Cover illustration of the 2010 San Francisco Public Defender’s annual calendar, available for free!

From the Office of San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi

January 21, 2010

An attorney argues vehemently before a jury during a murder trial. A former inmate counsels others after turning his life around. A defense investigator questions a potential witness as the man pushes a shopping cart in the Tenderloin.

These images, captured in photojournalism-style, make up the pages of the San Francisco Public Defender’s office 2009 Annual Report and 2010 Calendar, which is not printed at public expense.

The calendar is free, and can be picked up at the front desk of the San Francisco Public Defender’s office, 555 Seventh St. (between Brannan and Bryant streets.)

The Public Defender’s office is one of the few city departments that provide printed annual reports to the public. The Public Defender’s office has published its annual report each year since 2003. The calendar features true-life accounts of courtroom victories, innovative programs, and the office’s battle for funding parity.

San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi noted that the report reflects his office’s commitment to transparency and gives the public a bird’s-eye view of the criminal justice system.

“People often think of what they see on Law and Order when they think of the court system. Our annual report shows how hard most people struggle to get justice,” he said.

Unable to afford private attorneys amid a continuing recession, 28 thousand San Franciscans turned to the city’s public defender last year - a trend that shows little sign of slowing.

Felony cases handled by the San Francisco Public Defender’s office rose 21 percent over the past two years, according to the office’s Annual Report and 2010 Calendar.

January: “Equal Justice”

April: “Confidence in Justice”

November: “Victory”