Office of the Federal Public Defender
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News

Announcements and Law Updates

A comprehensive discussion of new Ninth Circuit cases, and of other new legal challenges and ideas, can be found on the Ninth Circuit blog. The Ninth Circuit blog contains Federal Defender Jon Sands' weekly Ninth Circuit summaries, interesting new defense challenges and theories posted by AFPDs David Porter and Steve Sady, and the “Case o’ The Week” memos by Federal Defender Steve Kalar. The Ninth Circuit blog is a useful starting place for the latest developments in federal criminal defense.

To search the Ninth Circuit blog use the white search box next to the orange "B," in the upper left hand corner of the site. Note that many blog entries have been tagged by Judge involved or by subject. Clicking on those tags will pull up all blog entries related to that tag entry.

CJA counsel are encouraged to comment on the blog postings – many new ideas have been fleshed out and enhanced by attorney commentary.

Court Selects New Lawyer Representatives 2023-2025

The Court announced the selection of new Lawyer Representatives to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council for the 2023-25 term. These six attorneys will serve for three years, joining twelve continuing lawyer representatives and replacing six who have completed their three years of service. 

Lawyer Representatives serving through 2025 are:

  • Valerie Bantner Peo – Buchalter APC

  • David Rizk – Office of the Federal Public Defender

  • Sabita Soneji – Tycko & Zavareei LLP

  • Julie Wilensky – San Francisco City Attorney’s Office

  • Meredith Dearborn – Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

  • Patrick Hammon – McMannis Faulkner

Lawyer Representatives serving through 2024 are:

  • Kimberly Hopkins – U.S. Attorney’s Office

  • Jonathan Patchen – Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

  • Claudia Vetesi – Morrison & Foerster LLP

  • Lesley Weaver – Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP

  • Katherine Lubin Benson – Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP

  • Kathleen Hartnett – Cooley LLP

Lawyer Representatives serving through 2023 are:

  • Asim Bhansali – Kwun Bhansali Lazarus LLP

  • Sonal N. Mehta – WilmerHale LLP

  • Mark Punzalan – Chan Punzalan LLP

  • Jahan Sagafi – Outten & Golden LLP

  • Dena Sharp – Girard Sharp LLP

  • Christine Sun – States United Democracy Center

Candis Mitchell