⭐ Join us Friday, 2/27 from noon-2 p.m. for a webinar event: San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju will talk with author and former public defender Emily Galvin Almanza about her new book, “The Price of Mercy.” ⚖️
➡️ Register at tinyurl.com/PubDefAlmanza or use the QR code.
Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, and prosperous Lunar New Year. In the Chinese Year of the Horse, may we accelerate toward greater justice & humanity. #lunarnewyear #yearofthehorse
17.02.2026 23:14 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
📣 NEW BILL INTRODUCED
AB 1917, the “Respect Judicial Decisions Act”, upholds judicial discretion & enhances due process rights by requiring prosecutors to file a motion to add back charges that were previously dismissed by a judge at a preliminary hearing. Track updates: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
In the words of Vera’s Claudia Gonzalez, “Punishment is not prevention, and prison is not a path forward.” Diversion programs provide a non-punitive alternative to incarceration and addresses trauma, promotes healing, and helps break the cycle of incarceration.
www.marinij.com/2026/01/28/o...
Did you know that the San Francisco “pretext stops” policy is showing early signs of success in reducing racial profiling during police traffic stops? It’s a great start, but there’s still a long way to go…
05.02.2026 22:19 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
We @sfpublicdefender.sf.gov were honored to kick off #BlackHistoryMonth w/ Jeffery Robinson, exec dir. of the Who We Are Project. He gave an amazing training on trial storytelling, & spoke about 100 years of BHM—reminding us of our shared history & public defenders’ role fighting anti-Black racism.
05.02.2026 20:17 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
📢 Join Our Community Budget Presentation!
Thursday, 2/12/26, 11:00 AM
In person or via Zoom
Come learn about our goals, the vital work we do, & our budget. Public defenders are essential to protecting constitutional rights, ensuring fairness, & giving a voice to people who can’t afford an attorney.
Public defender offices are chronically underfunded across the country, eroding people's Constitutional right to effective counsel & due process. In this op-ed @sfpublicdefender.sf.gov Chief Atty Matt Gonzalez explains why our office has been forced to declare unavailable on a small # of new cases.
31.01.2026 02:28 — 👍 5 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Honored to keynote the CA Coalition for Prosecutorial Integrity summit in SF put on by @itchy-cpi.bsky.social. As public defenders, we see how prosecutorial overcharging perpetuates state violence. We’re inspired by the NY DA accountability commission the Coalition has built.
31.01.2026 02:16 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Today we joined local leaders in SF to support Asm @ib2real.bsky.social's AB 1537, the No Side Jobs for ICE Act. Our coalition is proud to sponsor this important bill.
www.courthousenews.com/california-b... 1/
S.F. has long valued Sanctuary, civil rights, and the principle that local systems should never be turned into pipelines for deportation. AB 1537 reinforces those values by strengthening transparency, accountability, and constitutional fairness.
www.instagram.com/reel/DTypH1O...
Thx to Asm. Bryan for authoring, the ICE Out of CA Coalition for sponsoring, and Supe. Mahmood for supporting AB 1537, the “No Side Jobs for ICE” Act. ICE continues to terrorize communities, tear families apart, and operate w/little accountability. Together we stand to defend our communities.
22.01.2026 00:02 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
From widespread reports of ICE kidnappings to the killing of Renée Good, we’ve seen the devastating harm this rogue agency inflicts. We’re standing w/SF Supe Mahmood to support AB 1537, a critical state bill to protect Californians by preventing local & state law enforcement from
working for ICE.
To honor and celebrate the legacy of Dr. King, the ‘beautiful community’ came out to show our relentless dedication to justice for all. Thanks so much to the SF Interfaith Council for the inspirational gathering to connect with one another on the work ahead. #MLK
20.01.2026 21:40 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Statewide coalition will champion bill to ensure police, sheriffs can’t work side jobs for ICE The ICE Out of CA Coalition, made up of over 30 organizations across the state, announced that it will sponsor AB 1537 by Asm. Isaac Bryan. The bill would prohibit state and local law enforcement officers from working “side jobs” with ICE, CBP, DHS, or any other entities engaged in the arrest or detention of Californians, including private security companies which contract with ICE to carry out abductions. The introduction of the legislation comes as ICE continues to violently terrorize, abduct and harm community members across the country and as the Trump admin. ramps up attempts to dramatically increase the number of deportation agents. With recent advertising campaigns, ICE has directly sought to recruit police and sheriffs. AB 1537 will shine a light of public scrutiny on these attempts, requiring disclosure of any “offer of, request for, or attempt at secondary employment that involves assisting with or engaging in immigration enforcement” and ensuring such records are available to the public. The coalition stated: “ICE is desperately seeking more agents to abduct our neighbors and tear families apart and is actively trying to recruit police and sheriffs. Despite the protections we’ve passed in California, we need to do much more. And this bill addresses one serious loophole: nothing in state law prevents officers from working ‘side jobs’ as deportation agents. Asm. Bryan’s bill will provide urgently-needed transparency and set a commonsense statewide policy. We look forward to partnering with the Assemblymember to advance this crucial legislation ensuring law enforcement in California are prohibited from taking side-jobs as ICE agents.” Asm. Bryan: “If you take an oath to protect and serve communities in California, you should not be allowed to take a second job with ICE rooted in terrorizing those same communities. It’s time to close this loophole.”
