Today, Hunter was joined by Luke Brownfield, the Chief Public Defender in Humboldt County, California. With a shortage of attorneys willing to come to the county and the county being short on funding, Luke and his team face serious issues with workloads. Without more support from the state, it is unclear how Luke and his team will tackle the workload crisis without going unavailable like the San Francisco Public Defender Office.

Guest:

Luke Brownfield, Chief Public Defender, Humboldt County, California

Resources:

Read the Report

https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2025/jul/31/public-defenders-office-overworked-underfunded-and/

Contact the Office

https://humboldtgov.org/Directory/Home/DepartmentListing?DID=22

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

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https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home

Today, Hunter was joined by Judyanne Vallado, the Chief Public Defender in San Joaquin County, California. With a tough on crime DA and large amounts of gun crime, the San Joaquin County Public Defenders have long delt with difficult workloads, but now, with Prop 36 prosecutions increasing felony charges, the office may soon have to make the choice about when enough is enough.

Guest:

Judyanne Vallado, Chief Public Defender, San Joaquin County, California

Resources:

Learn more about the Office Here

https://www.sjgov.org/department/pubdef/home

https://www.instagram.com/sjcpublicdefender/?hl=en

Contact Judyanne

[email protected]

Read more about issues in the County

https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/politics/government/2024/11/27/stockton-declares-local-homelessness-emergency-toughens-camping-ban/76490580007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z118989d00----v118989b0089xxd118965&gca-ft=101&gca-ds=sophi

https://www.sjgov.org/department/bos/board-news/board-news-detail/2025/09/10/sjc-board-and-probation-celebrate-sj-cares

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

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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 Alameda County Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods. This time, they discuss how the office is handling their ever increasing workload due to Prop 36, how ICE enforcement is impacting their clients and communities, and why the state of California desperately needs to give county public defenders the protections they need to be independent voices for their communities.

Guest:

Brendon Woods, Chief Public Defender, Alameda County, California

Resources:

Learn more about the Office Here

https://publicdefender.acgov.org/index.page

https://www.facebook.com/AlamedaCountyPublicDefenders

https://x.com/BrendonWoodsPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO6d0gC0y1H5hrdkstpIt_Q

https://www.instagram.com/alamedacountypd/

https://www.instagram.com/brendonwoodspd/?hl=en

ICE Around Alameda County

https://www.ktvu.com/news/alameda-countys-new-order-could-effectively-ban-armed-ice-officers-from-courthouses

https://oaklandside.org/2026/01/28/ice-free-zones-are-coming-to-alameda-county/

Public Defender Independence

https://davisvanguard.org/2025/10/sb485-veto-public-defender-independence/

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 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