Anyone paying attention can tell you that our criminal legal system is perpetuating cruelty and harm, but the complexity of the legal world overwhelms most people simply trying to get through another day.
Public Defenseless explores the rot in the justice system and what we can do about it. Join host, Hunter Parnell, as he interviews top defense attorneys and criminal justice stakeholders from across the country as they pull apart the convoluted web of our criminal justice system.
Like so many of you, Hunter is not an attorney, simply tired of a news cycle and talking heads that offer no real solutions to the ever-growing list of problems we face. Hunter hopes that with this information, you will share his belief that ordinary people still can make a difference.
Chart trend
Position in the Government chart (US), last 90 days.
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#52
all-time peak
236
days in the top 100 since Nov 2024
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
512 | How Public Advocacy Secured Missouri Public Defenders Pay Parity and Much More w/Matthew Crowell and Jet McDonald
In this episode, Hunter revisits with Matthew Crowell, Director of the Missouri State Public Defender, and for the first time Jet McDonald, MSPD's newest Comms Strategist
Sep 3 1 h 01 min
511 | God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood w/Jasper Craven
On this episode, Hunter spoke with Jasper Crave, author of the book God Forgives, Brothers Don't: The Long March of Military Education and the Making of American Manhood.
Sep 1 1 h 09 min
510 | What are a Defense Lawyer's Ethical Obligations When They Use A.I.? w/Mason Clark
On this episode, Professor Mason Clark joins to discuss a new white paper he authored for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers titled Parity in Practice:
Aug 27 1 h 11 min
509 | How to Create Workload Standards for Public Defenders w/Malia Brink
Since the release of the National Public Defender Workload Study, Malia Brink travelled the country helping Public Defenders create and implement workload standards. Now,
Aug 25 1 h 04 min
508 | Will Underfunding Push the Defenders Association of Philadelphia to Stop Accepting New Cases? w/Keisha Hudson
In the last budget cycle, Keisha Hudson, Chief Defender of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, asked the city for $5 million. Instead, the city council and the mayo
Aug 20 1 h 06 min
507 | Robin "Rocky" Myers was Wrongfully Convicted of Murder. Was his Defense Lawyer in the Ku Klux Klan? w/Leah Nelson
The State of Alabama sentenced Robin "Rocky" Myers to death after he was convicted of murder in 1994. Over the next 30 years, Rocky fought to prove his innocence, and wit
Aug 18 1 h 25 min
506 | Pink Crime: How to Fight the Criminalization of Motherhood, Pregnancy, and Queer Identity w/Valena Beety
Hunter is joined once again by Professor Valena Beety. Valena joins the show to discuss her new book, Pink Crime: Fighting Against the Criminalization of Motherhood, Preg
Aug 13 1 h 08 min
505 | Will Automation Make it Harder to Keep Junk Science out of Court? w/Lisa Waters
Hunter is joined once again by Professor Lisa Waters to discuss her law review article, Automating Junk Science. In it, Lisa details a troubling trend where police office
Aug 11 56 min
504 | By Helping Victims and Perpetrators, Domestic Violence can Be Solved Without Relying on the Criminal Legal System w/Liz Ortenburger
Hunter is joined by Liz Ortenburger, the CEO of Safe Nest. Liz and her team at Safe Nest operate a shelter and aid center for victims and perpetrators of domestic violenc
Aug 6 1 h 02 min
503 | Why is the NDS Union on Strike? UPDATE THEY WON!! w/Ashley Munger, Katherine Shamsie, and Samantha Rudelich
Breaking news: As the evening of Aug 4, the NDS Union won a contract!!
