A message from the CPDA President to the members of the California Public Defenders AssociationThis coming year will be a challenge for all in the criminal defense community. The budget crisis at hand is affecting staffing levels in public defender offices throughout the state. As advocates for indigent clients facing prosecution and loss of liberty, we must not accept that cutting funding for criminal defense is an easy fix to budget woes. Rather, we must remind politicians and the community of the necessity of maintaining solid, well-funded public defender offices.
The message for essential funding of public defenders is as evident as the results produced by the day-to-day competent representation provided by well-trained, well-managed and well-funded public defender offices. Yet this message is every day clouded by unwarranted attacks on public defenders through sensationalized media stories. This year the California Public Defender Association is dedicating itself to ensuring that that the hard work, the unheralded acquittals, and the life-saving work of public defenders is not simply lost with the passage of time. That instead a message of constitutional competence, dedicated service, and solid legal advocacy will inform our communities of the real work done by public defenders.
Whether it is the innovative programs for community reentry at the San Francisco Public Defender Office, or the ground breaking litigation and advocacy on behalf of juvenile clients at the Sacramento and Los Angeles County Public Defender Offices, or the dedicated efforts to combat court trial back log by the Riverside County Public Defender Office, or the Homeless and Veteran Court efforts by the San Diego, Orange County and Alameda County Public Defender Offices—all these are vibrant and on-going efforts to help better the lives of our clients and also to serve our communities by returning to them sons and daughters better skilled to take on life challenges.
Public defenders are the heart and soul of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights in courts throughout our state and nation on a daily basis. Public defenders are a dedicated group of women and men who take on this constitutional challenge not for money but for something more meaningful to them. Public defenders defend those that some would have receive no defense; sacrifice of their lives to ensure clients receive fairness and dignity; and help direct clients to channels of treatment and hope. This is what public defenders really do and it is their dedication to this duty that allows them to proudly be called Public Defenders.
This year the CPDA’s Media Committee will work to make certain that the contribution of public defenders to their communities is understood, appreciated and respected. As your President I will work with your Board of Directors to support and acknowledge the work of public defenders not only among ourselves but among our communities as well. Our message was written for us long ago by those with the wisdom to create a historic Bill of Rights. It is our shared duty to make this message live and reverberate in the daily life of our communities.
In appreciation of your dedicated service,
Winston A. Peters, President
California Public Defenders Association
