Public Defenseless

On this episode, three members of the Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS) Union in Detroit join Hunter: Dan Eichinger, Megan Gokey and Joe McGuire. The last time NDS Union members came on the show, in Ep. 503, they explained why they were on strike. After winning a new, fair contract, these three detail how two judges tried, and failed, to hold them in contempt for missing court while on strike.
Guests:
Dan Eichinger, Staff Attorney, NDS Detroit
Megan Gokey, Staff Attorney, NDS Detroit
Joe McGuire, Staff Attorney, NDS Detroit
Resources:
Learn more about the union:
https://www.instagram.com/ndsunion/ 
Learn more about the contempt proceedings:
https://michiganadvance.com/2026/09/01/public-defenders-accuse-two-detroit-judges-of-attempting-to-break-their-strike/ 

https://uaw.org/statement-on-wayne-county-judges-hollow-contempt-claims-against-striking-public-defenders-by-uaw-president-shawn-fain/ 
Related episodes:
Ep. 503, on why NDS Union members went on strike:
https://www.publicdefenseless.com/episodes/503-the-nds-union-went-on-strike-update-and-they-won 

Ep. 150, NDS Detroit Union members on what it takes to fix public defense in Detroit:
https://www.publicdefenseless.com/episodes/150-to-fix-detroit-public-defense-there-must-be-a-fair-contract-for-the-neighborhood-defender-services-of-detroit 

Ep. 78, David Carroll on public defense in Oakland County, Michigan, and New Hampshire:
https://www.publicdefenseless.com/episodes/78-whats-plaguing-public-defense-in-oakland-county-michigan-and-new-hampshire 
Public Defenseless Links and Contact

Get each new episode a day early on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast 
Search past episode transcripts:
https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home 
Follow and support the show, plus all our links:
https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast 
Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com 
Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com 
DISCLAIMER:  Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

On this episode, Hunter spoke with law professor Samantha Barbas about her book "Hate Speech: The Legal and Cultural History of an American Dilemma." In the book, Samantha walks readers through the legal and cultural fights around hate speech. Since the early 20th century, Americans have struggled to define and combat hate speech. Through her historical dive into this controversial topic, Samantha provides key insights into modern-day fights about censorship.
Guest:
Samantha Barbas, Professor of Law and Aliber Family Chair, University of Iowa College of Law; Author, "Hate Speech: The Legal and Cultural History of an American Dilemma"
Resources:
Contact Samantha Here:
https://law.uiowa.edu/people/samantha-barbas 

Pick up a Copy of the Book Here:
https://www.ucpress.edu/books/hate-speech/hardcover 

Also on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0520401964 
Public Defenseless Links and Contact
Get each new episode a day early on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast     
Search past episode transcripts:
https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home

Follow and support the show, plus all our links:
https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast
Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com 
Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com
DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

On this episode, Hunter talks with Erin George, National Director of Policy at The Bail Project. Few topics in criminal legal policy have drawn more attention in recent years than bail reform. Erin explains what drives the intense, polarizing debates around bail reform and the policy changes we can fight for to eliminate cash bail.
Guest:
Erin George, National Director of Policy, The Bail Project
Resources:
Learn more about The Bail Project:
https://bailproject.org/ 
https://www.instagram.com/bailproject/ 
https://www.facebook.com/bailproject/ 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-49-TzVvamru9KecPuSYKw 
https://www.tiktok.com/@bailproject 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bail-project/ 
https://x.com/bailproject 
Public Defenseless Links and Contact

Get each new episode a day early on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast 
Search past episode transcripts:
https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home 
Follow and support the show, plus all our links:
https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast 
Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com 
Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com 
 
DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

On this episode, Hunter talks with two former public defenders, Eliza Orlins and Thea Johnson, about their podcast, Criminally Online. From their years as public defenders, Eliza and Thea know the criminal legal system looks very different from the way mass media portrays it. They built Criminally Online to counter the copaganda so prevalent in mainstream media, showing people the reality of the system so that society thinks differently about it.
Guests:
Eliza Orlins, Co-Host, Criminally Online
Thea Johnson, Co-Host, Criminally Online, and Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School
Resources:
Criminally Online, a Lemonada Media original series:
https://link.podtrac.com/crimonline 
Follow Eliza:
https://www.instagram.com/eorlins/ 
https://elizaorlins.substack.com/ 
https://www.youtube.com/@eliza.orlins 
https://www.tiktok.com/@elizaorlins 
https://www.threads.com/@eorlins 
https://x.com/elizaorlins 
Follow Thea:
https://www.instagram.com/theabjohnson/ 
https://bsky.app/profile/theabjohnson.bsky.social 
https://x.com/TheaBJohnson
Public Defenseless Links and Contact

Get each new episode a day early on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast 
Search past episode transcripts:
https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home 
Follow and support the show, plus all our links:
https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast 
Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com 
Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com 
 
DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.

On this episode, Hunter welcomes back Alex Burness, staff writer for Bolts. Last time Alex was on the show, he shared the gut-wrenching story of a community of American Samoans living in Whittier, Alaska, facing criminal prosecution for running for local office and voting in elections. Contrary to common belief, people born in American Samoa are U.S. nationals, not citizens, so they can't vote in state or federal elections. Alex is here to discuss how that community fought the prosecutions and won.
Guest:
Alex Burness, Staff Writer, Bolts
Resources:
Read Alex's reporting:
https://boltsmag.org/prosecuted-for-voting-american-samoans-alaska/ 
https://boltsmag.org/charges-dropped-against-american-samoans-punished-for-voting-in-alaska/ 
Public Defenseless Links and Contact

Get each new episode a day early on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/PublicDefenselessPodcast 
Search past episode transcripts:
https://app.reduct.video/o/eca54fbf9f/p/d543070e6a/share/c34e85194394723d4131/home 
Follow and support the show, plus all our links:
https://linktr.ee/pdefenselesspodcast 
Website: https://www.publicdefenseless.com 
Contact the show: publicdefenseless@gmail.com 
 
DISCLAIMER: Hunter Parnell hosts Public Defenseless in his personal capacity. The views expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the Aurora Municipal Public Defender or any guest's employer. Nothing on this show is legal advice, and listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing criminal charges, talk to a lawyer.