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Today, Hunter spoke once again with Rob Poggenklass and Bryan Kennedy from Justice Forward Virginia. Last year, Justice Forward Virginia joined the show to discuss the 2025 criminal justice policies being floated in Virginia. Today, Rob and Bryan are here to discuss what the 2026 legislative session has in store for criminal justice reform in Virginia, and how things might be different now that the Dems control all three branches of government.    Guest Rob Poggenklass, Executive Director, Justice Forward Virginia Bryan Kennedy, Public Defender, Fairfax County, Treasurer, Justice Forward Virginia   Resources: Justice Forward Virginia 2026 Legislative Priorities https://justiceforwardva.com/issues-2  Justice Forward Virginia Socials https://www.facebook.com/JusticeForwardVa https://x.com/justicefwdva  https://www.instagram.com/justicefwdva https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDC0qXV1Mbx27ibJXgy28uQ    Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit https://events.americanbar.org/event/12d07164-1011-4723-9352-e8e3168db945/welcome   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patron 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

Today, Hunter was joined by Stephen Saloom, the Director of Concerts of Indigent Defense. He joined the show to discuss Concerts for Indigent Defense and the share with us the lessons he has learned over a career of advocating for and passing criminal justice reform policies.   Guest: Stephen Saloom, Director, Concert for Indigent Defense   Resources: Learn More About Concerts for Indigent Defense https://concertsforindigentdefense.org/   Sign up for the ABA Public Defender Summit https://events.americanbar.org/event/12d07164-1011-4723-9352-e8e3168db945/welcome     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter was joined by Samantha Pourciau of the Promise of Justice Initiative to discuss litigation they are brining to end the "Farm Line" at Angola State Prison. On previous episodes, the show has explored how Louisiana's mass incarceration system is rooted in the state's slave holding, colonial past. Few practices are more reminiscent of that past than the "farm line." This immoral practice forces men to labor in brutal, dangerous conditions for the sole purpose of sadistic punishment. Samantha joins the show to discuss their upcoming trial that aims to end the practice once and for all.   Guest: Samantha Pourciau, Senior Staff Attorney, Promise of Justice Initiative   Resources: Read the report Punitive by Design: The Farm Line at Louisiana State Penitentiary   More Coverage on the Suit https://promiseofjustice.org/news/incarcerated-farm-line-workers-win-class-certification https://vimeo.com/877204358?fl=pl&fe=sh https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fe0e9cce6e50722511b03cc/t/66fc02c82b34224736f02cf5/1743624596616/2024.09.30+RELEASE+Farm+Line+Class+Cert+Filed.pdf https://www.wwno.org/law/2026-01-13/angola-prison-farm-line-suit-becomes-class-action Read the Complaint https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5fe0e9cce6e50722511b03cc/t/66427a930927131a043029e9/1715632788191/21%2C+2023.12.15+AMENDED+COMPLAINT.pdf Find PJI's Socials https://www.instagram.com/justicespromise/ https://www.facebook.com/promiseofjustice https://www.facebook.com/promiseofjustice https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMj-FFyyoOf-u0WbH-A6AGg https://www.linkedin.com/company/pjinola       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter was joined by Ali Bloomquist and Cherise Fanno Burdeen PhD about their new paper titled "Emotion First Theory & Practice: Emotional Intelligence as Foundational Infrastructure for Equity Practice." In it, Ali and Cherise detail the importance of making the development of Emotional Intelligence as something that public defender systems and organizations need to prioritize. Without a system based approach, public defender's alone cannot be expected to develop the emotional intelligence needed to meet the needs of the communities they serve.   Guest: Ali Bloomquist, Public Defender, Co-Founder, EIDEIA Institute Cherise Fanno Burdeen PhD, Community Psychologist, Co-Founder, EIDEIA Institute   Resources: EIDEIA Website https://www.eideia.org/ [email protected]   Register for the Webinar Here https://www.eideia.org/trainings       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter was joined by the American Immigration Council's Aaron Reichlin-Melnick to discuss a new report published by AIC. Over the past two years, the Trump administration has rapidly expanded the use of and capacity of immigration detention. Aaron joins to detail how this has happened, what might come next, and the best ways to prevent it in the future.   