Public Defenseless

On this episode, Hunter speaks once again with Professor Eric Fish about a law review article he published about our immigration system. Since it was implemented in 1996, expedited removal has become the number one tool for deportations in America. However, Eric is here to explain how the whole system might be unconstitutional and ripe for challenge.
 
Guest:
Eric Fish, Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law
 
Resource:
Read Eric's Article Here
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6568060
 
Contact Eric
https://law.ucdavis.edu/people/eric-fish

Show note: Hunter mentions a U.S. citizen deported to Mexico after agents refused to let him get his birth certificate. That's Brian José Morales García, born in Denver and deported in April 2026 after a traffic stop in Texas. He returned to the United States on Aug. 30, 2026, after the federal government reached an agreement with his lawyers in his lawsuit. Read the Texas Tribune's reporting:
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/04/23/texas-united-states-citizen-deported-ice-detention-brian-morales/
https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/30/texas-us-citizen-deported-central-texas-returns-america/


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 speaks with Judge Mimi Tsankov, former president of the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ). Over nearly two decades on the bench, she served under five administrations and led the association that speaks for the country's immigration judges. Now she joins the show to explain what's broken in a court system that answers to the Justice Department, and why she decided to leave.
Guest:
Judge Mimi Tsankov, Former President, National Association of Immigration Judges
Resources:
Judge Tsankov's website: https://neutralstrategy.com
National Association of Immigration Judges: https://www.naij-usa.org/
TRAC Immigration: https://tracreports.org/immigration/reports/judgereports/00291NYC/index.html
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.

In this episode, Hunter speaks with two criminal defense lawyers and former Public Defenders from the state of Alaska, Amanda Harber and David Case. For the entire 21st Century, the Alaska Legal System has been in a crisis. Too few lawyers. Too much space to cover. And recently, a tough on crime Governor who has pushed to solve social problems with incarceration. Along the way, many in the media have missed what is causing the Alaska legal system to fail.
Guest:
Amanda Harber, Criminal Defense Lawyer and Former Public Defender, Alaska
David Case, Criminal Defense Lawyer and Former Public Defender, Alaska
 
Resource:
Read More About Alaska Here

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2025/03/25/alaska-supreme-court-places-new-limits-on-pretrial-delays/
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2025/02/14/alaskas-chief-justice-vows-to-reduce-trial-delays-we-must-and-we-will-improve/
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2025/01/09/the-neverending-case-how-10-years-of-delays-have-prevented-a-horrendous-sexual-assault-allegation-from-going-to-trial/
https://www.adn.com/politics/alaska-legislature/2026/01/21/alaska-lawmaker-calls-for-hiring-more-prosecutors-and-public-defenders-to-reduce-extreme-delay-in-criminal-cases/
Contact Amdanda and David
https://www.49thstatelaw.com/
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 is joined by C.J. Ciaramella of Reason. Recently, C.J. authored an article for Reason that provides an overview of different eras of prison policy and failed reform. In their discussion, Hunter and C.J. explore these eras of prison policy, the reasons why reforms failed, and what those failures tell us about the hope for future prison reforms.
 
Guest:
C.J. Ciaramella, Reporter, Reason
 
Resource:
Read the Article Here:
https://reason.com/2026/09/08/the-american-prison-experiment/
Find More of C.J. here:
https://reason.com/people/cj-ciaramella/
https://bsky.app/profile/cjciaramella.bsky.social
Read More of Reason Here:
https://reason.com/


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 speaks with three members of the Maryland Defender Union, Rachel Kierfer, Alexis Rossetti, and Kalia Woods. They join to explain the recent victory the union secured to enforce their current contract and how the union is finding its voice to fight for better pay and workloads.
 
Guest:
Rachel Kiefer, Assistant Public Defender, Baltimore County, Maryland
Alexis Rossetti, Assistant Public Defender, Southern Maryland
Kalia Woods, Administrative Aide, Prince George's County, Maryland
 
Resource:
Read the Report Here
https://dbm.maryland.gov/budget/FY2026Testimony/C80B00.pdf
Follow the Union Here
https://www.instagram.com/marylanddefendersunion/ \
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.