Category: Legal Practice Units

Video: Why Black & Brown Public Defenders are Crucial

Posted on by GJackson@philadefender.org

We represent 70% of the people accused of crimes in Philadelphia. An overwhelming majority of these are Black and Brown people. Having Black & Brown attorneys and staff is a crucial part of ensuring that we not only understand their legal cases, but who they are as people and the communities they come from.

 

Watch this amazing video produced by Defender Mitigation Specialist Donte Green to hear from Defender attorneys and staff about why you should join our team if you want to make a difference in the lives of our BIPOC clients.

 

 
See Current Job Opportunities

Keisha Hudson on “New Thinking” Podcast

Posted on by 2010admin

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Listen to a snippet from Keisha Hudson here

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Chief Defender Keisha Hudson joins Michigan Law’s Eve Primus, and Brooklyn Law Center’s Alexis Hoag-Fordjour to discuss the groundbreaking yet unfulfilled legacy of Gideon v. Wainwright. 

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Social Workers Break Barriers!

Posted on by 2010admin

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During Social Work Month 2023, watch and learn how the Defender’s team of social workers breaks barriers for our clients and their families!

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Defender Expungement Services

Posted on by 2010admin

[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1651607872955{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;background-color: #eeeeee !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Defender provides criminal record expungement services for our adult and juvenile clients.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]

Adult Record Expungement

An expungement is an order that requires state and local criminal justice agencies to erase something from a record. To be eligible for our services you must:

  1. Have an ADULT criminal record in Philadelphia (we cannot handle cases in other counties or states). If you have a juvenile record and you want to see if it can be expunged, please call 267-765-6770, or visit our Juvenile Expungement page 
  2. Have been represented by the Defender Association in your matter(s)
  3. Not have any open cases or currently be supervised on probation or parole.

If you want to get your adult criminal record expunged:

  • You can send us an email: Expungement@philadefender.org; or 
  • fill out the expungement request form on our website here

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Juvenile Record Expungement

Expungement request are the primary request from our Philadelphia community. At every community event we attend we offer one-on-one expungement clinics with our staff attorneys. In 2019 alone, we filed 405 new expungement petitions and saw 438 of our petitions granted by the courts. 

If you have questions about an expungement you can:

Learn more about juvenile record expungement here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Job Opening: Trial Attorney

Posted on by 2010admin

Job Summary

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is seeking an experienced trial attorney to join our organization’s criminal trial practice divisions. The Defender Association of Philadelphia is a non-profit law firm serving the clients in the city of Philadelphia. Defender attorneys are part of a dynamic team that includes social workers, paralegals, mitigation specialists, investigators, and administrative professionals who play critical roles serving our clients and communities. Complementing our trial practice, the Defender Association focuses on meeting the needs of clients pre-trial and following incarceration. 

Our office represents 70% of people charged with crimes in Philadelphia. We are comprised of various practice units wherein we provide representation beginning at the preliminary arraignment through the appellate process.  We employ a client centered representation model which includes providing clients with zealous advocacy in the courtroom and partnering with our community through Participatory Defense, expungement clinics and other community-based events.

Responsibilities

  • Handle all aspects of client representation in the Philadelphia Criminal Courts, including but not limited to preliminary hearings, motions, waiver trials, jury trials, and violations of probation
  • Maintain and manage an adult criminal caseload within the assigned trial unit. This involves specially-assigned, complex cases of all types, including cases where clients are charged with violent and sexual offenses
  • Draft, file, and argue all necessary motions and memoranda of law
  • Interview clients over the telephone, in-person, and at county and state correctional institutions
  • Engage in holistic representation practices that assist the client in collateral matters that may impact the direct legal representation of the client
  • Maintain a professional team-oriented work atmosphere with other attorneys, social workers, investigators and administrative staff within the unit, and all other units at the Defender Association.

Qualifications and Experience

  • Juris Doctor degree and admission to the PA Bar 
  • Minimum of three years’ experience providing direct legal representation to individuals involved in the criminal justice system, including litigating complex felony cases
  • Jury trial experience preferred
  • A demonstrated interest in and commitment to the representation of individuals within the criminal justice system
  • Ability to adapt to changing needs of the Defender Association and to work collaboratively with all Defender staff

TO APPLY E-MAIL A RESUME, COVER LETTER AND WRITING SAMPLE TO: Lori Mach: LMach@philadefender.org

 

To see more job openings, visit the Defender’s Careers Page

Full Video: “Rage of Innocence” Webinar

Posted on by 2010admin

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Watch the full video from our Feb. 17 Webinar with Chief Defender Keisha Hudson and Professor Kristin Henning! 

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Thursday, February 17:
Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth.

Kristin Henning

Join us via Zoom on February 17 for a timely and important discussion of our criminal justice system as Chief Defender Keisha Hudson speaks with Georgetown Law Professor Kristin Henning. They’ll be discussing Professor Henning’s book, Rage of Innocence-How America Criminalizes Black Youth. 

