New York Times — Public Defenders — Galsworthy Criminal Justice Reform Program

Imagine Being on Trial. With Exonerating Evidence Trapped on Your Phone.

“In America, citizens accused of crimes are supposed to have an advantage. The burden of proof is on prosecutors, and the government must turn over all its evidence to defendants, who have no reciprocal obligation. In practice, of course — and especially when defendants don’t have a lot of money — the government has the edge. Investigators can issue subpoenas, compel testimony and pressure defendants into pleas. Today, one way in which the deck is stacked against defendants involves technology.“

New York Times

November 22, 2019

Lack of FundingPhillip ReevesNovember 22, 2019New York TimesComment

Opinion: When a Police Officer Kills, Let Public Defenders Investigate

“If mayors, police chiefs and legislatures are serious about instilling real faith in these communities, they should hand over full control of investigations to the one group of lawyers used to treating the police in an adversarial fashion, all of them experts in police rules and procedures: public defenders. Unlike prosecutors, who often work hand-in-hand with the police to make a case for conviction, defenders are used to questioning the stories police officers tell.“

New York Times

July 29, 2019

Public DefendersPhillip ReevesJuly 29, 2019New York Times, Police MisconductComment

One Lawyer, 194 Felony Cases, and No Time

“High-level felonies carry sentences of 10 years or more and should each get 70 hours of legal attention, according to a workload study. For Mr. Talaska, that’s more than two years of full-time work. Mid-level felonies require 41 hours each. A few of Mr. Talaska’s clients faced life without parole. Such cases, on average, require 201 hours apiece. In total, Mr. Talaska needed to do the work of five full-time lawyers to serve all of his clients.“

New York Times

January 31, 2019

OverbookedPhillip ReevesJanuary 31, 2019New York Times, LouisianaComment

Public Defenders Are Part of the Solution

“Over a 10-year period, representation by the Bronx Defenders saved our clients 1.1 million days in jail. The study shows that public defenders are a powerful weapon in the fight against mass incarceration. If we work together, we will be able to deliver the new set of rights that Mr. Mill calls for. “

New York Times

December 7, 2018

Public DefendersPhillip ReevesDecember 7, 2018New York Times, Bronx DefendersComment

The Truth in Trump’s Law-Enforcement Hypocrisy

“This is the difference between justice for the masses and justice for the few. I’m not upset at how well Mr. Trump’s friends and colleagues have been treated. After all, the Constitution worked for them. I just want that same treatment for my clients.“

New York Times

September 19, 2018

Pre-trial DifficultiesPhillip ReevesSeptember 19, 2018New York Times, Michael Cohen, Paul ManafortComment

Public Defenders

Galsworthy CJR Program

Info