Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia

For 30 years, Ms. Pearlie Wilson was the heart and soul of PDS—a constant source of warmth, kindness, and generosity. Whether greeting visitors in person or answering calls on the main line, her smile and caring presence made everyone feel welcome and valued. Her grace and unwavering warmth touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her, leaving a lasting imprint on our community. Ms. Pearlie, a cherished PDS alum and retired information receptionist, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025. As we remember her, may we continue to honor her legacy by sharing the same kindness and love that she so effortlessly shared with us all. #PDSDC

SAVE THE DATE: PDS’s 3rd Annual Second Chance, Second Hand Event! Join us on April 26th at the Big Chair for the 3rd Annual Second Chance, Second Hand event hosted by PDS. In the spirit of second chances—because everyone deserves one—we’re bringing together community members and partners to provide FREE legal services and resources. This year’s event will feature: Legal Services: ? Juvenile and criminal record sealing & expungement information ? PDS “Duty Day” Info desk for criminal legal and collateral matters ? Housing, special education, family law, and other civil legal information FREE Activities: ? Lunch ? Clothing and household goods market ? DJ set and dancing We’re so excited to serve our East-of-the-River community with these valuable resources and to celebrate the power of second chances. We look forward to seeing you there! Event Details: Date: April 26th Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Location: The Big Chair – 2101 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE, DC (Rain Date: April 27th, 2025) This event wouldn’t be possible without the hardworking staff of our Community Defender Division and our amazing community partners. We hope you’ll join us to make this event a success! Don’t miss out—mark your calendars and join us to celebrate Second Chance Month! #SecondChanceMonth #SecondChances #SecondChanceSecondHand #SCSHPDS ______________ RESERVEN ESTA FECHA PARA EL 3° ENCUENTRO ANNUAL SEGUNDA OPORTUNIDAD, SEGUNDA MANO Los esperamos el 26 de abril en la BIG CHAIR, para el 3° Encuentro Anual “Segunda Oportunidad, Segunda Mano” organizado por la Defensoría Pública de DC (PDS), porque todos merecen una segunda oportunidad. únanse a nosotros y a un grupo de colaboradores para recibir servicios legales GRATUITOS. Este a?o ofrecemos: SERVICIOS LEGALES: ? Consultas sobre sellado y eliminación de antecedents penales de adultos y juveniles ? Abogados de turno para consultas legales penales y colaterales ? Información sobre educación, vivienda, ley de familia y mucho más… DISFRUTARAN ADEMAS DE:· ? Almuerzo gratuito ? Mercado libre (ropa, juguetes) ? Juegos para ni?os ? Música y baile Estamos muy felices de asistir a la comunidad al este del río con invaluables recursos, celebrando así el poder de la segunda oportunidad. Esperamos verlos! ?Cuándo? El sábado 26 de abril (Si llueve se corre al domingo 27 de abril) De las 11:00 am a las 2:00 pm ?Dónde? La Big Chair – 2101 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE, DC Este encuentro no sería posible sin el incansable empe?o de nuestra División de Servicios Comunitarios de PDS y nuestros magníficos patrocinadores. La presencia de todos ustedes hará de este encuentro un éxito total! Agenden la fecha y vengan a celebrar con nosotros!

PDS will be CLOSED on Monday, February 17, 2025, in observance of Presidents' Day. PDS staff will be available to represent clients under the court's limited operating schedule including adult and juvenile arraignments and preventative detention hearings.

#PDSDC staff are getting ready to bring their A-game & wow the judges with their signature sweet treats!! ???? Our office bake-off is just around the corner, and it’s time to show off those baking skills. ??? Let the baking battles begin. Who will claim the title of the most creative, delicious, and visually stunning treats? ???????? #BakeOffShowdown #SweetTreats #OfficeBakingFun #WhoWillWin

APPLY NOW to join our Criminal law Internship Program (CLIP) for the upcoming Summer 2025 sessions. Have you considered going to law school? Are you passionate about advocating for others and serving the community? Well this is your opportunity to explore the legal world of criminal defense while serving the DC Community. You don’t want to miss out on this fast-paced, hands-on investigative internship program for undergraduate and graduate students. Our Investigative Interns don’t just sit around the office copying files! CLIP has been described by The Washington Post as one of the finest pre-law experiences available, and the Princeton Review ranked the program as one of the most hands-on internship programs in the nation, stating that the program is “a criminal law internship at its in-your-face best.” Summer Applications close this weekend – February 1st , so don’t wait! Apply today at https://lnkd.in/ek4xc8mS. For questions about the program, please email the Internship Office at [email protected]. #Interns #Internship #InternshipProgram #DC #Law #CLIP #PDSDC

Happy Thank Your Mentor Day!? Join #PDSDC today as we celebrate the incredible mentors who guide, inspire, and support us every step of the way. Take a moment to show your gratitude to those who’ve made a difference in your journey. ??? #ThankYourMentorDay #PDSDC

PDS will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in celebration and observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. PDS staff will be available to represent clients under the court's limited operating schedule including adult and juvenile arraignments and preventative detention hearings. Martin Luther King Jr. Day honors the legacy of a visionary leader who championed justice, equality, and peace. It is a time to reflect on the progress made and renew our commitment to continuing the fight for a world where all people are treated with dignity and respect. #MLKDay #PDSDC

Yesterday's #AALS2025 Awards Ceremony included a video tribute to late Harvard University Professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., winner of the 2024 Triennial Award for Lifetime Service to Legal Education and to the Law, @TheAALS's highest honor. We treasure the memories and legacy of Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., a former PDS deputy director, trial chief, training director, and staff attorney. He was a giant at #PDSDC, in the realm of public defenders, and…in the world. #PDSDCAlum #ChampionOfLiberty https://lnkd.in/e45XXurD

Shout-out to former #PDSDC investigative specialist, now #PublicDefender, Brendan Lokka! #PDSDCAlum https://lnkd.in/eX5-nuFK

Throwing it back to 1992!! This #ThrowbackThursday we are featuring the Attorney Training Class of 1992. Talk about a powerhouse year full of talent. This fine #PDSDC attorney training class includes Deputy Director Rudy Acree, General Counsel Laura Hankins, Special Counsel Claire Roth, former PDS director Cynthia Jones, and D.C.’s first elected and former attorney general, Karl Racine! Let’s play a bit of Trivia – who else do you see in this photo?