CPDA Executive Director Kate Chatfield was interviewed by Spectrum News on the Association’s continued opposition to new legislation for mental health diversion. Read more and watch the segment here: spectrumlocalnews.com/ca/californi...

CPDA is capping summer off with its annual homicide defense practice seminar. The training can be accessed both in-person and online. The cost is $260 for members and $325 for non-members. Visit CPDA.org for more information and to register.

We are spotlighting Glen Mowrer, a past Board President and early CPDA leader who is the creator and namesake behind the Mowrer Fellowship. It allows CPDA to fund an intern to engage in legislative, policy, and appellate work that strengthens public defense statewide: www.cpda.org/make-a-donat...

CalMatters' recent editorial argues CA's death penalty is racially rigged. And now, the Office of the State Public Defender & civil rights groups are taking the fight for equal protection to the state superior court. Read the commentary here: calmatters.org/commentary/2...

CPDA member and UC Berkeley Law lecturer Andrea Crider argues that the promise of the state’s Racial Justice Act to provide incarcerated people a lawyer to challenge racially biased convictions is not working out as projected. Read more here: cpda.memberclicks.net/assets/Newsl...

CPDA is hosting their annual DUI Defense Practice Seminar, August 29-29. Public defenders and experts from across the state will lead workshops on DUI defense, jury deselection, must-know DUI legal cases, and more. For more information and to register, visit the CPDA website.

A CalMatters investigation highlights “Perkins operations.” This is a practice used by law enforcement where law enforcement place people in custody, and then pose as incarcerated individuals in an effort to elicit incriminating statements from that person. Read: calmatters.org/justice/2026...

LA County Public Defender and CPDA Board Member Ricardo Garcia was among several advocates and allies who gathered in Sacramento in support of universal clemency, reports Pasadena Now. Read more: pasadenanow.com/main/l-a-pub...

Santa Cruz County Chief Public Defender and CPDA board member Heather Rogers recently spoke to Lookout Santa Cruz about securing an agreement to fund their county’s public defense office after deliberation on how to cut costs while still providing services. Read more: lookout.co/county-finds...

CPDA Executive Director Kate Chatfield spoke with ABC 10 Sacramento around ongoing debate over the state’s mental health diversion program. Governor Newsom signed AB46, which seeks to limit access to mental health diversion into law last month. Watch: www.abc10.com/article/news...

The Sacramento Bee mentioned the legislative work of California Public Defenders Association related to a recent measure approved by Governor Newsom. Read more: www.sacbee.com/news/politic...

CPDA member and LA County Head Deputy Public Defender Nick Stewart-Oaten was quoted in a story from LA Daily News regarding a glitch in the California DOJ’s background check system. Read more: www.dailynews.com/2026/06/12/d...

CPDA member Lesli Caldwell-Houston tells KALW why "wobbler bill" AB 1741 risks exacerbating mass incarceration. "A 'wobbler' is a specific type of crime giving the justice system the flexibility to charge a defendant with either a misdemeanor or a felony..." Listen: www.kalw.org/bay-area-new...

CPDA member and Orange County Deputy Public Defender Rose Angulo spoke to the OC Register about the potential sentence reduction of a Chilean national due to racial bias. Read more here: www.ocregister.com/2026/06/12/d...

This week, Andrea Garcia, San Bernardino Dep. Public Defender & CPDA Immigration Committee Member, testified in support of SB 873. If passed, it will stop ICE from making arrests w/o a warrant while a person is in or around a state courthouse. Learn more: bit.ly/3SZ7K9w

Last week, CPDA, Smart Justice California, Vera California, and others gathered at the state capitol to call on lawmakers to protect mental health diversion. Join us in continuing to support legislation for #MentalHealthDiversion #MentalHealthDiversionCA Photos via Smart Justice California.

County jails are now the largest mental health facilities in America. Mental health diversion is the off-ramp that leads to recovery, accountability, and safety. Join us in calling on lawmakers to protect mental health diversion. Support #MentalHealthDiversion #MentalHealthDiversionCA

CPDA leaders spoke with LA Public Press about working to pass SB 873, a bill that has the potential to ban ICE agents performing arrests within 1000 feet of a state courthouse unless they have a warrant. Read more here: lapublicpress.org/2026/06/ice-...

CPDA Executive Director Kate Chatfield discussed the need for, and benefits of, the CPDA Motions Bank with the Davis Vanguard. Read more here: davisvanguard.org/2026/06/cali...

The California Public Defenders Association is honoring and commemorating the legacy of the Stonewall Uprising, which laid the groundwork for modern activism and organizing in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. CPDA aims to live up to their legacy in the work we do every day.

There is still time to register for the DNA Defense Clinic at Loyola Law School on June 26-27, 2026. It is being hosted by CPDA, Loyola Law School, and the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California. Visit cpda.memberclicks.net/upcoming-trainings for more info and to register.

Happy Pride Month! CPDA proudly celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. We honor our fellow LGBTQ+ public defense professionals who make our justice system more open and affirming. We remain committed to eradicating gender & identity-based inequities & elevating public defense work in California & beyond.

On 6/18/26, CPDA will host “ICE Enforcement During the Trump Administration: Risks, Realities, and Strategies for Defenders.” The webinar will focus on changes in immigration enforcement + its impact on noncitizen clients in the criminal legal system. Register: www.cpda.org/upcoming-trainings.

AI use to evaluate claims from public defender clients may be coming to LA Superior Court. “‘I think it is outrageous,” said the LA County Superior Court judge. “Ultimately, that will erode the public’s confidence in the competence and fairness of the judiciary.’” Read more: bit.ly/49xRn9F

This week, 3 CPDA-sponsored bills advanced: AB 1905, SB 873, and SB 1173. But AB 1958, the Racial Justice Act of 2026, did not. Fighting for racial justice in our criminal legal system is a constant battle, but we + our allies are committed to the fight. More info: www.cpda.org/legislation.

CPDA ACTION ALERT: Tell Your Assemblymember To Vote YES on AB 1958. It amends California's Racial Justice Act, which stops the state from seeking, obtaining, or imposing a criminal conviction or sentence based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. Call today + ask them to vote YES.

SB 873 — the "Kick ICE Out of Courts" Act — passed the State Senate today + now heads to the Assembly. It makes protections clear: a valid judicial warrant before any ICE arrest, clear ID by agents, a 1,000-foot zone around every state courthouse + protection for anyone traveling to + from court.

Last month, CPDA elected its new Board Members for 2026. We welcome them to a continuing tradition of commitment to improving indigent defense throughout California and advocating for systemic change in the criminal legal system.

CPDA, Loyola Law School, and the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California are hosting a DNA Defense Clinic at Loyola Law School June 26-27, 2026. Visit cpda.memberclicks.net/upcoming-trainings for more information and to register.