In May 2025, the Public Defender’s Office alerted the Court that we would be declaring unavailable one day per week in misdemeanor cases and select felony matters. This decision reflected the fact that our caseloads far exceeded those of our peers in the Bay Area as well as prevailing caseload standards from the American Bar...Read More
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, along with Californians for Safety and Justice—co-sponsors of AB 321, the Better Informed Decisions (BID) Act—are celebrating that California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 321 into law on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. This bill, authored by Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank), ensures that judges in the state’s criminal courts have more...Read More
Today, an SF judge ruled that the teen accused of shooting and attempting to rob 49er Ricky Pearsall will remain in juvenile court instead of being transferred to adult court.Read More
Public Defenders tried to get the man into a Mental Health Diversion Program, but the District Attorney’s Office objected. Instead, the case went to trial where a jury fully acquitted him.Read More
Prosecutors tried to eke a felony plea out of an unhoused man who defended himself against a drunk security guard who challenged him to an alley fight. Instead, he demanded a trial. Public Defender Tal Klement pushed for a dismissal, and prosecutors finally saw that they had no case.Read More
San Francisco jury verdicts in three cases reveal a troubling pattern: vulnerable San Franciscans are being jailed and prosecuted based on weak or misunderstood evidence, rather than offered help. Juries saw through the flaws in the prosecutions and acquitted individuals who should never have been charged.Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** S.F. Public Defender’s MAGIC Program Hosted its “Summer Kickoff” Bringing Together Youth for Fun, Learning, and Friendship SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office’s MAGIC program hosted its annual Summer Kickoff for local youth summer camps from the Fillmore, Western Addition,...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 3, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** S.F. Man Shot by Police with Projectiles from a ‘Modified Grenade Launcher’ Acquitted of Felony Charges SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco jury has acquitted Bryan Soper, 50, of felony charges that stemmed from SFPD officers’ rush to use force on him. On July...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 11, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** SF Public Defenders Win First Racial Justice Act Motion in San Francisco Judge grants motion finding implicit bias with police officer’s testimony SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco Public Defenders have won the first California Racial Justice Act (RJA) motion in San Francisco since the...Read More
On Feb. 19, 2025, elected San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju gave our office’s annual community budget presentation. PD Raju discussed our office’s critical work defending more than 20,000 indigent clients per year, and our services that strengthen communities. Learn about our budget and priorities for 2025-2026 that will allow us to continue pursuing justice...Read More
