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L.A. County Public Defenders Union

@lapubdefunion.bsky.social
222 followers 55 following 225 posts

L.A. County Public Defenders Union Local 148: Resisting and Obstructing Injustice since 1914 | RTs ≠ endorsement | #UnionStrong #EndMassIncarceration #CareNotCages

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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
#Prop36 promised treatment instead of incarceration but that promise is going unkept. Last year, fewer than 1 in 5 Prop 36 drug cases statewide led to treatment. Just 57 people graduated and had their charges dropped.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
For years, people held in Men’s Central Jail have endured mold, vermin, violence and preventable deaths. Now the DOJ is investigating whether conditions violate their constitutional rights. Accountability is long overdue. www.latimes.com/california/s...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Angelenos stood up against ICE. More than a year later, their own City Attorney is prosecuting them. Hydee Feldstein Soto filed charges against 20+ demonstrators for “failure to disperse” just days before the statute of limitations expired.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Public defenders are asked to be lawyers, social workers & more, all while carrying crushing caseloads. Client advocates are showing what happens when defense teams actually have resources: better outcomes & more time for lawyers to defend their clients. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/12/h...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
For the 5th year running, CA failed to regulate #Flock cameras. #SB1013 would’ve limited their use, required privacy training & mandated misuse audits. It passed the Senate, then died without an Assembly floor vote. Nearly 40 law enforcement groups opposed it.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
You'll see plenty of solidarity posts from LA County leaders today. What we actually need is a contract. Public defenders— the people who guarantee your constitutional right to a legal defense—are undervalued and being driven out of the profession. #LaborDay
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Jose Carlos Hoyos-Munoz, 58, was in a mental health crisis and handcuffed in a Van Nuys jail cell when officers repeatedly struck, kneed and pinned him. Minutes later, he was dead. Handcuffs aren’t care. A jail cell isn’t treatment.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
After nationwide criticism, Nathan Hochman downgraded all 16 charges against a LAPD whistleblower, clearing the way for diversion. If diversion is good enough to bail out the DA’s office, it’s good enough for mentally ill Angelenos who should be getting treatment. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/19/u...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
1. Public defenders see the conditions our clients are forced to endure in LA jails. At Century Regional Detention Facility, incarcerated women have reported brown foul smelling water, bugs coming from drains, mold, broken plumbing and even worm-like bugs in drinking water.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Diversion saved District Attorney Nathan Hochman's office from a scandal. Why won't he let it save mentally ill Angelenos too? #LAPD www.latimes.com/california/s...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
1. “I see what happens when people like the man who tackled me are arrested, temporarily jailed and released, and then arrested again — a tragic cycle that is often the reality for those suffering from serious mental illness." www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
We stand firmly behind the Office of Diversion and Reentry’s director and staff and against efforts in Sacramento to rollback the progress diversion has made.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
An LAPD officer exposed racist, sexist and homophobic remarks by his colleagues. Now he’s facing 16 felony charges and up to 13 years in prison. Punishing officers who document misconduct sends a dangerous message: protect the system, or pay the price. www.latimes.com/california/s...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
1. LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman has lost all credibility. For months, he said he was waiting for #LAPD to finish its investigation before considering charges against ICE agent Brian Palacios for shooting Keith Porter Jr.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Morally bankrupt decision by District Attorney Nathan Hochman to protect racists inside the #LAPD
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
The #Homeboy5K is Sept. 19! Every step we take and every dollar we raise supports Homeboy Industries—the world’s largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program. They provide job training, education & healing for formerly incarcerated & gang-involved individuals. raceroster.com/events/2026/...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
🎉 Congratulations to @bklyndefender.bsky.social Union on reaching a tentative agreement! Public defenders deserve the pay, benefits, and working conditions they need to keep fighting for their clients every day. This is a reminder that when we organize, we win. #1u #Solidarity
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
A grand jury says the Sheriff's watchdog needs independent legal counsel because county attorneys are representing both the watchdog AND the Sheriff's Department. That's not oversight. That's an unmistakable conflict of interest. www.latimes.com/california/s...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Law enforcement has quietly expanded the use of controversial jailhouse "Perkins" stings, using deception, undercover operatives, and psychological pressure to extract “confessions” from people in custody. Accountability shouldn't end at the jailhouse door. calmatters.org/justice/2026...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Freedom shouldn't depend on the size of your bank account. Cash bail punishes poverty, keeps legally innocent people in jail & pressures people to plead guilty just to go home. The fight to end wealth-based detention is a fight for justice & due process. inthesetimes.com/article/bail...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Good news! CA's homicide rate hit a record low in 2025, alongside historic declines in violent & property crime. Let’s keep this going by investing in communities, protecting your rights, and fully funding the public defenders who make due process possible. www.sfchronicle.com/crime/articl...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Underfunding public defense puts Americans’ constitutional rights in peril. WA's public defense system is stretched to the breaking point, with overwhelming caseloads and attorney shortages. Justice can't exist when clients don’t have legal representation. davisvanguard.org/2026/07/wash...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
People in LA County custody shouldn't have to wait weeks or months for medication to treat addiction. Overdoses made up about 25% of in-custody deaths in 2025. Timely access to treatment can save lives. www.latimes.com/california/s...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Families have spent years fighting for the right to visit their incarcerated loved ones with dignity. AB 2434 would help end arbitrary visitation denials and protect families from needless harm. We'll keep fighting until these protections are guaranteed. calmatters.org/commentary/2...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Over $1 BILLION has been spent on litigation tied to the LA County Sheriff's & Probation Departments since 2013, including cases involving excessive force & dangerous jail conditions. Imagine if those dollars had been invested in care instead. lapublicpress.org/2026/06/sher...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
