PIJD Newsletter
Impact in Action: Wilson Skjerven
During my 2L summer, I have been interning as a Research Clerk with the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office. The Public Defender’s Office (PDO) is a government agency that provides criminal defense for indigent clients who cannot afford a lawyer. Part of the mission at the PDO is to “protect diverse clients, including the poor, children, mentally ill, immigrants, and people from communities of color.” This mission is fulfilled by the many passionate attorneys, law students, paralegals, investigators, and countless other employees in the office.
My role at the PDO this summer involved writing motions, assisting in research, and representing clients in court. As a Bar Certified Law Student, I have represented clients in bail motions where the Public Defender argues to release clients who are being held in jail before their trial. When people are jailed before trial, they are most vulnerable to losing their jobs, housing, healthcare, and other stabilizing social services. As the Supreme Court of California reiterated in In re Kowalczyk, pretrial liberty for defendants “is the norm”; and the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office is fighting everyday to uphold that standard.
Working with the Public Defender’s Office has been fulfilling, challenging, and deeply meaningful to me. The opportunity to learn from experienced attorneys, and to work one on one with our clients, has been such an exceptional way to develop skills. Oftentimes, early career attorneys in public defense work will not have much time available to learn fundamentals. In the Santa Clara County Office, my attorney mentors have helped me refine arguments, set aside time to visit clients, and offered invaluable feedback.
I am so grateful to the Public Interest JD program at SCU Law as my professors, mentors, and peers have all supported my passion for public defense work. And a special thank you to SCU Law alumni and Deputy Public Defender, Steven Otero ’14 who supervised me this summer.
Wilson's opportunity at the Public Defender's Office was made possible by funding from Santa Clara Law's Center for Social Justice's summer stipend grant.