🚨ICE has spent millions trying to recruit local police and sheriffs.
And right now, nothing in state law prevents local officers from taking “side jobs” as deportation agents.
AB 1537 by @isaacgbryan.bsky.social will CLOSE this loophole.
We’re proud to sponsor this important bill. 🧵
First week of January 2026 @sfpublicdefender.sf.gov in the news:
•uplifting benefits of Drug Court expansion @sfchronicle.com
•seeking corrections @abc7.bsky.social & @nbcbayarea.com
• providing updates & condolences re: stabbing of social worker at SF General @kqednews.kqed.org @missionlocal.org
We mourn Renee Nicole Good, killed by ICE in Minnesota.
This murder is a painful reminder that ICE is a violent and unaccountable agency that has long terrorized immigrant communities and torn families apart.
SF stands firm in Sanctuary and supports ICE-Free Zones and CA AB 1537.
Our Young Defender program—made possible by SF’s Opportunities for All—offers local high school students paid internships w/ our office to learn about the criminal legal system. In this video, Young Defender Zachariah shares a key takeaway. Big thanks to intern Sai for their work on this video!
23.12.2025 17:51 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
It was great to see @aclu-norcal.bsky.social Exec Director Abdi Soltani & Stand Together Contra Costa Director Ali Saidi at the Iranian American Bar Association’s national gala! Proud to honor Iranian American attys and to celebrate orgs working to safeguard everyone’s Constitutional & human rights.
23.12.2025 17:48 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Our Young Defender program—made possible by SF’s Opportunities for All—offers local high school students paid internships w/ our office to learn about the criminal legal system. In this video, Young Defender Amir shares a key takeaway. Big thanks to intern Sai for their work on this video!
19.12.2025 19:08 — 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Yesterday, we delivered a community demand letter from 30+ orgs to SF leaders following the mass strip search of women in jail.
The demands call for accountability, survivor support, independent investigation, and real oversight.
Read and share our letter.
For December, we @sfpublicdefender.sf.gov thank all of our community partners. Our motto “Greater Than One” reflects our commitment to building community health & safety through collaboration. Our partners inspire us & strengthen our impact. We’re grateful to serve San Franciscans alongside them.
16.12.2025 01:37 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Watch the full video on Instagram.
www.instagram.com/p/DSEOS2xEbB...
Although the new films are not yet widely available, they build upon our earlier Adachi Project work available at WeAreDefender.com.
10.12.2025 02:44 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Learn more about The Adachi Project’s “DEFENDER—Off the Record” and the community screening.
sfpublicdefender.org/2025/12/03/t...
The films depict the lives of current & former @sfpublicdefender.sf.gov clients in a way that brings their humanity & personal evolution to life—a stark contrast to how the crim legal system flattens the humanity of people accused of crimes. The films were funded by a @fordfoundation.org grant.
10.12.2025 02:44 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
It was a magical evening w/a packed house at the Roxie Theater for the screening of 3 films from the Adachi Project’s new “DEFENDER–Off the Record” series. We were honored to have our clients who were featured in the films & filmmakers from Even/Odd join a panel w/moderator @bootsriley.bsky.social.
10.12.2025 02:44 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0
As Public Defenders, we understand that the fear of immigration enforcement can keep families from schools, clinics & essential services. City buildings must be places of dignity—not detention.
Proud to support Sups. @bilalmahmood.bsky.social and Chyanne Chen’s ICE-Free Zones Ordinance. #ICEoutofSF
The Adachi Project is back with 'DEFENDER—Off the Record' — a new series of short films about @sfpublicdefender clients: Sal, Prezi, and Julia.
Join us for a special screening 12/2 at 6pm; $10 tix available at Roxie.com.
Followed by a panel moderated by Boots Riley w/film subjects & filmmakers.
Today on #WorldAIDSDay, we reaffirm: health care, not punishment.
We stand with communities most impacted by HIV and continue fighting for equity, housing, treatment access, and dignity. @sfpublicdefender.sf.gov