Guest: Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Senior Fellow, American Immigration Council Resources: Read the Report https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/report/immigration-detention/ Contact Aaron https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/authors/aaron-reichlin-melnick/  https://x.com/ReichlinMelnick?lang=en https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter was joined by Thomas Gant, a Community Organizer with the Center for Community Alternatives. Thomas joins the show to describe three different bills pending in New York that could chip away at the impacts of mass incarceration.   Guest: Thomas Gant, Community Organizer, Center for Community Alternatives   Resources:   Email Thomas [email protected] Join the Coalition here https://www.communitiesnotcagesny.org/take-action https://www.communityalternatives.org/     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter was joined by Alex Burness of Bolts Magazine to discuss his recent piece of reporting on American Samoans in Alaska. Specifically, Alex walks us through the history that gave American Samoans passports, social security numbers, but no right to vote. From there, Alex tells the story of a small American Samoan community that is facing decades in prison for voting when everyone thought they had the right to.   Guest: Alex Burness, Staff Writer, Bolts Magazine   Resources:   Read the Piece Here https://boltsmag.org/prosecuted-for-voting-american-samoans-alaska/ Contact Alex https://boltsmag.org/authors/alex-burness/       Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter was joined once again by Mano Raju, the elected Chief Public Defender in the San Francisco Public Defender Office. Last time he was one the show, Mano explained why he decided to stop having his attorneys accept new case assignments on certain days of the week. Now, six months later, a judge has given the office an ultimatum: Accept new cases or be held in contempt.     Guest: Mano Raju, Chief Public Defender, San Francisco, California   Resources:   Read the Order https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SyOK2OVQobVjmnA99BL1tXOycjWvVMyD?usp=drive_link   Coverage of the Office https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/389343-sf-public-defender-faces-contempt-over-refusal-to-take-felony-cases https://sfstandard.com/2026/01/12/public-defender-manu-raju-crime-san-francisco-court/   Contact Mano or the Office [email protected] https://sfpublicdefender.org/ https://www.facebook.com/sfpublicdefender https://x.com/sfdefender https://www.instagram.com/sfpublicdefender/ https://bsky.app/profile/manorajupd.bsky.social https://x.com/manorajupd?lang=en     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter was joined by Max Miner the Founder of Executive Treatment Solutions. At one point in his life, Max hit rock bottom. Suffering with drug addiction, he reached the point where it thought it would be a good idea to get into a shootout with police officers. In a moment of clarity, he put down the weapon and started his road to recovery. Thanks to the work of an attorney who understood the power of pre-trial mitigation work, Max was able to get sober and avoid jail time. Now, Max works with people, who like him, need non-carceral treatment plans to help them escape the criminal legal system.   Guest: Max Miner, Founder, Executive Treatment Solutions   Resources: Contact the Office https://exectreatmentsolutions.com/   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter was joined by Alex Flood and Dan Fitzgerald of the Denver Municipal Public Defender Office. Today's episode focuses on the holistic public defender model in the office that leans on the expertise of lawyers, social workers, and system impacted people to combat the City's efforts to punish poverty.   Guest: Alex Flood, Public Defender, Denver Municipal Public Defender Office Dan Fiztgerald, Peer Support Specialist, Denver Municipal Public Defender Office   Resources: Contact the Office https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Office-of-the-Municipal-Public-Defender [email protected] [email protected]     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter was joined by Jessie Lenhardt, a Management Consultant with Moss Adams. In her time as a consultant, Jessie has helped countless government agencies, including public defenders, improve the organization structures and practices. Today, she joins the show to discuss on her reflections in helping public defender offices implement workload studies.   