How the San Mateo Private Defender Program is Trying to Earn Back the Community's Trust w/Lisa Maguire and Harpreet Samra
Today, Hunter spoke with Lisa Maguire and Harpreet Samra of the San Mateo County Private Defender Program. Unlike the normal contract Public Defender model, the PDP operates as a managed assigned counsel system. As the Chief Defender, Lisa, manages a group of private contractors who handle the Public Defender needs of the county. This grants here significantly more oversight than in a traditional Private Defender System. Harpreet is the lead for the PDP’s Social Worker program, and she ensures attorneys connect with Social Workers in their cases. From each of their areas of expertise, Lisa and Harpreet are working to correct the issues documented with PDP over the years. While their work has the PDP moving in a positive direction, the presence of flat rate fee compensation and the fall out from a series of insulting, racist emails sent by former PDP members leave Lisa and Harpreet with an ongoing battle to earn the trust back of the community they serve.
Guest
Lisa Maguire, Chief Defender, Private Defender Program, San Mateo County, CA
Harpreet Samra, Social Worker Lead, Private Defender Program, San Mateo County, CA
Resources:
Contact Lisa and Harpreet
PDP Website
https://www.smcgov.org/private-defender-program
Past Reports on San Mateo
https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/private_defender_program.pdf
https://www.smcgov.org/media/2466/download?inline=
https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/balance_scale_of_justice.pdf
Emails About Silicon Valley De-Bug
https://x.com/svdebug/status/1838380292765327581
*** Note on the Episode****
Following my conversation with Lisa and Harpreet flat rate fees in the PDP, Lisa informed me that the Office of the State Public Defender in California released Standards for Contract Panels. They discourage any flat fee compensation. As a result, Lisa will now be working with the county to move away from the flat rate fees towards an all-hourly compensation rate.
New Standards Can be Found Here
https://www.ospd.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CA-Standards_ContractPanelDefense.pdf
Contact Hunter Parnell:
@PublicDefenselessPodcast
@PDefenselessPod
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