I hate writing this post. My heart just sank… I’m really sad because I just heard the terrible news

SF Public Defender Jeff Adachi Dies

We just lost one of the most fierce advocates for the accused, the poor, undocumented, incarcerated, and for criminal justice reform. Now it’s time to honor his memory by taking up his struggle with renewed vigor. He left an incredible legacy… always fighting to provide the best legal representation for all his clients, none of whom would’ve otherwise been able to afford legal counsel.

Jeff Adachi, Presente!

For a good article covering a few of the major fights that Mr. Adachi spearheaded inside and outside the courtroom check out this article.

“Adachi lost his first murder trial as a young deputy public defender in 1990” while defending an innocent and falsely accused man who went to prison for 14 years. “It’s a defense attorney’s worst nightmare to have an innocent client convicted,” Adachi said in 2004. “And there was no question he was innocent.”

I am learning to transform the traumatic experience of being falsely accused of a crime into a blessing for others facing similar circumstances. My goal is to become a fierce advocate for the countless men and women in our country who are falsely accused or have been wrongfully convicted for crimes they did not commit.

STILL I RISE (Excerpt) by Maya Angelou