A year later, we're still seeing the lasting harm caused by ICE raids and carceral systems. Family separation is cruel. Communities deserve safety, stability, and dignity, not fear and detention. Our strength comes from community, not cages. lapublicpress.org/2026/06/la-i...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
California can afford endless prison overtime, but education and rehabilitation are on the chopping block? That's a choice. Real public safety means investing in people, not pouring more money into incarceration. calmatters.org/justice/2026...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
1. This past Saturday, Local 148 was proud to sponsor the Black Public Defender Association Annual Juneteenth Scholarship Reception! 🎓 High tuition shouldn't stand in the way of justice!
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
If this is how police treat their own colleagues, how do you think they treat regular Angelenos? You won’t believe the stories of police abuse we’ve heard from our clients over the years. www.latimes.com/california/s...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
1. #Juneteenth is often called America’s Second Independence Day—the day freedom finally reached the last enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas. As public defenders, we know that the fight for true liberation didn’t end in 1865.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
1. We are incredibly proud to see groundbreaking civil rights attorney and former public defender Mia Yamamoto named as a Grand Marshal for this year’s LA Pride Parade! Born in a Japanese-American internment camp during WWII and later serving as a decorated Vietnam War veteran.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH LOS ANGELES! Our union will always stand up for the rights and power of the LGBTQ+ community.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
THIS! Solano County #publicdefenders have refused to accept new cases until a contract is signed. We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at Teamsters Local 150. They are demanding that Solano County address low pay and high caseloads. fox40.com/video/public...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
1. “Public defenders are the last line of defense for the poor. The only ones standing between the state and the cage. They’re underfunded, overworked, and underappreciated. They fight a system designed to process people, not seek truth. And they do it anyway." (continued...)
davisvanguard.org
Public Defenders See You When the System Doesn't - Davis Vanguard
Public defenders constitute a fundamental component of legal representation for indigent defendants, operating within a criminal justice framework frequently criticized for prioritizing case processin...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
LA! Make sure you vote by Tuesday! Vote by mail this weekend, or find your polling place at this link: sos.ca.gov/elections/po... We’re proud to endorse Marissa Roy, Eunisses Hernandez, Hugo Soto-Martinez, @faizahforla.bsky.social, @johnericksonwh.bsky.social, Estuardo Mazariegos, and Jane Kim
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
1. @johnericksonwh.bsky.social has the bold vision California needs in the State Senate. We’re especially impressed by his thoughtful approach to public safety, which recognizes that sending armed police to every crisis is not how we create truly safe communities.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
1. Jane Kim is our choice for California Insurance Commissioner. She’s committed to taking on the exploitative cash bail industry and fighting for an insurance system that actually works for people—not big corporations.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
1. We endorse Estuardo Mazariegos for City Council! He is a community leader with nearly two decades of experience fighting for working-class communities.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
1. Faizah is the best choice to make LA safer & healthier! She has a comprehensive vision for addressing crime & violence: bolstering LA's response with upstream harm prevention, community violence intervention, unarmed care-based crisis response and survivor support.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
1. Proud to endorse Hugo for City Council. He has been a consistent voice for investing in what actually makes communities safer & healthier: mental health care, affordable housing, community-led youth programs, unarmed traffic enforcement, unarmed mental health crisis response & universal childcare
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
1. We’re proud to endorse Eunisses for LA City Council! Eunisses understands something many politicians still don’t: LA cannot arrest its way out homelessness, addiction, or poverty.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
1. #MarissaRoy brings a commonsense, evidence-based approach to public safety that will make Angelenos safer. The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office is the second largest prosecutorial agency in the US, and its policies have a direct impact on tens of thousands of people every year.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Why does the #LAPD keep turning off body cameras? This is a department with a long, well-documented history of excessive force and misconduct. Angelenos deserve transparency, accountability, and far better from those sworn to protect them. www.latimes.com/california/s...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall was plagued by abuse and unsafe conditions—that’s why it’s being shut down. Now, Los Angeles County must ensure this transition is handled safely and responsibly so young people are not harmed even further. www.dailynews.com/2026/05/03/l...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Proud to announce that Local 148 funded 3 scholarships for college-bound seniors during the Latino Public Defenders Association Cinco de Mayo celebration! They were selected for their dedication to advocacy & resilience. We’re honored to support the next generation of leaders!
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
The message is finally breaking through to lawmakers: public defense must be fully funded to protect the integrity of our justice system. www.dailyjournal.com/articles/391...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
1. We’ve seen the harm caused when people are jailed before they’ve even had their day in court—losing jobs, falling behind on rent, facing eviction, or even losing custody of their children.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
We will never stop fighting for our members, for dignity on the job, and for the working conditions every worker deserves. This #MayDay, we say it loud: power belongs to workers.
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
We’re angry. Angry that public defenders are constantly asked to do more with less, while prosecutors have limitless resources. We stand in solidarity w/ Mano Raju and all SF public defenders that are fighting back against ridiculous caseloads and severe underfunding sfstandard.com/2026/04/27/p...
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L.A. County Public Defenders Union @lapubdefunion.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
1. Today, Local 148 members wore black to stand in solidarity with SF Public Defender @manorajupd.bsky.social and to protest the chronic underfunding and crushing caseloads that threaten the Sixth Amendment–the constitutional right to an attorney.
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