Public Defender Mano Raju Petition

The standoff between San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju and the San Francisco Superior Court has gone on long enough. Since May of last year, the Public Defender’s Office under Raju has generally refused to take on new cases. This has contributed to a huge backlog in our criminal court system that severely impacts residents’ public safety.

After extensive hearings, Judge Harry Dorfman ordered Raju in January to stop refusing new cases. He has continued to defy that order. The court has since held him in contempt and fined him $26,000. Yet he still refuses to comply.

This dereliction of duty must end. Whatever internal challenges his office faces, the Public Defender cannot simply refuse to do his job.

By refusing cases, Raju is disrupting the justice system and putting public safety at risk. Defendants are left without representation, cases are delayed, and the courts cannot function as intended.

Worse, his political brinkmanship has forced the San Francisco Superior Court to adopt a policy of releasing individuals charged with crimes when they cannot be provided legal representation.

That’s why we’re calling on Public Defender Mano Raju to:

Immediately comply with all court orders.
Resume taking new cases as required.
Stop using case refusals as a political tactic.

Send a message to Public Defender Mano Raju and other elected officials using the form below. Public Defender Mano Raju, it’s time to do your job.

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Public Defender and Elected Officials Emails

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Message to Public Defender Mano Raju

Dear Public Defender Mano Raju,&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;I am writing to demand that you fulfill the basic responsibilities of your office: represent clients and uphold the rule of law.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;The SF Superior Court has determined that your office has the capacity to accept additional cases and that your continued refusal is a violation of that order. The court has already held you in contempt and fined you $26,000. &#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;This is not a minor dispute. You are directly defying our judicial system and disobeying the rule of law.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;The consequences of your actions are real and threaten our public safety. When your office refuses cases, defendants are left without legal representation, court proceedings are delayed, our justice system is disrupted, and public safety is ultimately undermined.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Your political brinkmanship has forced the San Francisco Superior Court to adopt a policy of releasing individuals charged with crimes when they cannot be provided legal representation. This is completely unacceptable.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;You have argued that your office is overwhelmed and cannot ethically take on more cases. But that argument does not justify ignoring a court order. If there are resource issues, they should be addressed through proper channels, not by unilaterally refusing to do the job taxpayers expect you to perform.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;San Francisco residents deserve a functioning justice system, not political standoffs that put public safety at risk. I am calling on you to:&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;• Immediately comply with all court orders.&#13;&#10;• Resume taking new cases as required. &#13;&#10;• Stop using case refusals as a political tactic.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;San Franciscans expect accountability. They expect competence. And they expect public officials to do their jobs. &#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;It’s time for you to uphold your duty to the people of San Francisco.&#13;&#10;

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