Author | Lightnews

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 1d

CPDA Executive Director Kate Chatfield and Board Member and LA County Chief Public Defender Ricardo Garcia were quoted in a story from the Los Angeles Daily News on the one-year anniversary of Prop. 36 being voted into law.

Read more here:
www.dailynews.com/2025/11/02/p...

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 1d

Latest statement from CPDA: One Year After Prop. 36 Passes, Incarceration is Increasing, Treatment is Not.

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 4d

Thanks to everyone who came to the Mental Health + Civil Commitment Practice Seminar! We had a great day of learning about the intersection of criminal law + mental health systems. There's still time to register for the Felony Trial Practice Seminar, happening Nov. 7-8 in Yosemite: shorturl.at/adXKd

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 5d

"Opponents, including the California Public Defenders Association, worry that will allow cities to tow too broadly, and remove much-needed shelter from California’s homeless population."

New enforcement targets people living in cars, RVs on California streets - Santa Monica Daily Press

For months, cities around the state have ramped up enforcement against people sleeping in tents on the street. Now, some are focusing on a new target: People who live in vehicles. Wayne Gardiner, 58, ...

smdp.com

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 5d

Latest Statement From CPDA Denouncing the Federal Funding Lapse Harming Indigent Defense:

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 6d

This week's Member Spotlight is on Zachary Kitaynik, Deputy Public Defender in the Alameda County Public Defender's
Office.

"I find it a privilege to stand with my clients at their worst times...and fight back."

Read more: shorturl.at/wMkN0

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 8d

CPDA ED Kate Chatfield was quoted by KVPR on the implementation of SB 524, which requires that police officers disclose when they are using AI to write police reports.

Read more: shorturl.at/C3UBg

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 11d

CPDA Board President Tracie Olson was quoted for a story by the Courthouse News Service on the president’s decision to not pursue his plan to send the National Guard to San Francisco for immigration enforcement.

Read more: courthousenews.com/san-francisc...

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 11d

SEIU California and SEIU-USWW President David Huerta was arrested while peacefully exercising his constitutional rights at an ICE raid. 4 months later, he faces a retaliatory misdemeanor charge. This is revenge disguised as law enforcement -- and marks a dangerous precedent. We #StandWithDavid.

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 12d

CPDA and its members across California stand united with immigrant communities, labor partners, and local leaders demanding the immediate withdrawal of CBP agents from the Bay Area. California’s commitment to justice and sanctuary cannot coexist with the federal militarization of our streets.

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California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 13d

Welcome to the next installment of our CPDA series “What is a public defender?”

This week’s question we are answering is “What would a world without public defenders look like?”

Submit your questions to [email protected], and we’ll return soon with a new question!

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California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 14d

CPDA' Executive Director spoke to Mission Local about the possibility of the National Guard coming to San Francisco:

National Guard troops can provide a “cover” for these other federal entities to make arrests, said Kate Chatfield, executive director.

Read more: shorturl.at/xWQoP

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 15d

CPDA was included in a statement from Assemblymember Mia Bonta on the signing of AB 1261 into law: “AB 1261 reflects California’s leadership in advancing justice and reaffirms the essential role of public defenders in protecting the rights of the most vulnerable."
Read more: shorturl.at/FXmVQ

Assemblymember Mia Bonta’s Bill Protecting California’s Immigrant Youth Population Through Access to Counsel Signed by Governor Newsom

goldrushcam.com

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 18d

CPDA ED Kate Chatfield was quoted in an article by the Continuing Education of the Bar on AB 248, a bill on new legislation that allows counties to raise wages for incarcerated county jail workers. This ends the cap of $2.00 for 8 hours of work.
Read (paywalled): research.ceb.com/posts/new-ca...

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 20d

Reminder! There's still time to register for next month's 2025 Felony Trial Practice Seminar at Yosemite, “Blue Lies Matter: Confronting Police Misconduct.” Click here to register: lnkd.in/gJkrum2V

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California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 20d

“Chief public defenders cannot be truly independent if their employment depends on whether their advocacy offends those in power,” said Kate Chatfield.

“The fight is not over,” she continued. “CPDA will work...to bring back these protections.”

Read more: davisvanguard.org/2025/10/sb48...

Governor's Veto Leaves Public Defenders Vulnerable to Political Influence - Davis Vanguard

Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 485, which would have provided job protections for chief public defenders, drawing disappointment from the California Public Defenders Association.

davisvanguard.org

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 20d

As the Prop 36 study continues to resonate, CPDA executive director Kate Chatfield was quoted in this CalMatters article regarding the lack of treatment available to those who are incarcerated:
“There’s no indication that anything will change,” she said.
Read more: calmatters.org/justice/2025...

