Orleans Public Defenders

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2023	Danny Engelberg was named Chief Defender of the Orleans Public Defenders office.
2015	The office, along with the Department of Justice, challenged the transfer of jail inmates to other parishes. Derwyn Bunton also criticized the plea deal given to Darren Sharper.
September 2015	A public defender wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post criticizing the office's underfunding. In response, Judge Arthur Hunter summoned Chief Public Defender Derwyn Bunton to court. The office launched a crowdfunding campaign, which was boosted by a John Oliver segment.
July 2015	The office was facing million-dollar budget cuts, with a total budget of six million dollars. The head of the office highlighted the significant funding disparity between prosecution and defense resources.
2014	Chief Defender Derwyn Bunton led a silent protest on the steps of New Orleans' criminal courthouse in memory of Michael Brown, speaking out against 'ordinary injustice'.
2013	The office argued they were not equipped to handle gang racketeering indictments. The New York Times Editorial Board commented on the Justice Department's oversight of indigent defense in New Orleans.
2012	The office's budget was initially slashed but then partly restored.
2011	Attorneys in the office were handling extremely high caseloads: felony attorneys managed around 300 cases per year (double the national standard), and misdemeanor attorneys handled around 2,500 cases (six times the standard).

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