Marin County Public Defender

Rachael Keast, one of our Crim-Imm attorneys, receiving a round of applause from Marin Rapid Response Network volunteers and community members for her work helping Marin's immigrant community. The Marin Rapid Response Network supports immigrant communities by issuing verified ICE activity alerts, dispatching trained legal observers, and staffing a 24/7 hotline to document enforcement actions. Volunteers provide long-term accompaniment for impacted families, connecting them with legal, medical, housing, and emotional resources. They also lead Know Your Rights trainings and help community members access attorneys and support services after enforcement events.
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Rachael Keast, una de nuestras abogadas especializadas en derecho Penal e inmigración, recibe un aplauso de los voluntarios de la Marin Rapid Response Network y de miembros de la comunidad por su apoyo a la comunidad inmigrante de Marin. Marin Rapid Response Network respalda a las comunidades inmigrantes mandando alertas verificadas sobre las actividades de ICE, enviando observadores legales entrenados y operando una línea directa disponible las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, para documentar las acciones de las autoridades migratorias. Los voluntarios brindan apoyan a largo plazo a las familias afectadas, poniéndolas en contacto con recursos legales, médicos, alojamiento y apoyo emocional. Así mismo, ellos dirigen talleres sobre "Conozca sus derechos" y ayudan a los miembros de la comunidad a acceder a servicios de abogados y de apoyo tras incidentes de control migratorio.

Last week Myrna Escamilla Calderon, our Summer Career Explorer, finished her time with our office. At the end of Summer Celebration for the County’s Career Explorers, Myrna was awarded the Dan Daniels Spirit Award. The award is given to a student who is committed to clients, the community, and returning back to work for the county after school.

Career Explorers are high schoolers or recent high school graduates committed to finding their career path. Myrna, a recent graduate from San Rafael High School, is headed off to UC Merced in the Fall on a full scholarship! We thank her for her excellent work this summer engaging with clients and attorneys. We are excited for Myrna to join our office again in the future!

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La semana pasada, Myrna Escamilla Calderón, nuestra participante del programa de verano Career Explorers, concluyó su estancia en nuestra oficina. Durante la celebración de clausura del programa del condado, Myrna recibió el premio "Dan Daniels Spirit Award". Este premio se otorga a estudiantes que demuestran dedicación con los clientes y la comunidad, así como la intención de trabajar para el condado una vez finalizen, sus estudios.

Los participantes de Career Explorers son estudiantes de secundaria o recién graduados decididos a definir su trayectoria profesional. Myrna, recién graduada de la escuela secundaria San Rafael High School, comenzará sus estudios en UC Merced este otoño ¡con una beca completa! Le agradecemos su excelente labor durante el verano interactuando con clientes y abogados. ¡Nos alegra la idea de que Myrna vuelva a formar parte de nuestra oficina en el futuro!

The Marin County Public Defender's Office mourns the passing of Chief Probation Officer Marlon J. Washington, whose warmth, compassion, and unwavering belief in the potential of others left an indelible mark on our community.

Chief Washington's smile and presence had a remarkable ability to brighten every room he entered, regardless of how serious or difficult the circumstances. He took the time to greet people, listen, and make genuine connections with everyone he encountered. Whether interacting with colleagues, community members, or those navigating the justice system, he treated each person with dignity and respect.

As partners within the criminal legal system, the Public Defender's Office and the Probation Department often found ourselves advocating from different perspectives. Yet even when we disagreed, Chief Washington consistently sought common ground rooted in empathy, dignity, and the belief that every person deserved an opportunity to succeed. He encouraged his officers to see the people under their supervision not as "offenders," but as community members with hope, potential, and the capacity for change.

Chief Washington's leadership reflected his unwavering commitment to restorative justice and equity. He was instrumental in establishing the Marin Mentorship Program, creating the Career Explorers Program to introduce transitional-aged youth—particularly those from historically underserved communities—to careers in county government, continuing the legacy of the Wall of Change, and partnering to establish Marin County's Collaborative Clean Slate Program. These initiatives exemplify his vision of a justice system that creates opportunities, removes barriers, and invests in people's futures.

Perhaps nowhere was Chief Washington's passion more evident than in his commitment to young people. He cared deeply about the success of our juvenile clients and believed they deserved every opportunity to thrive. He worked tirelessly to ensure that youth exited the juvenile justice system with support, hope, and pathways to success, rather than becoming the next generation of adults entangled in the criminal legal system.

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Last Thursday, Public Defender David Joseph Sutton and staff joined the celebration for the grand opening of the Southern Marin County Services Annex in Marin City, which the Health and Human Services administered.

The Public Defender's Office is proud to have a presence at this new space, bringing drop-in legal services, including immigration assistance, DMV liaison support, and Clean Slate support directly to the southern Marin community. The annex connects residents with a wide range of county services all under one roof. Additional county departments and community partners will also offer services and office hours on a regular rotation.

The project reflects the County's commitment to service equity by reducing transportation and access barriers. Residents in Southern Marin no longer need to travel all the way to the Civic Center for vital services.

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¡El jueves pasado, el Defensor Público David Joseph Sutton y su equipo se unieron a la celebración de la gran inauguración del Anexo de Servicios del Sur del Condado de Marin en Marin City, y es administrado por el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos!

