin Andrus, to discuss the problems facing Maine Public Defense. As a reminder, Maine was the only state that relied 100% on contract lawyers and no full time public defense offices. Since then, the crisis has only worsened. There are hundreds of people cu...
Aug 08, 2024•1 hr 1 min
Today, Hunter is joined by University of Utah law Professor, Matthew Tokson, to discuss his most recent law review article The Reality of the Good Faith Exception . For those unfamiliar with it, the good faith exception is a way that the courts have side stepped unconstitutional actions by police and prosecutors. Specifically, if a cop executes a search, but it later turns out that it was based on an illegal warrant, that will not matter so long as the officer acted in good faith. How can we so ...
Aug 06, 2024•59 min•Ep. 262
Today, Hunter spoke once again with Radley Balko, a long-time investigative journalist, to discus his most recent reporting on public defense in Florida and Georgia. As has been discussed on the show previously, both states are struggling to meet the promises of Gideon. For Florida, the state has continued to move in a “tough on crime” direction and seems fine with leaving public defense ill equipped to handle the cases. In Georgia, the lack of independence leaves the system unable to properly a...
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 261
