Deputy Public Defender Seth Meisels, a 21-year veteran of the office, pointed to the sheer volume of digital evidence attorneys must now review in every case — body-worn camera footage, surveillance video, forensic records.
“It has become increasingly difficult to determine which cases will go to trial,” he said. “But we still have to do the work.”
Outside the courthouse before the hearing, public defenders from Contra Costa, Alameda, Sacramento, Sonoma, Santa Cruz and Yolo counties gathered in solidarity with Raju. San Joaquin County Public Defender Judyanne Vallado, whose office declared itself unavailable for homicide and sex offenses carrying potential life sentences last year, said the move ultimately helped clear the court’s docket — not just her office’s caseload.
“Declaring unavailable isn’t just about helping the public defender’s office,” she said. “It’s helping the entire court justice system.”
Alameda County Public Defender Brendon Woods said he is considering taking the same steps as Raju if conditions in his office reach a breaking point.
“At some point in time, we have to say no,” he said.
Raju said his office is in conversations with City Hall about a five-year plan to bring staffing closer to the standards set by a 2023 national workload study, which found the office needs 36 additional attorneys, along with more investigators, social workers and support staff.
He acknowledged the plan would still not bring the office to parity with the district attorney’s budget.
