Defender411

Editorial: Floridians are denied justice every year that the state fails to equitably pay for prosecutors and public defenders across the state

http://www.news-press.com/article/20110419/OPINION/104190315/1015/Editorial-Justice-denied-SW-Florida

Eyewitness ID related editorial - "More ways to make criminal justice fair"

Eyewitness ID related editorial - "More ways to make criminal justice fair"

Source link: http://www.suntimes.com/opinions/4242597-474/editorial-more-ways-to-make-criminal-justice-fair.html

Teen beating highlights Houston's history of police brutality

Teen beating highlights Houston's history of police brutality

http://www.thegrio.com/opinion/houston-we-have-a-problem-the-politics-of-bad-medicine.php

First and Fourth Amendments arrested

First and Fourth Amendments arrested

http://pottsmerc.com/articles/2011/02/03/opinion/srv0000010826659.txt?viewmode=default

Opinion Page: Quran, Bible and executions

Opinion Page: Quran, Bible and executions
http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/capital-268386-punishment-prison.html

Missouri - Letter to the editor - Public defenders need adequate time

Public defenders need adequate time

http://www.news-leader.com/article/20100912/OPINIONS03/9120329/Public-defenders-need-adequate-time

New York Times Column: The Billionaires Bankrolling the Tea Party

New York Times Column: The Billionaires Bankrolling the Tea Party

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/29rich.html?src=me&ref=general

California - The Fresno Bee Newspaper - Letter to the editor - Backs public defender

California - THE FRESNO BEE - Letter to the editor - Backs public defender

Posted at 12:56 AM on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010

We read with keen interest your fine Aug. 22 report on flat-fee public defender contracts. Professors Gerald Uelmen and Lawrence Benner point out the inherent conflicts and other problems with such contracts. Because of these issues, we encourage the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to continue to support the well-regarded Office of the Public Defender.

The Fresno County Public Defender is staffed by dedicated attorneys, investigators and support staff members who have given their hearts and souls to their clients and the criminal justice system they serve in Fresno County. Budget problems are real, but they can be managed responsibly without eliminating a well-established, well-regarded legal advocacy organization.

We believe that sustaining such an organization will not only benefit the clients of the Fresno County public defender, but all the citizens of the county as well.

Jose Varela
 President, California Public Defender Association

Editorial - Minnesota - Hennepin County shouldn’t turn on its public defenders to save money

Editorial - Minnesota - Hennepin County shouldn’t turn on its public defenders to save money

http://www.mndaily.com/2010/08/11/people%E2%80%99s-defense

LA Times editorial: We need a National Criminal Justice Commission

LA Times editorial: We need a National Criminal Justice Commission

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-justice-20100531,0,5057831.story

Outlining issues re: creating a public defender office in a county in Texas

Columnist's article in the Houston Chronicle (Texas) - Issues re: creating a public defender office in a county in Texas

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/falkenberg/7033793.html

Op Ed by Sandra Day O'Connor - Take Justice Off the Ballot

Op Ed by Sandra Day O'Connor - Take Justice Off the Ballot

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/opinion/23oconnor.html?hp

Editorial: Sensible parole policies needed amid tough-on-crime talk

Editorial: Sensible parole policies needed amid tough-on-crime talk

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/04/21/2693373/voters-agenda-sensible-parole.html

Editorial - Michigan must right the legal system for poor

Editorial - Michigan must right the legal system for poor

http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20100415/Opinion/4150367/1062/Opinion

'Get out of jail free' in San Francisco

'Get out of jail free' in San Francisco

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/11/EDFJ1CECV5.DTL

Editorial: Los Angeles lawyer Richard Fine held in solitary confinement for politics

Lawyer Richard Fine held in solitary for politics

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/03/10/2595492/dan-walters-lawyer-richard-fine.html

Poor defendants and keeping Gideon's promise

Poor defendants and keeping Gideon's promise

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_14644282

Editorial (Eugene Robinson): Liz Cheney, group should be ashamed

Editorial (Eugene Robinson): Liz Cheney, group should be ashamed

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/03/09/2592651/liz-cheney-group-should-be-ashamed.html

LA Times Editorial - Miranda isn't forever

LA Times Editorial - Miranda isn't forever

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-miranda2-2010mar02,0,7628777.story

Opinion Column - Don’t delay making juvie court changes in Pennsylvania

Opinion Column - Don’t delay making juvie court changes in Pennsylvania

http://www.timesleader.com/opinion/columnists/guydish/Don_rsquo_t_delay_making_juvie_court_changes_MARK_GUYDISH_OPINION_02-21-2010.html

Defending the role of public defenders

Defending the role of public defenders

http://badgerherald.com/oped/2010/02/15/defending_the_role_o.php

Would you notice?

Washington , DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.. 

4 minutes later: 

 

The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. 

 

6 minutes: 

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. 

10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

 

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. 

The questions raised: 

    * In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? 

  * Do we stop to appreciate it? 

  * Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: 

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made. 

How many other things are we missing?

California - Santa Clara County - Editorial: DA Carr's pattern of arrogance goes unchecked

Editorial: DA Carr's pattern of arrogance goes unchecked

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_14297717

Pittsburg - Editorial - Wrongful convictions

Pittsburg - Editorial - Wrongful convictions

http://www.morningsun.net/opinions/community_opinions/x231966806/Wrongful-convictions

Public defender must staff misdemeanor courts - Opinion Column by Aram James

Public defender must staff misdemeanor courts - Opinion Column by Aram James

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_14134318 

Death penalty: With doubts raised, it's time to address state's flawed system

Death penalty: With doubts raised, it's time to address state's flawed system

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/death-penalty-with-doubts-raised-it-s-time-157855.html

Editorial: Public defender changes game in Shasta courts

Editorial: Public defender changes game in Shasta courts

http://www.redding.com/news/2010/jan/02/public-defender-changes-game-in-shasta-courts/

Washington Post: Frightening flaws in justice system

Washington Post: Frightening flaws in justice system

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/80302647.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ

Wrong Convictions Merit Study

Wrong Convictions Merit Study

http://www.polkcountydemocrat.com/articles/2009/12/19/opinion/our_viewpoint/doc4b2c049d920bd357907470.txt

Targeting Lawyers: The Case of Paul Bergrin

Targeting Lawyers: The Case of Paul Bergrin

http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/12/targeting-lawyers-the-case-of-paul-bergrin/

Editorial - Texas' too-secretive pardons and paroles process

Editorial - Texas' too-secretive pardons and paroles process

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/6748149.html