California Public Defenders Association
@calpublicdefenders.bsky.social
CPDA is proud to be the leading professional organization for California's public defenders and criminal defense community.
Reposted by California Public Defenders Association
Another poster portrait commission in the PUBLIC DEFENDER IN ACTION series. This one in San Diego and begging the question, what if we just put all of city center on the cover?
#publicdefenders #comicart #coverart #portrait #commission
#publicdefenders #comicart #coverart #portrait #commission
December 29, 2024 at 1:49 AM
Another poster portrait commission in the PUBLIC DEFENDER IN ACTION series. This one in San Diego and begging the question, what if we just put all of city center on the cover?
#publicdefenders #comicart #coverart #portrait #commission
#publicdefenders #comicart #coverart #portrait #commission
Reposted by California Public Defenders Association
I was one of the many #PublicDefenders in #Idaho who resigned recently. Idaho’s elected leaders must acknowledge the crisis our public defense system is in and remedy it.
I was one of the many public defenders in Idaho who resigned recently. Here’s why. • Idaho Capital Sun
For the past six years, I worked as a public defender in Ada County, representing people in child protection, misdemeanor and felony cases. Even though the work was often mentally and emotionally…
buff.ly
April 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I was one of the many #PublicDefenders in #Idaho who resigned recently. Idaho’s elected leaders must acknowledge the crisis our public defense system is in and remedy it.
Reposted by California Public Defenders Association
@npr.org had some good episodes for #GreySky last week. #DisasterScience #NewOrleans #PublicDefenders #Systems #Podcasts #ConsiderThis
Hurricane Katrina helped change New Orleans' public defender system : Consider This from NPR
In 2006, Ari Shapiro reported on how Hurricane Katrina made an already broken public defender system in New Orleans worse. The court system collapsed in the aftermath of the storm.Katrina caused horri...
www.npr.org
August 11, 2025 at 3:52 AM
@npr.org had some good episodes for #GreySky last week. #DisasterScience #NewOrleans #PublicDefenders #Systems #Podcasts #ConsiderThis
Reposted by California Public Defenders Association
This week’s Member Spotlight is on Landon Davis, Deputy Public Defender with the San Francisco Public Defender's Office.
“I entered this profession to give voice to those who are too often unheard,” says Davis, who has been a public defender for 15 years.
Read more here: bit.ly/4p5gDd3
“I entered this profession to give voice to those who are too often unheard,” says Davis, who has been a public defender for 15 years.
Read more here: bit.ly/4p5gDd3
November 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
This week’s Member Spotlight is on Landon Davis, Deputy Public Defender with the San Francisco Public Defender's Office.
“I entered this profession to give voice to those who are too often unheard,” says Davis, who has been a public defender for 15 years.
Read more here: bit.ly/4p5gDd3
“I entered this profession to give voice to those who are too often unheard,” says Davis, who has been a public defender for 15 years.
Read more here: bit.ly/4p5gDd3
CPDA Executive Director Kate Chatfield was quoted in The New York Times discussing the ramifications of prosecutors using AI in their briefing to courts. CPDA sponsored SB 54, which requires police to disclose if they used AI in their police reports.
Read more: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Read more: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
November 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
CPDA Executive Director Kate Chatfield was quoted in The New York Times discussing the ramifications of prosecutors using AI in their briefing to courts. CPDA sponsored SB 54, which requires police to disclose if they used AI in their police reports.
Read more: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Read more: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
CPDA was quoted in an article by Cap Radio on opposing the passage of AB 383. The law restricts juveniles that have been adjudicated for certain offenses from owning firearms until they are at least 25 years old.
Read more here: www.capradio.org/articles/202...
Read more here: www.capradio.org/articles/202...
November 24, 2025 at 10:34 PM
CPDA was quoted in an article by Cap Radio on opposing the passage of AB 383. The law restricts juveniles that have been adjudicated for certain offenses from owning firearms until they are at least 25 years old.
Read more here: www.capradio.org/articles/202...
Read more here: www.capradio.org/articles/202...
LA County Public Defender and CPDA member Ricardo Garcia was quoted by Daily Journal – Cal Lawyer about the LA Alternate Public Defender's office’s decision to decline 80+ homicide cases over the past several months, owing to both lack of staff + funding.
Link: dailyjournal.com/article/3884...
