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On this episode, three members of the Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS) Union in Detroit join Hunter: Dan Eichinger, Megan Gokey and Joe McGuire. The last time NDS Union members came on the show, in Ep. 503, they explained why they were on strike. After winning a new, fair contract, these three detail how two judges tried, and failed, to hold them in contempt for missing court while on strike. Guests: Dan Eichinger, Staff Attorney, NDS Detroit Megan Gokey, Staff Attorney, NDS Detroit Joe McGuire, Staff Attorney, NDS Detroit Resources: Learn more about the union: https://www.instagram.com/ndsunion/  Learn more about the contempt proceedings: https://michiganadvance.com/2026/09/01/public-defenders-accuse-two-detroit-judges-of-attempting-to-break-their-strike/  https://uaw.org/statement-on-wayne-county-judges-hollow-contempt-claims-against-striking-public-defenders-by-uaw-president-shawn-fain/  Related episodes: Ep. 503, on why NDS Union members went on strike: https://www.publicdefenseless.com/episodes/503-the-nds-union-went-on-strike-update-and-they-won  Ep. 150, NDS Detroit Union members on what it takes to fix public defense in Detroit: https://www.publicdefenseless.com/episodes/150-to-fix-detroit-public-defense-there-must-be-a-fair-contract-for-the-neighborhood-defender-services-of-detroit  Ep. 78, David Carroll on public defense in Oakland County, Michigan, and New Hampshire: https://www.publicdefenseless.com/episodes/78-whats-plaguing-public-defense-in-oakland-county-michigan-and-new-hampshire  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: [email protected]  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.

On this episode, Hunter spoke with law professor Samantha Barbas about her book "Hate Speech: The Legal and Cultural History of an American Dilemma." In the book, Samantha walks readers through the legal and cultural fights around hate speech. Since the early 20th century, Americans have struggled to define and combat hate speech. Through her historical dive into this controversial topic, Samantha provides key insights into modern-day fights about censorship. Guest: Samantha Barbas, Professor of Law and Aliber Family Chair, University of Iowa College of Law; Author, "Hate Speech: The Legal and Cultural History of an American Dilemma" Resources: Contact Samantha Here: https://law.uiowa.edu/people/samantha-barbas  Pick up a Copy of the Book Here: https://www.ucpress.edu/books/hate-speech/hardcover  Also on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0520401964  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: [email protected] 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.

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: [email protected]    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.

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: https://www.publicdefenseless.com  Contact the show: [email protected]    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.

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: [email protected]    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.

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: 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: [email protected]  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.

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: [email protected]  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.

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: [email protected]  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.

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: [email protected]  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.

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: [email protected]    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.

On this episode, Hunter is joined once again by Kyle Giddings, the Deputy Director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and the Campaign Chair for Vote no on 132. These two sat down to discuss the Colorado Ballot Initiative, Prop 132, another attempt by the Colorado Conservative dark money group, Advance Colorado, to restart the war on drugs. Guest: Kyle Giddings, the Deputy Director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition and the Campaign Chair for Vote no on 132, Colorado Resource: Learn More about Prop 132: https://noon132.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=24337605029&gbraid=0AAAABE7pyO0T69Hy4YQZljkynzrlV47kC&gclid=CjwKCAjwrbfWBhAeEiwAc2e6PhFJoWANSo08mY0SACwL77PJbarugzIUGIfmWL7MdWwyezCRifv-ZxoCM7IQAvD_BwE    Learn More about Advance Colorado: https://www.whoisadvancecolorado.org/ https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/10/11/the-most-influential-republican-in-the-state-doesnt-hold-office-6/ https://www.denverpost.com/2026/10/08/advance-colorado-ballot-measures-election-2026/ https://coloradonewsline.com/2026/09/17/warp-democracy-in-colorado/     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: [email protected]    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.

On this episode, Hunter was joined once again by Professor Jacob Charles. Last time Jacob was on the show, he and Hunter discussed the groundbreaking Second Amendment cases of Bruen and Rahimi. This time, Jacob sat down to examine the two newest Supreme Court Second Amendment Cases Wolford and Hemani and detail what these cases could mean for criminal defense lawyers. Guest: Jacob Charles, Professor of Law, Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law Resource: Contact Jacob Here https://law.pepperdine.edu/faculty-research/jacob-charles/ https://bsky.app/profile/jacobdcharles.bsky.social Read the Cases Here Hemani https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1234_g2bh.pdf Wolford https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1046_nmio.pdf   Public Defenders of D.C. Filings https://efile.dcappeals.gov/public/caseView.do?csIID=67629&utm https://www.dccourts.gov/sites/default/files/oral-arguments/Amicus%20Curiae%20Brief%2023-CF-514.pdf     Contact Hunter Parnell:      Contact Hunter Parnell:  [email protected]  Instagram: @PublicDefenselessPodcast  YouTube: @publicdefenselesspodcast  Facebook: Public Defenseless Podcast  Bluesky: @pdefenselesspod.bsky.social  Twitter: @PDefenselessPod  Website: www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon: www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe: https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN Trying to find a specific part of an episode? Use this link to search transcripts of every episode of the show! https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home *** ALL OPINONS SHARED BY HOST HUNTER PARNELL DO NOT REFLECT THE THOUGHTS OR OPINIONS OF THE AURORA MUNICIPAL PUBLIC DEFENDER***

On this episode, Hunter is joined once again by Matthew Guariglia. At his work at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Matthew has become one of the leading voices sounding the alarms about the proliferation of mass surveillance technology. Now, Matthew is here to discuss a new, frightening technology that may be coming to a neighborhood near you: Armed Autonomous Drones.   Guest: Matthew Guariglia, Senior Policy Analyst, Electronic Frontier Foundation   Resource: Follow Matthew's Work Here: https://www.eff.org/about/staff/dr-matthew-guariglia-0 https://www.matthewguariglia.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/mguariglia.bsky.social Read More About the Drones Here: https://www.404media.co/new-orleans-cops-published-policy-document-allowing-weaponized-drones/ 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: [email protected]    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.

On this episode, Hunter is joined by Professor Stuart Schrader to discuss his book Blue Power: How Police Organized to Protect and Serve Themselves. In his book, Stuart walks readers through the long history of how police departments around the country organized themselves to create some of the most influential organizations in all of American politics.   Guest: Stuart Schrader, Associate Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University Resource: Pick up a Copy of the Book Here: https://shorturl.at/O0yaq Follow Stuart Here: https://bsky.app/profile/stschrader1.bsky.social https://soc.jhu.edu/directory/stuart-schrader/   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: [email protected]    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.

On this episode, Hunter speaks once again with Professor Eric Fish about a law review article he published about our immigration system. Since it was implemented in 1996, expedited removal has become the number one tool for deportations in America. However, Eric is here to explain how the whole system might be unconstitutional and ripe for challenge.   Guest: Eric Fish, Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law   Resource: Read Eric's Article Here https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6568060   Contact Eric https://law.ucdavis.edu/people/eric-fish Show note: Hunter mentions a U.S. citizen deported to Mexico after agents refused to let him get his birth certificate. That's Brian José Morales García, born in Denver and deported in April 2026 after a traffic stop in Texas. He returned to the United States on Aug. 30, 2026, after the federal government reached an agreement with his lawyers in his lawsuit. Read the Texas Tribune's reporting: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/04/23/texas-united-states-citizen-deported-ice-detention-brian-morales/ https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/30/texas-us-citizen-deported-central-texas-returns-america/ 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: [email protected]    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.