Read more about Professor Hennings’s book here

Learn more about Kristin Henning here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Keisha Hudson, Chief Defender

Posted on by 2010admin

Since becoming the Defender Association’s Chief Defender in November 2021, Keisha Hudson has brought both local and national attention to the critical role of public defenders in maintaining and reforming the criminal justice system. Drawing on her extensive experience as an accomplished lawyer, leader, and activist, she has enhanced the Defender’s client services and reshaped its mission to be more inclusive and people-focused.

 

Keisha Hudson’s 22-year career as a public defender began with the Defender Association of Philadelphia and continued with the Federal Defender’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Capital Habeas Unit), where she represented people on death row in state post-conviction and federal habeas appeals. As both a trial and appellate defender, she has a deep understanding of the responsibilities of public defense. She also served as the Director of Training at the Capital Habeas Unit.

 

In 2016, Ms. Hudson transitioned from the Federal Defender to the Montgomery County Office of the Public Defender, where she served as Deputy Chief Defender. Working alongside Chief Defender Dean Beer, she strengthened courtroom advocacy and addressed systemic issues around policing, pretrial detention, sentencing, and probation. Over four years, they built one of the strongest public defender offices in Pennsylvania.

 

In 2020, Ms. Hudson joined The Justice Collaborative and The Appeal, where she developed and led media and advocacy campaigns on criminal justice reform, particularly focused on innovative community-based solutions to improve public safety. From 2020 to 2021, she was a visiting professor at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.

Sarah Allen Named First Assistant Defender

Posted on by 2010admin

Sarah Allen Named First Assistant Defender

PHILADELPHIA–The Defender Association today announced that Sarah Allen will be the new First Assistant Defender. Allen, a 23-year veteran of the Defender Association, is currently the Chief of the Municipal Court Pre-trial unit and is responsible for supervising all misdemeanor cases pre-trial. 

“On behalf of the Board I want to congratulate both Keisha Hudson on her selection and Sarah Allen for being selected as First Assistant,” said Defender Board President Paul Hetznecker, “Sarah Allen is an excellent choice for the role. Ms. Hudson’s decision to select Ms. Allen, a career Defender, is recognition that a careerlong, passionate commitment to the Defender mission is essential to continuing on the path to real criminal justice reform.” 

Sarah Allen will be replacing Alan Tauber, who will remain with the Defender until January to assist with the leadership transition. “When our justice system all but shut down at the beginning of the pandemic, Sarah spearheaded our efforts to secure emergency releases for more than 1,000 incarcerated people,” said Tauber, “Her ability to execute this huge, critical program is indicative of the professionalism, leadership, innovation and commitment she will bring to her role as First Assistant Defender.” 

Chief Defender Keisha Hudson, who officially started in her new role on November 30, said she was “thrilled” to work with Ms. Allen, citing her impeccable reputation as an attorney, a leader, a collaborator, and a visionary. “I am incredibly honored to work with her,” said Hudson. 

“I am extremely honored and proud to be selected to be the First Assistant,” Allen said, “We are facing extremely challenging times and Keisha [Hudson] has assembled a team that is ready to face these challenges and move the Defender forward.” 

Sarah Allen steps into her new role on Monday, December 6, 2021.

# # #

Defender Files Amicus Brief: Scott v. PA Board of Probation & Parole

Posted on by 2010admin

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The Defender Association of Philadelphia has filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiff in Scott v. PA Board of Probation and Parole. The lawsuit, filed in July 2020 by the Abolitionist Law Center, Amistad Law Project, and the Center for Constitutional Rights, is the first case of its kind in the country. It argues that mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole for those who did not kill or intend to kill do not serve any legitimate governmental interest and are illegally cruel under the Pennsylvania Constitution.

The suit was brought by six people serving mandatory life without parole (LWOP). The six individuals are serving LWOP and are denied the possibility for parole due to their convictions for felony murder, even though they themselves did not kill anyone or intend to kill anyone.

The felony murder rule, which exists in forty-four states, holds a person liable for murder if the person participates in a felony that leads to a death, even if the person plays no direct role in the death or does not intend or anticipate it. In Pennsylvania, people found guilty are automatically sentenced to life, and a separate provision of state law prohibits parole eligibility for anyone serving life.

The Defender Association’s amicus brief highlights how paroled juvenile lifers, released after the U.S. Supreme Court decisions held their incarcerations to be unconstitutional, are positively contributing to the community. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will now decide if the lawsuit may proceed.

Read the Defender’s Amicus Brief here.

Additional Info:

After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to sentence youth to mandatory life without parole, 541 individuals serving juvenile LWOP became entitled to a new sentencing hearing, with Philadelphia  having the largest group of children (325) serving mandatory LWOP. The Defender devised a three-year plan, worked side by side with court administration, City Council, the DA’s Office, and numerous legal organizations and private firms across the region. The Defender represented 75 percent of Philadelphia’s cases and trained and supported pro bono counsel to handle the remaining 25 percent. Across the Commonwealth to date, 469 former children sentenced to LWOP have been resentenced and 248 released.

 

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