Task Force on Public Defense Independence

The goal of the Task Force on Public Defense Independence is to protect and strengthen independence and enhance the public’s understanding of the critical role public defense independence plays in ensuring a fair and just criminal legal system.

The Task Force is a project of the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section and Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (ABA SCLAID), in partnership with the National Association for Public Defense

Members

Co-Chairs

Keisha Hudson, Chief Defender, Defender Association of Philadelphia
Malia Brink, Senior Policy Attorney, Deason Criminal Justice Center, SMU Dedman School of Law

Task Force Members

Lori James Townes, Executive Director, National Association for Public Defense
Scott Hechinger, Executive Director & Founder, Zealous
Alex Bunin, Chief Public Defender, Harris County, Texas
Charles Gerstein, Partner, Gerstein Harrow LLP
Corey Stoughton, Special Counsel, Selendy Gay
Melody Brannon, Federal Public Defender, District of Kansas
Sara Jacobson, Executive Director, Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania
Jonathan Rapping, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Gideon’s Promise
Bonnie Hoffman, Director of Public Defense Reform and Training, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
David Patton, Partner, Kaplan Hecker & Fink
Geoff Burkhart, Executive Director, Texas Fair Defense Project
Stan Germán, Executive Director, New York County Defender Services

Advisory Board Members

Chesa Boudin, Executive Director, Criminal Law & Justice Center
Rene Valladeres, Federal Public Defender, District of Nevada
Martin Sabelli, Past-President, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Galit Lipa, State Public Defender, California
Pamela Metzger, Executive Director, Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center, SMU Dedman School of Law
Danny Engleberg, Chief Defender, Orleans Public Defenders
Ricardo Garcia, Chief Public Defender, Los Angeles, CA
Elizabeth Cadiz, Chief Public Defender, Aurora, CO