Link: dailyjournal.com/article/3884...
November 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
LA County Public Defender and CPDA member Ricardo Garcia was quoted by Daily Journal – Cal Lawyer about the LA Alternate Public Defender's office’s decision to decline 80+ homicide cases over the past several months, owing to both lack of staff + funding.
Link: dailyjournal.com/article/3884...
Link: dailyjournal.com/article/3884...
Welcome to the next installment of our CPDA series “What is a public defender?” This week’s question we are answering is “Who pays public defenders?”
Submit your questions to cpda@cpda.org, and we’ll return soon with a new question!
Submit your questions to cpda@cpda.org, and we’ll return soon with a new question!
November 21, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Welcome to the next installment of our CPDA series “What is a public defender?” This week’s question we are answering is “Who pays public defenders?”
Submit your questions to cpda@cpda.org, and we’ll return soon with a new question!
Submit your questions to cpda@cpda.org, and we’ll return soon with a new question!
This week's CPDA Member Spotlight is on Hien N. Nguyen, Assistant Public Defender in the Alameda County Public Defender's Office. “I became a public defender to help and stand with people in need,” he says. Read more here: shorturl.at/P6oBv
November 19, 2025 at 6:28 PM
This week's CPDA Member Spotlight is on Hien N. Nguyen, Assistant Public Defender in the Alameda County Public Defender's Office. “I became a public defender to help and stand with people in need,” he says. Read more here: shorturl.at/P6oBv
Reposted by California Public Defenders Association
This November 2025, our office will be providing services at various locations around LA County!
For more information click the link in our bio 🔗
For more information click the link in our bio 🔗
November 1, 2025 at 5:46 PM
This November 2025, our office will be providing services at various locations around LA County!
For more information click the link in our bio 🔗
For more information click the link in our bio 🔗
Reposted by California Public Defenders Association
Recently on NPR, the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office was highlighted for its groundbreaking Neurocognitive Disorders Team — one of the only units of its kind in the nation. Our NDT team works with clients whose cognitive disabilities have gone unidentified for most of their lives.
November 17, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Recently on NPR, the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office was highlighted for its groundbreaking Neurocognitive Disorders Team — one of the only units of its kind in the nation. Our NDT team works with clients whose cognitive disabilities have gone unidentified for most of their lives.
On the week of December 9, CPDA is hosting the online training, “2026 New Statutes and Practice Updates.” It will take place Mon-Tues. December 9-10 and Thurs-Fri. December 12-13. There will be no training on Wednesday December 11. For more info and to register, visit www.cpda.org/upcoming-tra...
November 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
On the week of December 9, CPDA is hosting the online training, “2026 New Statutes and Practice Updates.” It will take place Mon-Tues. December 9-10 and Thurs-Fri. December 12-13. There will be no training on Wednesday December 11. For more info and to register, visit www.cpda.org/upcoming-tra...
CPDA executive director Kate Chatfield spoke to the San Luis Obispo tribune about SLO District Attorney Dan Dow’s racist statements and behavior, following the statement we issued yesterday on this matter.
Read more: www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/a...
Read more: www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/a...
November 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
CPDA executive director Kate Chatfield spoke to the San Luis Obispo tribune about SLO District Attorney Dan Dow’s racist statements and behavior, following the statement we issued yesterday on this matter.
Read more: www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/a...
Read more: www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/a...
LA County Public Defender and CPDA Member Noah Cox and Los Angeles Chief Public Defender and CPDA Board Member Ricardo Garcia were profiled in an NPR story on creating a neurocognitive disorder team in their office.
Read more: www.npr.org/2025/11/01/n...
Read more: www.npr.org/2025/11/01/n...
November 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM
LA County Public Defender and CPDA Member Noah Cox and Los Angeles Chief Public Defender and CPDA Board Member Ricardo Garcia were profiled in an NPR story on creating a neurocognitive disorder team in their office.
Read more: www.npr.org/2025/11/01/n...
Read more: www.npr.org/2025/11/01/n...
Statement from CPDA Condemning Racist Statements From San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow - Nov. 13, 2025:
November 13, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Statement from CPDA Condemning Racist Statements From San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow - Nov. 13, 2025:
CPDA Executive Director Kate Chatfield was quoted in an article by CEB on the passage of AB 572, which calls for officers to inform family members of their loved one’s death or injury by police before interviewing them. Read more: (create account to read in full): research.ceb.com/posts/califo...
