San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harry Dorfman is presiding over hearings to address the strain on the city’s indigent defense system, as the Public Defender’s Office and the conflict defense panel struggle to ensure timely and qualified legal representation for felony defendants.
Chief Attorney Matt Gonzalez argued in court that the judge has no authority to order the Public Defender’s Office to take on more felony cases, warning such an order would violate attorneys’ limits and clients’ constitutional rights.
The defense argued that the late disclosure of critical evidence in an eight-year-old DUI case violated the accused’s right to a speedy and fair trial, but the judge denied the motion to dismiss, citing the accused’s multiple bench warrants and participation in a diversion program.
Los Angeles County has launched a new pilot removal defense program to provide legal representation to immigrants facing deportation proceedings, funded by unclaimed cy pres funds from the Roy settlement.
Community leaders, advocates, elected officials, and impacted women gathered outside the San Francisco County Jail to demand accountability for deputies who ordered women in custody to strip in front of male deputies, violating constitutional protections, state law, and basic human dignity.
A woman with a history of theft and drug offenses was denied bail and will remain in custody on a felony shoplifting charge, with the court continuing the arraignment to Nov. 24 and ordering Pretrial Services to evaluate her for treatment-based supervision options.
Deputy Public Defender Stephen Betz requested a mental health diversion hearing for an accused facing several felony charges be rescheduled to Nov. 17, 2025, due to the extensive briefings required and the court’s busy calendar.
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office has launched the Homecoming Project, a housing initiative that pairs community members with individuals returning home from prison to provide rent-free housing and support for six months.
San Francisco Chief Assistant District Attorney Ana Gonzalez accused the Public Defender’s Office of mismanagement and falsely claiming an emergency to avoid taking new felony cases, while the Public Defender’s Office argued that the declaration was necessary to protect defendants’ Sixth Amendment rights due to soaring caseloads, staff shortages, and unprecedented discovery burdens.
Judge Teresa M. Caffese denied a motion to compel filed by Deputy Public Defender Christopher Fox-Lent, rejecting his request for the San Francisco Police Department to provide information on replica firearm cases, which he argued could prevent jury misconceptions.
Luis Leal, 29, was arrested for protesting ICE raids in Los Angeles, but all charges were dismissed after SFPD body-worn camera footage revealed officers had already put hands on Leal before he could respond to their verbal command.
Judge Simon Frankel heard testimony in a preliminary hearing involving two codefendants accused of attempted robbery and assault, and ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold the defendants on Counts 1 and 3, though he was uncertain about Count 2.
Judge Catherine Hohenwarter released a man on his own recognizance due to the unavailability of a critical witness, and the trial was moved to May 2026.
The accused requested to be released to a residential treatment program for drug and mental health issues, but the motion was denied due to public safety concerns and pending blood test results, and the accused expressed confusion about the purpose of a preliminary hearing.
A Yolo County man remains in custody due to mounting delays in two overlapping cases, with questions raised over postponed court dates, medical absences, and the inability to post bail.
Judge Stephen J. Mock denied a request for pretrial release, citing the accused’s prior convictions, despite the defense’s argument that pretrial release would allow the accused to receive inpatient treatment by addressing the Sacramento warrants.
Judge Michael McNaughton ruled that a witness’s prior forgery conviction could not be used to impeach her credibility in a murder trial, as it occurred after her testimony and was not relevant to the case.
A man is facing six drug-related charges in San Francisco Superior Court, including possession and intent to sell narcotics and using a minor to sell them, with the defense arguing that he was exploited for his addiction and the minor was the one profiting.
In Yolo County Superior Court, a jury trial continued for a person charged with misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence and drunk driving, with testimony from the dispatch officer, Officer Arriola, Officer Griffin, and Corporal Dulai, who all confirmed that they did not see the accused driving.
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office criticized District Attorney Brooke Jenkins’ recent announcement that eight of eleven people charged with narcotics trafficking in the Tenderloin had been released, arguing that it is a fear-mongering tactic that threatens judicial independence and would further overcrowd jails.