October 1, 2024
LA County Rapid Diversion Program Shows Remarkable Success in Helping Individuals with Behavioral Health Challenges, New RAND Report Reveals
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On this International Women’s Day and throughout Women’s History Month, we’re recognizing women whose leadership has shaped the fight for justice in public defense. From Clara Shortridge Foltz—the first woman lawyer in California and the visionary behind the public defender system, for whom the downtown criminal courts building is named—to Barbara Allen Babcock, a pioneering advocate and mentor to generations of lawyers, to Ketanji Brown Jackson, whose career continues to inspire at the highest levels. Their legacies continue to shape and strengthen the fight for indigent defense.
Follow along as we highlight other historical women leaders in Public Defense, both within our office and across the nation
This March 2026, our office will be providing record clearing services at various locations around LA County!
For more information click the link in our bio 🔗
“Our most vulnerable people who are justice-involved often go unsupported by the systems that are there and designed to try and support them because we’re not necessarily identifying them at the moment that we need to.”
Noah Cox, LA County Deputy Public Defender, joined the @publicdefenselesspodcast to spotlight the work his Neurocognitive Disorders Team does to help clients with cognitive disorders connect to the support services they need to build a foundation of stability in their lives.
Listen to the full conversation through the link in our bio.
Join us on Thursday, March 12th at 7pm for a book signing event, co-hosted by the LA County Public Defender’s Office, celebrating the release of PFJ co-founder and former public defender @galvinalmanza `s new book The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender’s Search for Justice in America. The evening will feature a discussion between Emily and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Percival Everett and opening remarks by Los Angeles County Public Defender @rdg_lapubdef. In The Price of Mercy, Galvin Almanza pulls back the curtain on the dysfunction of an overburdened legal system—exposing practices such as inflated police overtime, perverse prosecutorial incentives, and court processes that too often harm the very people they claim to protect.
Event + Book Combo tickets available through the link in bio.
In observance of Presidents’ Day, our Office will be closed on Monday, February 16. We will resume regular operations on Tuesday, February 17.
A BIG WELCOME to an our newest class of Deputy Public Defenders! For their first day, our Public Defender @rdg_lapubdef swore them in and Chief Deputy Justine Esack and Chief of Staff John Mathews welcomed them by engaging in a Q&A panel discussion.
This February 2026, our office will be providing record clearing services at various locations around LA County!
For more information click the link in our bio 🔗
During #BlackHistoryMonth, we honor the legacy, resilience, and leadership of African Americans and the many ways Black history has shaped Los Angeles County.
We also must confront the reality that Black residents are disproportionately incarcerated compared to their share of the population—an ongoing reflection of systemic racism in our criminal legal system.
As public defenders, we are committed to zealously advocating for all our clients and working every day to dismantle a legal system built on racial injustice.
