SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the San Francisco Superior Court dismissed 69 misdemeanor cases against SF Public Defender clients, after an appellate court ruled last month that the Superior Court had unlawfully delayed a misdemeanor trial for over a year using COVID-19 as an excuse. The appellate court ruling had signaled that many other misdemeanor cases...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 12, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS STATEMENT** SF Public Defenders Say Charges Against Bridge Protesters Should be Dropped SAN FRANCISCO – On Saturday, August 10, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced multiple charges against 26 protesters who were demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to military aid to the...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 8, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: Jessie Seyfer, public relations officer | (628) 271-9800 | San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Man Wrongly Accused of Purposely Running Over Friend’s Foot SAN FRANCISCO — On July 31, a San Francisco jury acquitted Anthony Sonnier, 55, of felony assault charges...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 6, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** Charges Dismissed Against Black Crime Victim Who Was Wrongfully Charged and Jailed After MUNI Altercation (Please note photos below that corroborate our client’s account) SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco man spent two weeks in jail after being falsely...Read More
ICE’s action comes as people inside and outside detention protest worsening conditions at California facilities FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2024PRESS CONTACT: Jessie Seyfer, public relations officer | (628) 271-9800 | San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** Detained Individuals, Immigrant Advocates Condemn ICE Ending Free Legal Phone Calls ProgramICE’s action comes as...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2024CONTACT: S.F. Public Defender’s Office | PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** SAN FRANCISCO — Today, San Francisco community leaders held a press conference to denounce recent measures targeting the unhoused individuals. Speakers called for real and sustainable solutions to homelessness, emphasizing that criminalization is neither an effective nor humane approach. They demanded that San Francisco...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2024 CONTACT: S.F. Public Defender’s Office | PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** SF Coalition to End Biased Stops Celebrates ‘Pretext’ Stop Policy Going into Effect, Releases ‘Know Your Rights’ Guide SAN FRANCISCO — The Coalition to End Biased Stops—which includes over 110 traffic safety and civil rights groups that advocated for restricting...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2024PRESS CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** State Appellate Court Orders SF Superior Court to Dismiss Misdemeanor Case Due to Unlawful Trial BacklogFirst Appellate Court decision opens door for dismissal of more than a hundred cases whose trials were unconstitutionally delayed months, years past mandated deadlines...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS STATEMENT** SF Public Defender Applauds Restoration of State’s Public Defender Pilot Program and Urges Permanent Funding SAN FRANCISCO, CA – This week, the California State Legislature and Governor reached an agreement that restores funding to the Public Defender Pilot...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 21, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS STATEMENT** David DePape’s Public Defender Reacts to Verdict in State Case Argues “vindictive prosecution” issue will be looked at going forward SAN FRANCISCO – Today, in the state case against David DePape, a San Francisco jury found DePape guilty of five felonies related to his...Read More
