by C. Sebastian Thomas Orosco, Topeka Conflicts Deputy Public Defender

Kansas Public Defenders are entrusted to ensure the criminal justice system doesn’t turn into a rubber-stamp system. In doing so, clients have no other choice but to rely on Defenders to serve as their voice. As BIDS migrates to the holistic public defense model, Defenders are increasingly challenged to incorporate the human, emotional aspects of a case into their advocacy. How do we recognize and change an unjust system?

by Caroline Zuschek, Appellate Defender

I caught Ron during one of his routine walks, but he was kind enough to sit down on a bench and take my call. I said we could speak later, but, a consummate multitasker, he assured me the time was fine. He admitted, “I have been accused of being busier in retirement than I was when I was actively practicing law.” Truthfully, though, it seems Ron has always been busy.