Hunter is joined by Ashley Munger, Katherine Shamsie, and Samantha Rudelich of the NDS Union
Aug 4 1 h 08 min
502 | How a Not Guilty Verdict in a Homicide Case Shows the Promise of Idaho's Statewide Public Defense System w/Eric Fredericksen and Doug Nelson
Today, Hunter was joined once again by two guests from the Idaho State Public Defender System. Eric Fredericksen, State Public Defender, and Doug Nelson, Litigation Direc
Jul 30 52 min
501 | Why Public Defenders Need the Insights and Expertise of Formerly Incarcerated People in Their Offices w/Jennifer Jennison and Sammy Provencio
Hunter is joined once again by Jennifer Jennison and joining us for the first time is Sammy Provencio. After spending more than 30 years in custody, Sammy has joined the
Jul 28 58 min
500 | Public Defense is Underfunded, but by How Much? Putting a Conservative Number on the Cost of the Right to Counsel w/Ben Polk
Hunter is joined by Ben Polk, Director of the Transformative Justice Project at New York University School of Law, Robert and Helen Bernstein Institute for Human Rights t
Jul 23 55 min
499 | When Delays in the Appointment of Counsel Violate the Constitution w/Eve Primus
Hunter is joined once again by Professor Eve Primus to discuss another excellent law review article about Public Defense. This time, Professor Primus details how delays i
Jul 21 1 h 08 min
498 | How the Allegheny County Public Defender is Getting their Clients Out of Custody and into Care w/Alena Chulick
Today, Hunter was joined by Alena Chulick, the Co-Founder and Project Manager of Project Rehabilitate out of the Allegheny County Public Defender. Thanks to a federal gra
Jul 16 53 min
497 | How Did the Tribal Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Build a Model Holistic Defender Service w/Ann Miller, Susette Billedeaux, and Josh Cahoon
Today, Hunter was joined by Ann Miller, Susette Billedeaux, and Josh Cahoon from the Tribal Defenders Office of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. They joined t
Jul 14 1 h 02 min
496 | Why the Lawyers Handling 80% of Massachusetts's Public Defender Cases Stopped Taking New Cases Part 2 w/Shira Diner
Today, Hunter was joined once again by Professor Shira Diner. Last time she was on the show, she explained why the bar advocates in Massachusetts stopped accepting new ca
Jul 9 55 min
495 | Will a Severe Budget Deficit in Santa Clara County Require the Public Defender to Stop Taking New Cases? w/Damon Silver
Today, Hunter was joined by Damon Silver Chief Defender of the Santa Clara County Public Defender. Home to Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County is struggling with a large b
Jul 7 1 h 16 min
494 | Why did the Spokane County Public Defenders Sue the County Over New Workload Requirements? w/Colin Charbonneau and Victoria Blumhorst
Today, Hunter was joined by Colin Charbonneau and Victoria Blumhorst, two Public Defender leaders from Spokane, Washington. They joined the show to explain why they decid
Jul 2 1 h 07 min
493 | Two Oregon Public Defenders Sued the Oregon Public Defense Commission and Won. Now What? w/Shannon Wilson and Stacey Lowe
Today, Hunter was joined once again by Shannon Wilson and Stacey Lowe. The last time these two Public Defender Leaders in Oregon were on the show, they discussed why they
Jun 30 1 h 13 min
Chart positions
Where Public Defenseless ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 8, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
Public Defenseless details how the presumption of innocence is fiction in courtrooms across the country.
While we supposedly have the right to a trial by a jury of our peers, defendants who are largely Black and Latino men, are compelled to take pleas or face lengthy, painful incarceration.
The American justice system as revealed by Public Defenseless is so deeply broken and must be reformed.
rachelm1972 · Mar 2025
As a former Colorado public defender (and still indigent criminal defense attorney), I’m biased in favor of the excellent coverage of issues in Colorado, including the crisis in our state public defender system and the horrors unfolding in municipal courts.
But I also love every episode from elsewhere in the country. It’s so easy for us to be in our silos and forget that there are hundreds of other offices out there facing similar challenges and coming up with innovative solutions. This podcast is a wonderful way to help bring us together and share ideas.
A true public service.
drewmm10 · Mar 2025
If you support the Death Penalty, believe that the US justice system is largely fair, and think that stories of failings are scant exceptions to the rule, this should be your next podcast to listen to. Example after example of the capriciousness of US crime law is presented. Powerful! and Needed. Listening feels like having a backstage pass to monumental court proceedings. Thank you! Highly recommend.
Luckyluckylucky5 · Jan 2024
Criminal defense attorney here. More specifically, an Iowa private defense attorney who accepts court-appointed indigent defendants at the state and federal levels. I just started this podcast, and in fact, am writing this review after pausing midway through the first (full) episode. Notwithstanding, I’m already overly impressed with the volume of information critically relevant to understanding the criminal ‘justice’ system faced by millions of Americans every year.
Excited to explore the next 40+ episodes, and will be sharing this gem with non-attorney friends and family as well as colleagues.
Pstat102079 · Sep 2022
Great podcast that is thoughtful and helpful. Public defenders need better funding and a limit on clients that need help.
Usernamesux · Jun 2023
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Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Public Defenseless, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
