Today, we return to once again to the state of Alabama to speak with Stacey Fuller and Kathleen Henderson. If you will recall, Stacey joined Hunter in his conversation with Leah Nelson to discuss the fines and fees that keep Alabamans from accessing a meaningful second chance. At the end of that episode, Stacey mentioned the Felony ID card the state required her always have on her. That conversation plays directly into this one as we examine the other onerous conditions the state of Alabama places on those returning from incarceration. Join Hunter, Kathleen, and Stacey as we wade through the minefield that the formerly incarcerated must navigate to avoid returning to jail.   Guests: Stacey Fuller, Community Outreach Coordinator, Tennessee Kathleen Henderson, Re-Entry Case Manager, Alabama Apple Seed   Resources: Alabama Appleseed https://alabamaappleseed.org/ Alabama Driver’s License Bill https://www.al.com/news/2023/05/lawmakers-pass-bill-to-limit-drivers-license-suspensions-for-unpaid-fees.html Alabama Prison Funding https://alabamareflector.com/2023/05/02/alabama-crime-victims-compensation-commission-gets-less-than-it-sought-in-general-fund/ https://www.al.com/news/2023/03/alabama-governor-wants-100-million-of-school-funds-for-prison-construction.html https://www.al.com/news/2023/03/alabamas-billion-dollar-no-bid-prison-disaster-is-only-the-beginning.html   Alabama Trial Penalty https://www.al.com/news/2023/04/whitmire-alabama-lawmakers-trial-tax-bill-will-cost-us.html Alabama Inmate Frozen to Death https://www.cbs42.com/regional/after-release-of-video-lawsuit-claims-alabama-man-froze-to-death-in-police-custody-was-likely-placed-in-jail-freezer/   Contact Hunter Parnell: [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patron www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast Donate on PayPal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=5KW7WMJWEXTAJ Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/7sI01tb2v3dwaM8cMN  

On last week’s show, Hunter spoke with Babatunde Aremu and demonstrated the ways in which a Public Defender Office could be unionized without causing strife between leadership and line public defenders. Unfortunately today’s episode demonstrates the worst possible scenario for a unionization effort. Hunter sat down with Cat Vining and Morgan King, line public defenders in the Louisville Metro Public Defender Office, to discuss why they unionized and the incredible efforts that leadership took to make sure the union would be crushed. Unlike the rest of the state, Louisville Public Defense historically existed outside of the control of the Depart of Public Advocacy, but when the office decided to unionize, the powers that be stepped in to make a change. Despite the Governor vetoing the bill that would bring the office into the state system (while also calling out the legislation as retribution), the Louisville Metro Public Defender Office now sits on the precipice of a quick, ill planned ascension into the state system. So what comes next for those who rely on the services of the Louisville Metro Public Defender?       Guest: Cat Vining, Line Public Defender, Louisville Metro Public Defender Morgan King, Line Public Defender, Louisville Metro Public Defender   Resources Folder containing internal emails and other correspondence from Louisville Metro Public Defender Office https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1X8zNcYWtWHMxia1OW1fIEct3LlTI0cQb?usp=sharing Brief overview of what the Kentucky Supreme Court said, as well as a link to the opinion by the Kentucky Supreme Court as well https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/kentucky-high-court-tosses-challenge-to-state-lawyers-unionizing  Article about HB 568 --> https://www.wdrb.com/news/louisville-public-defenders-concerned-about-state-legislation-that-would-change-how-they-get-funding/article_93e36c90-ba37-11ed-8dc9-a773424b6481.html Gov. Beshear Veto --> https://www.wdrb.com/news/politics/gov-beshear-vetoes-bill-related-to-louisville-public-defenders-office-merging-with-state/article_bb4d6d5e-caad-11ed-b0e0-dbef141919b1.html Leo Smith's Campaign Contributions --> https://secure.kentucky.gov/kref/publicsearch/AllContributors?FirstName=Leo&LastName=Smith&FromOrganizationName=&ElectionDate=01%2F01%2F0001&City=&State=&Zip=&Employer=&Occupation=&OtherOccupation=&MinAmount=&MaxAmount=&MinimalDate=&MaximalDate=&ContributionMode=&ContributionSearchType=All&PageSize=10&PageIndex=0&ReportId= - this link hopefully goes straight to Leo Smith's campaign donations, but if not, that website is https://secure.kentucky.gov/kref/publicsearch/AllContributors and you can search Leo Smith's name to see his contribution to James Nemes in 2022, the same state Represenative who filed HB 568 merging our office into the state agency   Contact Hunter Parnell: [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod  www.publicdefenseless.com Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on Pay Pal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FC6UYEFLAMBTE Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/cN26pR5IbaFY9I46oo  

On today’s bonus show, Hunter provides updates on the plans for the show and what he learned from his internship at the Aurora Municipal Public Defender Office.   Contact Hunter Parnell: [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com  Subscribe to the Patreon www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast  Donate on Pay Pal https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=FC6UYEFLAMBTE Donate on Stripe https://donate.stripe.com/cN26pR5IbaFY9I46oo  

Today, Hunter spoke with Jill Weinberg, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Tufts University, to discuss the difficulties and strategies of discussing BDSM and other alternative sexual practices in the court room. For many, 50 Shades of Grey is the only exposure to alternative sexual practices so how should lawyers prepare juries, judges, and even themselves for when their case revolves around one of these topics? From the complexities of consent in BDSM relationships to navigating polyamorous relationships, today’s episode is all about the ways attorneys need to confront the biases people hold about alternative sexual practices.     Guest: Jill Weinberg, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Tufts University     Resources Professor Jill Weinberg’s Faculty Page https://as.tufts.edu/sociology/people/faculty/jill-weinberg Professor Jill Weinberg’s Book https://www.amazon.com/Books-Jill-D-Weinberg-Ph-JD/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AJill+D.+Weinberg+Ph.D++JD     Contact Hunter Parnell: [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com    

When most in the Public Defender world think about the Bronx Defenders, they think of an office at the forefront of imagining a new path forward for Public Defense. Despite this, the Bronx Defenders sat as outlier amongst the New York City Public Defender Offices as one of the last who were not unionized. Today, Hunter spoke with Babatunde Aremu, President of the new Bronx Defenders Union, to discuss the interesting history of the office’s relationship with unions, his work as a civil public defender, and the example other offices can learn from the leadership at the Bronx Defenders willingness to accept the unionization without a fight.   Guest: Babatunde Aremu, Union President and Civil Action Attorney, Bronx Defender   Resources Contact the Bronx Defender Union [email protected] Bronx Defenders www.bronxdefenders.org   Contact Hunter Parnell: [email protected]  Instagram @PublicDefenselessPodcast Twitter                                                                 @PDefenselessPod www.publicdefenseless.com