La Oficina del Defensor Público se enorgullece de tener presencia en este nuevo espacio, ofreciendo servicios legales de atención directa —incluyendo asistencia en materia de inmigración, apoyo de enlace con el DMV y asistencia para la eliminación de antecedentes penales (programa "Clean Slate")— directamente a la comunidad del sur de Marin. El anexo conecta a los residentes con una amplia gama de servicios del condado, todo bajo un mismo techo. Otros departamentos del condado y organizaciones asociadas de la comunidad también ofrecerán servicios y atención al público mediante un sistema de rotación regular.

Este proyecto refleja el compromiso del condado con la equidad en la prestación de servicios, al reducir las barreras de transporte y acceso. Los residentes del sur de Marin ya no necesitan desplazarse hasta el Centro Cívico para obtener servicios esenciales.

Public Defender David Joseph Sutton visited our newest Fire Foundry cohort last week, sharing valuable information about the office’s Clean Slate Program and how those services remove barriers to employment, housing, and create other opportunities. For some participants, that means one less barrier standing between them and the career they've worked hard for in a career in service to the community.

The FIRE Foundry is a collaboration of and . The FIRE Foundry offers free education, paid on the job training, mentorship, and housing support, all aimed at propelling candidates from underserved and underrepresented background into sustainable careers in fire service.

Proud to support our community with resources that open doors and create real opportunity.

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El Defensor Público David Joseph Sutton visitó la semana pasada a nuestra más reciente cohorte de Fire Foundry, compartiendo información valiosa sobre el Programa Clean Slate de la oficina y cómo sus servicios eliminan barreras para el empleo, la vivienda y crean otras oportunidades. Para algunos participantes, eso significa un obstáculo menos entre ellos y la carrera que tanto han trabajado para alcanzar: una carrera al servicio de la comunidad.

El FIRE Foundry es una colaboración entre y . El FIRE Foundry ofrece educación gratuita, capacitación remunerada en el trabajo, mentoría y apoyo de vivienda, todo orientado a impulsar a candidatos de entornos poco atendidos y subrepresentados hacia carreras sostenibles en el servicio de bomberos.

Orgullosos de apoyar a nuestra comunidad con recursos que abren puertas y crean oportunidades reales.

Join the Marin County Public Defender's Office!
We are currently seeking talented and passionate Attorneys and Investigators to join our team!

Open Positions:
✅ 2 Full-Time Deputy Public Defender II Regular Hire Positions
✅ 1 Full-Time Deputy Public Defender II Regular Hire Fixed Term
✅ 1 Public Defender Investigator I/II

Are you committed to justice and making a difference in your community? The Marin County Public Defender's Office is looking for dedicated legal professionals who are passionate about defending the rights of those we serve. Apply now and be part of a team that matters. Click or copy and paste the link below:

👉https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/marincounty/jobs/5344295/deputy-public-defender-ii-deputy-public-defender-ii-fixed-term

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https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/marincounty/jobs/5344358/public-defender-investigator-i-ii

Historic moment at the CA State Capitol. On Monday, Marin County Public Defender David Joseph Sutton joined Defenders from 18 counties in a landmark show of statewide solidarity, urging lawmakers to address overwhelming caseloads, staffing shortages, and resource disparities threatening the constitutional right to counsel. The Assembly unanimously passed ACR 159, authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D) — affirming the importance of indigent defense and calling for improved funding, staffing, and institutional support for public defenders statewide. Marin County stands with this coalition in the fight for a fair and fully resourced public defense system.



Photo Credit: David Greenwald, Davis Vanguard

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Momento histórico en el Capitolio del Estado de California. El lunes, el Defensor Público del Condado de Marin, David Joseph Sutton, se unió a defensores de 18 condados en una histórica muestra de solidaridad a nivel estatal, instando a los legisladores a abordar la abrumadora carga de casos, la escasez de personal y las disparidades de recursos que amenazan el derecho constitucional a la defensa legal. La Asamblea aprobó por unanimidad la resolución ACR 159 —impulsada por el asambleísta Ash Kalra (D)—, reafirmando la importancia de la defensa de indigentes y solicitando una mejora en la financiación, el personal y el apoyo institucional para los defensores públicos en todo el estado. El Condado de Marin respalda a esta coalición en la lucha por un sistema de defensa pública justo y dotado de todos los recursos necesarios.



Crédito de la foto: David Greenwald, Davis Vanguard

We were proud to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Rising Recovery Center, a brand new 15-bed residential substance use treatment facility that will open soon to adults 18+ with co-occurring substance use and mental health conditions. This facility was made possible through a state grant that transformed an existing County-owned property into a dedicated space for healing and recovery. The Public Defender's Office was honored to submit a Letter of Support for this project because we know firsthand how vital treatment access is for community members that our office serves.



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Nos sentimos orgullosos por haber asistido a la ceremonia de corte de cinta del Rising Recovery Center, un nuevo centro residencial de tratamiento para el uso de sustancias, con capacidad de 15 camas, que abrirá sus puertas próximamente para atender a adultos mayores de 18 años que presentan condiciones concurrentes de uso de sustancias y de salud mental. Este centro fue posible gracias a una subvención estatal que transformó una propiedad existente, perteneciente al Condado, en un espacio dedicado a la sanación y la recuperación. La Oficina del Defensor Público tuvo el honor de presentar una carta de apoyo para este proyecto, porque sabemos de primera mano cuán vital es el acceso al tratamiento para los miembros de la comunidad a los que nuestra oficina presta servicios.