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California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 21d

California Public Defenders Association Celebrates Governor’s Signing of SB 524, Milestone for Transparency and Accountability in Police Reporting. Read more: shorturl.at/gskIz

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 27d

This week's CPDA Member Spotlight is on Jess McPeake, Deputy Public Defender for the San Francisco Public Defender's Office. "I get to actively participate every day for the community that I still hope we can be.” Read more: shorturl.at/BBtea

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · 29d

We have several events planned for Fall!
Learn more about each event and register: cpda.memberclicks.net/upcoming-trainings

Reposted by California Public Defenders Association

Chris Geidner @chrisgeidner.bsky.social · Oct 3

BREAKING: The First Circuit rejects Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. In the New Jersey-led multistate case, the appeals court, in a 100-page ruling, keeps the nationwide scope of the injunction blocking the EO in place. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

The Government now asks us to reverse the preliminary
injunctions in these cases. We see no reason to do so. The
Government is right that the Framers of the Citizenship Clause
sought to remove the stain of Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. 119
How.) 393 (1857), which shamefully denied United States
citizenship to "descendants of Africans who were imported into
this country, and sold as slaves," even when the descendants were born here. Id. at 403. But the Framers chose to accomplish that
just purpose in broad terms, as both the supreme Court in United
States . Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898), and Congress in
passing § 1401(a) have recognized. The Government is therefore
wrong to argue that the plaintiffs are not likely to succeed in
showing that the children that the EO covers are citizens of this
country at birth, just as the Government is wrong to argue that
various limits on our remedial power independently require us to
reverse the preliminary injunctions.?

The analysis that follows is necessarily lengthy, as we
must address the parties' numerous arguments in each of the cases
involved. But the length of our analysis should not be mistaken
for a sign that the fundamental question that these cases raise
about the scope of birthright citizenship is a difficult one.
•It
is not, which may explain why it has been more than a century since a branch of our government has made as concerted an effort as the
Executive Branch now makes to deny Americans their birthright.

Thus, it is no surprise that, when presented with even
more uncontroverted evidence by the State-Plaintiffs about the
need for an injunction of the current breadth, the District Court
again found that a narrower injunction would leave unremedied
"administrative and financial harms." We therefore decline to
conclude that the District Court has abused its discretion in
fashioning relief. See Philip Morris, Inc. v. Harshbarger, 159
F. 3d 670, 680 (1st Cir. 1998) (explaining that "[als a general
rule, a disappointed litigant cannot surface an objection to a preliminary injunction for the first time in an appellate venue"
because doing so deprives the district court of the opportunity to
"consider [the objection] and correct the injunction if necessary,
without the need for appeal" (quoting Zenon, 711 F.2d at 478)).

The "lessons of history" thus give us every reason to be
wary of now blessing this most recent effort to break with our
established tradition of recognizing birthright citizenship and to
make citizenship depend on the actions of one's parents rather
than -- in all but the rarest of circumstances -- the simple fact
of being born in the United States. United States v. Di Re, 332
U.S. 581, 595 (1948). Nor does the text of the Fourteenth
Amendment, which countermanded our most infamous attempt to break
with that tradition, permit us to bless this effort, any more than
does the Supreme Court's interpretation of that amendment in Wong
Kim Ark, the many related precedents that have followed it, or
Congress's 1952 statute writing that amendment's words in the U.S.
Code.
The District Court's order for entry of the preliminary
injunctions is affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded for
further consideration consistent with this decision.

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California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · Oct 3

We are excited to announce the arrival of new merch for CPDA!
Pick up a tote bag for $20 or a mug for $25 at our in-person seminars this fall, starting with the Mental Health & Civil Commitment Training Seminar, Oct. 17 at UC Berkeley.
Register: cpda.memberclicks.net/upcoming-tra...

California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · Oct 2

CPDA is supporting #SB634, a bill that would stop local + state governments from charging the homeless and/or those helping them w/civil or criminal penalties.
This makes it clear: cities can't block life-saving outreach & services for people experiencing homelessness.
Read: tinyurl.com/4nyschsr

Opinion |Cities that ban or criminalize homeless services worsen California’s crisis

A bill on the governor’s desk would stop cities from chasing away supportive services and workers who help unhoused people survive the streets.

tinyurl.com

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California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · Oct 1

Yeah, this is illegal.

Full story: www.npr.org/2025/09/30/n...

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California Public Defenders Association @calpublicdefenders.bsky.social · Oct 1

This week's Member Spotlight is on Dominique Anderson, Assoc. Dep. Public Defender for Alameda County Public Defenders Office.
“I am a public defender because I believe in what I do. I believe that everyone has a right to great representation and I aspire to be that."
Read more: shorturl.at/MRHiE

Welcome to our Member Spotlight, where CPDA shares more about its amazing members. This week we’re spotlighting Dominique Anderson, Associate Deputy Public Defender for the Alameda County Public… | Ca...

Welcome to our Member Spotlight, where CPDA shares more about its amazing members. This week we’re spotlighting Dominique Anderson, Associate Deputy Public Defender for the Alameda County Public Defen...

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