Santa Cruz County Office of the Public Defender

06/07/2026

No closets, no prisons, no walls! Happy Pride from

06/07/2026

Today, our Public Defender team was proud to march in the Pride Parade alongside our community. We believe that every person deserves dignity, respect, and access to justice. Pride is a celebration of authenticity, belonging, and the freedom to live openly—and we are honored to stand with our LGBTQ+ neighbors, clients, colleagues, friends, and family members.

Happy Pride! 🌈

05/15/2026

Sometimes advocacy looks like legal research, court hearings, and motions. Sometimes it looks like making sure a client gets to see their best friend.

Recently, one of our attorneys helped facilitate a visit between a client and his beloved dog. Moments like these remind us of the critical role defenders pay in keeping people connected to their natural support systems during what is often one of the most difficult times in their lives. Our clients are not cases; they are people — with families, relationships, and companions they love.

Connection, dignity, and humanity are not separate from defense work. They are part of it.

05/12/2026

Social Worker Supervisor Maria Nena Rodríguez is in Chicago this week with other County and community leaders, including Juvenile Probation Division Director Jose Flores and Watsonville Police Department Assistant Police Chief David Rodriguez, to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Annie E. Casey Foundation's Results Count. They join leaders from across the country to strengthen collaborative, equity-centered leadership practices that support stronger public defense systems and healthier communities.

This work is grounded in relationship-building, systems thinking, and the belief that meaningful change happens when leaders learn alongside one another, stay curious, and remain accountable to the people and communities they serve.

We are grateful for the opportunity to continue growing as leaders, bringing back ideas, tools, and connections that will help us better support our clients, our team, and our mission.

05/12/2026

Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, Inc's Heroes in Prevention Awards recognizes and celebrates individuals, organizations, and community leaders who are making a positive impact in the Pajaro Valley through prevention, wellness, youth empowerment, and community support efforts. Our Social Worker Supervisor María Rodríguez-Castillo represented our office in congratulating award winners and joining with community at this year's event, which featured Assemblymember Gail Pellerin giving a moving keynote address. Thank you Jasmine Nájera, LCSW at team for all that you do for our community!
Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin
Maria Rodriguez-Castillo
MariaElena DelaGarza

05/12/2026

https://davisvanguard.org/2026/05/public-defense-funding-crisis/

Public defenders from across California have joined together to support a renewed push for funding reform, as the California State Assembly passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution 159, which recognizes the vital role of public defenders and the impact of underfunding and excessive caseloads on the pro...

05/08/2026

Thanks to everyone who came out to Honor Judge Stephen S. Siegel and support Santa Cruz County Trial Lawyers at last night's Elbow Rub. If you didn't get a chance to donate, it's not too late. Visit scctla.com or use the QR code below. Your donation supports High School Mock Trial and the 5th Grade Elementary Law Program ("Cookie Court").

05/08/2026

📣 Santa Cruz County High Schoolers — This One's for You!
Applications are now open for the Santa Cruz County Youth Commission! We're looking for 11 passionate students (ages 14–18) to advise the Board of Supervisors, develop real solutions, and represent the voice of youth in local government.
💡 What you'll do:
✅ Shape county policies and programs
✅ Work directly with County leaders
✅ Build leadership skills and make a real impact
💰 Earn $75 per meeting attended!
🗓️ Monthly meetings, August–June
⏰ Deadline: May 31, 2026
👉 Apply now: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/bTRtLzqiTS
Questions? [email protected]
Your voice. Your county. Your future.

05/08/2026

In a landmark due process decision that *should* finally put an end to wealth-based detention in California, the California Supreme Court on April 30 issued In re Kowalczyk.

The Court held that judges cannot use impossibly high money bail as a workaround to detain people who are legally entitled to release. If someone does not qualify for detention under article I, section 12 of the California Constitution, they cannot simply be jailed because they are poor.

But the promise of Kowalczyk will only matter if courts actually follow it. We cannot continue doing end-runs around the Constitution and longstanding case authority by using unattainable bail or impossible pretrial conditions to accomplish detention where detention is not legally allowed. Poverty cannot be the reason someone remains in jail.

Defenders across the state are mobilizing to do what we do every day in courtrooms across California: demand that courts uphold the law, providing due process not only in name, but in practice. Honestly applied, Kowalczyk should dramatically reduce the number of people held pretrial simply because they cannot afford bail or cannot comply with unattainable release conditions.

That includes people ordered to wear electronic monitors in counties without sufficient equipment, staffing, infrastructure, or support systems to make compliance realistic — especially for unhoused individuals or people struggling with untreated behavioral health or substance use issues. We cannot pretend someone has been “released” when the conditions imposed are impossible to meet.

As Chesa Boudin writes this week in the LA Times: “Pretrial liberty is the norm. Pretrial detention is the carefully limited exception.”

The question now is whether courts will honor that principle in practice.

Pretrial liberty is meant to be the norm. Let’s ensure the presumption of innocence means something.

05/06/2026

I spent Monday at the Capitol with public defenders from across California supporting ACR 159 — a resolution recognizing the critical role of public defense and the urgent need for meaningful investment in the people doing this work and the vulnerable communities we serve.

So much gratitude to Assemblymember Ash Kalra, author of ACR 159, and its champions--Assemblymembers Sade Elhawary and Nick Schultz.

One of the highlights of the day was getting to spend time with our own Assemblymember Gail Pellerin. Watching her work at the Capitol — thoughtful, prepared, and deeply engaged in serving our community — was an inspiration. Santa Cruz is lucky to have her working on our behalf.

Public defense matters. The right to counsel matters. And seeing so many people fighting for it together gave me hope.

- Heather