"Where a white legal professional might see stats, I see people. Because, after all, the systemic issues that affect my clients have also affected me."
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Public defense is a space filled with opportunities for collaboration and innovation. At this year's Collaborative Defense Conference in Atlanta, that energy was palpable.
This year, PFJ welcomed over 220 people to our largest conference yet. Supervisors, social service partners, and Client Advocates from across the country attended sessions and workshops highlighting innovation in public defense, with topics ranging from how to gather client feedback, to the complex role of AI in public defense, to understanding adolescent brain development in juvenile criminal cases.
The conference was also a time to take stock and celebrate wins we’ve had in the past year. As public defender offices across the country continue to navigate cuts to the social safety net, overwhelming caseloads, and challenging budget prospects, taking time to celebrate the success we’ve had in building opportunities to grow and expand service offerings is essential. In recognition of that, conference attendees were invited to anonymously share a recent accomplishment on a post-it note in the main ballroom. Speckling the wall in bright colors, these handwritten, personal notes told stories of perseverance and determination.
“Advocated for funds to pay off a single mother’s debts,” one attendee wrote, while another simply put, “Case Dismissed!”
Alongside sessions and workshops, we honored our cohort of second-year Advocates at PFJ’s annual Stepping-Up Ceremony. These advocates led seven different sessions at the conference this year, illustrating their broad commitment to advancing public defense. Each Advocate is making a real change both in their jurisdiction and within our community, and their enthusiasm to share their knowledge and experience with newer Advocates underscores their immense impact.
We also had the pleasure of awarding the PFJ Champion Award to Dekalb County Super District 6 Commissioner Ted Terry for his advocacy and ongoing support for public defense. In addition to being a champion for low-income families in the court system, the Commissioner is actively committed to collaborating with defenders in his jurisdiction to create a future with more expansive, holistic defense offerings for the people he serves. When local lawmakers understand the important role of public defenders, we move one step closer to lasting public safety and thriving communities.
“Public defense is not always the easiest cause for an elected official to champion. Our clients don’t have a powerful constituency. They don’t have lobbyists. And, frankly, there aren’t always a lot of political points to be gained by standing up and saying that public defenders—and the people we represent—deserve more resources. But Ted has done exactly that,” said Letitia Delan, the Circuit Public Defender for the DeKalb Judicial Circuit.
Every year, the Collaborative Defense Conference provides a generative space for Advocates, supervisors, and social service partners from across the country to strengthen ties and share ideas for transforming public defense. As our plenary session speakers, Dr. Dave Dennis and Judy Richardson, leaders of the civil rights movement, said: “If you do nothing, nothing changes.”
In these days together, the change stemming from our labor is unmistakable. As we look ahead, no matter how challenging, we know this incredible team of Collaborative Defenders will bring us all closer to justice.
