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Public Defenseless: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Hunter Parnell
Public Defenseless explores the rot in the criminal legal system and what we can do about it. Host and public defender Hunter Parnell talks with defense attorneys, advocates, scholars and journalists from across the country as they pull apart the system's convoluted web. Views are the host's and guests' own, not their employers'. Not legal advice.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Today1h 5m
534 | How the Bail Project is Fighting to Abolish Cash Bail and Free People from Pre-Trial Incarceration w/Erin George
On this episode, Hunter talks with Erin George, National Director of Policy at The Bail Project. Few topics in criminal legal policy have drawn more attention in recent years than bail reform. Erin explains what drives the intense, polarizing debates around bail reform and the policy changes we can fight for to eliminate cash bail. Guest: Erin George, National Director of Policy, The Bail Project Resources: Learn more about The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/ https://www.instagram.com/bailproject/ https://www.facebook.com/bailproject/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-49-TzVvamru9KecPuSYKw https://www.tiktok.com/@bailproject https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bail-project/ https://x.com/bailproject Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts:https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links:https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are faci
- Yesterday1h 8m
533 | The Former Public Defenders Trying to Expose the Truth of the Criminal Legal System to the Masses w/Eliza Orlins and Thea Johnson
On this episode, Hunter talks with two former public defenders, Eliza Orlins and Thea Johnson, about their podcast, Criminally Online. From their years as public defenders, Eliza and Thea know the criminal legal system looks very different from the way mass media portrays it. They built Criminally Online to counter the copaganda so prevalent in mainstream media, showing people the reality of the system so that society thinks differently about it. Guests: Eliza Orlins, Co-Host, Criminally Online Thea Johnson, Co-Host, Criminally Online, and Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School Resources: Criminally Online, a Lemonada Media original series: https://link.podtrac.com/crimonline Follow Eliza: https://www.instagram.com/eorlins/ https://elizaorlins.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@eliza.orlins https://www.tiktok.com/@elizaorlins https://www.threads.com/@eorlins https://x.com/elizaorlins Follow Thea: https://www.instagram.com/theabjohnson/ https://bsky.app/profile/theabjohnson.bsky.social https://x.com/TheaBJohnson Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts:https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links:https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: <span lang= "EN-US" style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-langua
- 2 days ago43 min
532 | How American Samoans in Whittier, Alaska, Fought a Prosecution ... and Won w/Alex Burness
On this episode, Hunter welcomes back Alex Burness, staff writer for Bolts. Last time Alex was on the show, he shared the gut-wrenching story of a community of American Samoans living in Whittier, Alaska, facing criminal prosecution for running for local office and voting in elections. Contrary to common belief, people born in American Samoa are U.S. nationals, not citizens, so they can't vote in state or federal elections. Alex is here to discuss how that community fought the prosecutions and won. Guest: Alex Burness, Staff Writer, Bolts Resources: Read Alex's reporting: https://boltsmag.org/prosecuted-for-voting-american-samoans-alaska/ https://boltsmag.org/charges-dropped-against-american-samoans-punished-for-voting-in-alaska/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts:https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links:https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefen
- 1 weeks ago1h 16m
531 | What Does the Los Angeles County Public Defender Union Think of Their New Workload Study? w/Karl Fenske
On this episode, Hunter is joined by Karl Fenske, a long time Los Angeles County Public Defender and lead steward for Local 148. On this episode, Hunter and Karl discuss the union's take on the newest workload study of the Los Angeles Public Defender Office. Guest: Karl Fenske, Lead Steward, Los Angeles County Public Defenders Union, Local 148 and Los Angeles County Deputy Public Defender Resource: Read the Report Here https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA5011-1.html Learn More About the Union Here https://local148.org/ https://www.facebook.com/LApubdefunion https://x.com/LApubdefunion https://bsky.app/profile/lapubdefunion.bsky.social https://www.instagram.com/lapubdefunion Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon:<span lang= "EN-US" style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;
- 1 weeks ago1h 5m
530 | What Will it Take to Abolish the Death Penalty in California w/Diane Lozano
On this episode, Hunter speaks once again with Diane Lozano, the former Chief Public Defender for the State of Wyoming and current Executive Director of Full Picture Justice. In her new role, Diane is focused on helping defenders prepare for capital cases with the hope of abolishing the death penalty around the country. Guest: Diane Lozano, Executive Director, Full Picture Justice Resource: Learn More Here: https://www.fullpicturejustice.org/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.
- 1 weeks ago1h 1m
529 | How Does the Leadership of the Los Angeles County Public Defender Plan to Use Their New Workload Study? w/Ricardo Garcia and Traci Blackburn
On this episode, Hunter is joined once again by Ricardo García and for the first time, Traci Blackburn. On September 10th, 2026, a new workload study of the Los Angeles Public Defender was published by RAND. Ricardo and Traci joined the show to discuss the findings of the study and how leadership plans on using the study to get more funding for the office. Guest: Ricardo García, Los Angeles County Public Defender Traci Blackburn, Assistant Public Defender, Los Angeles County Public Defender Resource: Read the Report Here https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA5011-1.html Learn More About the Office Here https://pubdef.lacounty.gov/ https://www.instagram.com/lapubdef/ https://www.facebook.com/LACOUNTYPD/ https://x.com/lapubdef https://www.linkedin.com/company/lapubdef/home/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.
- 2 weeks ago1h 4m
528 | Will Utah's Tough-on-Crime Policies Force Salt Lake's Public Defenders to Stop Taking New Cases? w/Richard Mauro.
On this episode, Hunter welcomes back Richard Mauro, executive director of the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association. Richard explains how his office built Project Rio, a program that connects people experiencing homelessness with services instead of jail. Richard and Hunter also dig into how state-level criminal justice policy is piling workload pressure onto public defenders, and why that pressure may not be sustainable. Guest: Richard Mauro, Executive Director, Salt Lake Legal Defender Association, Utah Resource: Contact the Office Here:https://www.sllda.com/ Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.
- 2 weeks ago1h 0m
527 | Why it is so Important for Public Defenders to Expand the Right to Counsel to Family Defense w/Kelly Driscoll
On this episode, Hunter speaks with Kelly Driscoll. As the Bureau Chief for the Family Defense Unit of the Montana Public Defender, Kelly is responsible for overseeing the defense of parents and kids in the family legal system. She joins the show to explain how Montana set up this system and why it is so important for Public Defenders to do more than just criminal defense. Guest: Kelly Driscoll, Family Defense Bureau Chief, Montana State Public Defender Resource: Learn More About the Office Here:https://publicdefender.mt.gov/ Case Law on the right to counsel in Family Court in Montana https://civilrighttocounsel.org/major_developments/montana-parents-have-constitutional-right-to-counsel-in-adoptions-says-high-court/ https://civilrighttocounsel.org/uploaded_files/183/4_AWS_Opinion_published.pdf https://www.leagle.com/decision/1993979852p2d1271976 Public Defenseless Links and Contact Get each new episode a day early on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Search past episode transcripts: https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home Follow and support the show, plus all our links: https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com Contact the show: <a href= "mailto:publicdefenseless@gmail.com
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About Public Defenseless
Public Defenseless explores the rot in the criminal legal system and what we can do about it. Host and public defender Hunter Parnell talks with defense attorneys, advocates, scholars and journalists from across the country as they pull apart the system's convoluted web. Views are the host's and guests' own, not their employers'. Not legal advice.
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