Guest: Jessie Lenhardt, Senior Manager, Moss Adams   Resources: Contact Jessie Here https://www.mossadams.com/people/jessielenhardt https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessie-lenhardt/   Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter was joined by Olivia Miller and Dallas Anselmo of the Clark County Public Defender Office. They joined to discuss the "corridor court" operating along the Las Vegas Strip. This specialty court, created at the urging of the casinos and resorts, funnels criminal defendants into a singular court room where people can be effectively banished from the entirety of the strip for seemingly minor crimes. In doing so, the corridor court gives casinos the power to unfairly police poverty along the strip.   As a note, the views expressed on today's show by Olivia and Dallas are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Clark County Public Defender Office.   Guest: Dallas Anselmo, Public Defender, Clark County, Nevada Olivia Miller, Public Defender, Clark County, Nevada   Resources: Learn More about the office https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/public_defender/   Learn More about the Courts https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/vegas-resorts-want-to-revive-court-geared-at-cleaning-up-strip-critics-say-it-was-a-failure https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/critics-say-this-court-program-targeted-the-homeless-heres-why-strip-casinos-want-it-back-3530051/ https://lasvegassun.com/news/2025/nov/13/nevada-lawmakers-revisit-court-that-barred-offende/ https://mynorthwest.com/national/nevada-governor-signs-sweeping-crime-bill-as-state-looks-to-boost-tourism/4167419 Contact Olivia and Dallas [email protected] [email protected]     Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter wraps up 2025 with one last episode! Guest: Resources: Top 10 Episodes of 2025 334 | Was a Former Colorado Public Defender Fired for Raising Concerns over his Workload? w/Travis Weiner 335 | How Sec Def Austin Interfered with the 9/11 and U.S.S. Cole Case Plea Deals w/Allison Miller and Katie Carmon 336 | How the San Mateo Private Defender Program is Trying to Earn Back the Community's Trust w/Lisa Maguire and Harpreet Samra 328 | How the Laken Riley Act Could Get Innocent People Sent to Guantanamo Bay w/Ann Block and Nithya Nathan-Pineau 331 | How the Far West Texas Public Defenders Uncovered a Pattern of Discovery Violations in El Paso w/James McDermott and Paul Chambers 333 | How The American Eugenics Movement Helped Create Habitual Offender Laws w/Daniel Loehr 355 | How Missouri Public Defenders are Leading the Nation In Statewide Holistic Defender Services w/Missouri Public Defenders 322 | The Impact of and the Resistance to Mass Deportation Policies w/Hans Meyer and Holly Lucas 400 | Why the Lawyers Handling 80% of Massachusetts's Public Defender Cases Stopped Taking New Cases w/Shira Diner 316 | The Everyday Cruelty in Westminster Municipal Court w/Alison Gordon Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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

Today, Hunter was joined by Mohammed Al Rawi and Ryan Wolfe of ZLS.App. The three discussed how ZLS is helping public defenders improve case management with automated systems. With better case management systems, public defenders are better equipped to collect and track the data that public defenders need to justify their requests to the legislatures.   Guest: Mohammed Al Rawi, Co-Founder. ZLS.app Ryan Wolfe, Co-Founder, ZLS.app   Resources: Find ZLS Here https://zls.app/         Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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  

Today, Hunter was joined by the new Chief Public Defender for the state of Missouri, Matthew Crowell. Matthew and Hunter discussed a range of topics that Matthew is now facing as the Chief and how he hopes to tackle them.   Guest: Matthew Crowell, Chief Public Defender, Missouri   Resources: Contact the Missouri Public Defender Here https://publicdefender.mo.gov/  Lawsuit https://www.aclu-mo.org/en/news/advocates-sue-missouri-department-mental-health-failing-treat-pretrial-detainees-living-mental         Contact Hunter Parnell:                                 [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod 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