November 12, 2025 at 6:21 PM
CPDA Executive Director Kate Chatfield was quoted in an article by CEB on the passage of AB 572, which calls for officers to inform family members of their loved one’s death or injury by police before interviewing them. Read more: (create account to read in full): research.ceb.com/posts/califo...
CPDA is collecting information about arrests in and around state courts by immigration agents. If you have witnessed any action by federal agents in and around state courthouses, please fill out this form.
Form link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Form link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
November 10, 2025 at 9:54 PM
CPDA is collecting information about arrests in and around state courts by immigration agents. If you have witnessed any action by federal agents in and around state courthouses, please fill out this form.
Form link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Form link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
CPDA board president and Yolo County Public Defender Tracie Olson was quoted in a Law 360 article regarding the impacts of the government shutdown for public defenders.
Read more: www.law360.com/articles/240...
Read more: www.law360.com/articles/240...
November 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
CPDA board president and Yolo County Public Defender Tracie Olson was quoted in a Law 360 article regarding the impacts of the government shutdown for public defenders.
Read more: www.law360.com/articles/240...
Read more: www.law360.com/articles/240...
This week's CPDA Member Spotlight is on Janae Torrez, Deputy Public Defender in the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office.
“Every day reminds me that dignity and compassion belong to everyone, and I’m grateful to be part of that fight.”
Read more: shorturl.at/C9dR4
“Every day reminds me that dignity and compassion belong to everyone, and I’m grateful to be part of that fight.”
Read more: shorturl.at/C9dR4
November 5, 2025 at 5:28 PM
This week's CPDA Member Spotlight is on Janae Torrez, Deputy Public Defender in the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office.
“Every day reminds me that dignity and compassion belong to everyone, and I’m grateful to be part of that fight.”
Read more: shorturl.at/C9dR4
“Every day reminds me that dignity and compassion belong to everyone, and I’m grateful to be part of that fight.”
Read more: shorturl.at/C9dR4
CPDA Executive Director Kate Chatfield and Board Member and LA County Chief Public Defender Ricardo Garcia were quoted in a story from the Los Angeles Daily News on the one-year anniversary of Prop. 36 being voted into law.
Read more here:
www.dailynews.com/2025/11/02/p...
Read more here:
www.dailynews.com/2025/11/02/p...
November 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
CPDA Executive Director Kate Chatfield and Board Member and LA County Chief Public Defender Ricardo Garcia were quoted in a story from the Los Angeles Daily News on the one-year anniversary of Prop. 36 being voted into law.
Read more here:
www.dailynews.com/2025/11/02/p...
Read more here:
www.dailynews.com/2025/11/02/p...
Latest statement from CPDA: One Year After Prop. 36 Passes, Incarceration is Increasing, Treatment is Not.
November 3, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Latest statement from CPDA: One Year After Prop. 36 Passes, Incarceration is Increasing, Treatment is Not.
Thanks to everyone who came to the Mental Health + Civil Commitment Practice Seminar! We had a great day of learning about the intersection of criminal law + mental health systems. There's still time to register for the Felony Trial Practice Seminar, happening Nov. 7-8 in Yosemite: shorturl.at/adXKd
October 31, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Thanks to everyone who came to the Mental Health + Civil Commitment Practice Seminar! We had a great day of learning about the intersection of criminal law + mental health systems. There's still time to register for the Felony Trial Practice Seminar, happening Nov. 7-8 in Yosemite: shorturl.at/adXKd
"Opponents, including the California Public Defenders Association, worry that will allow cities to tow too broadly, and remove much-needed shelter from California’s homeless population."
New enforcement targets people living in cars, RVs on California streets - Santa Monica Daily Press
For months, cities around the state have ramped up enforcement against people sleeping in tents on the street. Now, some are focusing on a new target: People who live in vehicles. Wayne Gardiner, 58, ...
smdp.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:03 PM
"Opponents, including the California Public Defenders Association, worry that will allow cities to tow too broadly, and remove much-needed shelter from California’s homeless population."
Latest Statement From CPDA Denouncing the Federal Funding Lapse Harming Indigent Defense:
October 30, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Latest Statement From CPDA Denouncing the Federal Funding Lapse Harming Indigent Defense: