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Public Defenseless: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Hunter Parnell
Anyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system is perpetuating cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people simply trying to get through another day. Public Defenseless explores the rot in the justice system and what we can do about it. Join host, Hunter Parnell, as he interviews top defense attorneys and criminal justice stakeholders from across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system. Like so many of you, Hunter is not an attorney, simply tired of a news cycle and talking heads that offer no real solutions to the ever-growing list of problems we face. Hunter hopes that with this information, you will share his belief that ordinary people still can make a difference.
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- Today1h 3m
488 | How Public Defenders Can Fight for Our Clients and for Funding by Engaging with the Media w/Maggie Shepard and Bob McGovern
Today, Hunter was joined by Maggie Shepard and Bob McGovern. Bob and Maggie serve as communications directors for Public Defender agencies, and they joined to discuss how they are helping Public Defenders better engage with the media. Guest: Maggie Shepard, Director of Communications, Law Offices of the Public Defender, New Mexico Bob McGovern, Director of Communications and Special Counsel, Committee for Public Counsel Services, Massachusetts Resource: New Mexico LOPD https://www.lopdnm.us/offices/ CPCS https://www.publiccounsel.net/ Contact Maggie and Bob rmcgovern@publiccounsel.net maggie.shepard@lopdnm.us Contact Hunter Parnell: <span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast
- 5 days ago1h 9m
487 | Iowa Public Defender Secured a Major Victory for Workload Controls, but will New Tough on Crime Policies Send the System into a Crisis? w/Eric Tindal
Today, Hunter was joined once again by Eric Tindal, a criminal defense lawyer in Iowa. He joined to explain issues Public Defenders in Iowa are facing. While the contract system is on the verge of breaking, the Public Defenders secured a major win for the right to stand up against excessive workloads. With the challenges the system faces, the two discuss if new tough on crime polices will be the straw that breaks the camels back? Guest: Eric Tindal, Criminal Defense Lawyer, Iowa Resource: Contact Eric eric@keeganlegal.com Read about the Supreme Court Case Here https://www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/24301/embed/SupremeCourtOpinion Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast <span style= "font-siz
- 1 weeks ago1h 10m
486 | How to Ensure Local Governments Cannot Cooperate with Federal Immigration Enforcement w/Alex Kornya
Today, Hunter was joined once again by Alex Kornya. In this episode, Alex and Hunter discuss a range of topics including court fines and fees in Iowa and how to pass policies that stop local governments from co-operating with federal immigration enforcement. Guest: Alex Kornya, Litigation Director, Legal Aid Justice Center, Virginia Resource: No Immigration Fines https://noimmigrationfines.org/ Legal Aid Justice Center https://www.justice4all.org/ Ability to Pay Calculator https://abilitytopay.org/interview?i=docassemble.ATPCalculator:data/questions/ATP.yml#page1 Contact Hunter Parnell: <a hr
- 1 weeks ago59 min
485 | Will Utah Force Homeless People to Move to a Camp Outside of Salt Lake City? w/Nate Crippes
Today, Hunter was joined by Nate Crippes of the Disability Law Center in Utah. Nate joined to discuss the proposed 1,300 bed homeless camp that might be built outside of Salt Lake City. Hunter and Nate discussed why this is happening, the danger it poses to the homeless community of Salt Lake City, and what Public Defenders can do to better represent those who are homeless or who have disabilities. Guest: Nate Crippes, Public Affairs Supervising Attorney, Disability Law Center, Salt Lake City, Utah Resource: DLC Website https://disabilitylawcenter.org/ Learn More About the Camp Here https://utahnewsdispatch.com/2025/09/03/utah-homeless-campus-site-unveiled-after-secretive-search/ https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/us/politics/utah-homeless-camp-stalls.html https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/us/politics/utah-trump-homeless-campus.html https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/11/19/massive-slc-homeless-shelter-plan/ <p class="M
- 2 weeks ago57 min
484 | How the Hamilton County, Ohio Public Defenders are Holding Police and Prosecutors Accountable w/Angela Chang and Sean Vicente
Today, Hunter was joined by Angela Chang and Sean Vicente of the Hamilton County, Ohio Public Defender Office. They joined the show to explain how they, along with their community, are fighting to hold police and prosecutors accountable for their unethical and illegal actions. Guest: Angela Chang, Youth Defense Director, Hamilton County Public Defender, Ohio Sean Vicente, Municipal Director, Hamilton County Public Defender, Ohio Resource: Contact the PDs https://www.hamiltoncountypd.org/ https://www.instagram.com/hamcopubdef/ https://www.facebook.com/hamcopubdef/ Issues around policing/accountability and intersection with discovery/defense Overview of Cincinnati Collaborative Agreement https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/police/collaborative-agreement-refresh/ <li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-list: l0 level3 lfo1; tab-stops: l
- 2 weeks ago45 min
483 | How Progressive Politics can Abolish ICE and Build a More Humane Immigration System w/Senator Julie Gonzales
Today, Hunter was joined by Colorado State Senator Julie Gonzales. Senator Gonzales was instrumental in shaping Colorado's progressive immigration policies. She is running against Senator John Hickenlooper in the Democratic primary for Colorado's Senate seat. Julie hopes that she will be able to bring her progressive politics to D.C. so she can challenge the status quo. Guest: Julie Gonzales, Colorado State Senator and Candidate for U.S. Senate Resource: Julie Gonzales Campaign Website: https://www.julieforcolorado.com/ Julie Gonzales on Socials: https://www.instagram.com/senadorajulie https://www.facebook.com/senadorajulie https://bsky.app/profile/senadorajulie.bsky.social https://x.com/SenadoraJulie Cato Institute Immigration Data: https://www.cato.org/immigration
- 2 weeks ago1h 3m
482 | What Does the Colorado Public Defender Get Wrong About Legal Ethics Related to Workload? w/Jim Castle
Today, Hunter was joined by long time criminal defense lawyer Jim Castle. Jim is here to help people understand the legal ethics related to workload limits and to explain where the Office of the State Public Defender gets these ethics wrong. Guest: Jim Castle, Criminal Defense Lawyer, Colorado Resource: Google Drive with Relevant Documents https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NVuuL9L6BUH8xBggXKnUMvsqJvSygk38?usp=drive_link Link to ABA Formal Opinion 06-441 https://www.in.gov/ccaa/files/ABA.Ethics06-441.pdf Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram <span lang="EN-GB" style= "f
- 2 weeks ago2h 11m
481 | Was a Former Colorado Public Defender Fired for Raising Concerns over his Workload? Part 2 w/Travis Weiner
Today, Hunter was joined once again by Travis Weiner, the former Colorado Public Defender who is suing the Colorado Public Defender System. On a previous episode, Travis detailed that he sued the state because he believed that OSPD retaliated against him for trying to do something about his unethical workloads. Today, Travis joins to discuss the most recent substantive hearing in his case to discuss the important take aways. Guest: Travis Weiner, Public Defender, New Mexico Resource: Google Drive with Relevant Documents https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NVuuL9L6BUH8xBggXKnUMvsqJvSygk38?usp=drive_link Contact Hunter Parnell: Publicdefenseless@gmail.com Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter <span lang="EN-GB" style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-fami
About Public Defenseless
Anyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system is perpetuating cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people simply trying to get through another day. Public Defenseless explores the rot in the justice system and what we can do about it. Join host, Hunter Parnell, as he interviews top defense attorneys and criminal justice stakeholders from across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system. Like so many of you, Hunter is not an attorney, simply tired of a news cycle and talking heads that offer no real solutions to the ever-growing list of problems we face. Hunter hopes that with this information, you will share his belief that ordinary people still can make a difference.
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