Many law students who care about serving historically marginalized and oppressed groups of people consider public defense work at some point while pursuing their JD. Jonathan Rapping, founder of Gideon’s Promise, says public defenders are carrying out modern civil rights …
The Nomiki Show: Organizing Always Wins w/ Jonathan Rapping, Napoleon da Legend, Joshua Kahn Russell
Jonathan Rapping is the Founder and President of Gideon’s Promise, author of Gideon’s Promise: A Public Defender Movement to Transform Criminal Justice from Beacon Press. Joshua Kahn Russell is the Executive Director of the Wildfire Project. Twitter: …
The Plight of the Public Defender
Racial injustices in the criminal justice system are front of mind for many people today, but one element of that system is not discussed nearly enough, says author Jonathan Rapping, and that’s public defenders. Jonathan is a criminal defense …
Transforming America’s Criminal Justice Landscape Must Include Public Defender Overhaul
Public defenders are a critical aspect of the U.S. criminal justice system as they help 80% of the people who interact with the court systems. When Jonathan Rapping first started practicing law as a public defender, he did not fully appreciate …
Advocates See Biden Order as New Tool in Eviction, Immigration Fights
“It’s somewhat amorphous to say, ‘Go study access to justice,’ but we’re coming off of four years where no one would even think to utter those words,” said Jonathan Rapping, founder of Gideon’s Promise, a nonprofit public defender organization. …
Episode 11 – Let’s Get Into It: Your Mental Health Matters
ON THIS EPISODE It’s May, which means its Mental Health Awareness Month! On this episode President, Jonathan Rapping and Executive Director, Ilham Askia are speaking with three phenomenal African American women who specialize and focus on the …
Keeping the Promise of Equity for All People
Atlanta, GA – May 18, 2021 – We are excited that the Biden Administration recognizes the important role the federal government must play in ensuring that our nation’s highest ideals are realized and that the Constitution’s mandates are enforced. …
Episode 10 – Breaking Through the System: The Path to Healing
ON THIS EPISODE President, Jonathan Rapping and Executive Director, Ilham Askia sat down with Mr. Rapping’s former client, Octavius Clarke, to catch up to discuss the challenges and triumphs of overcoming our criminal legal system. During this …
Gideon’s Promise Welcomes 10 New LSPP Fellows
Atlanta, GA – April 22, 2021 – Gideon’s Promise, a public defender organization dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system by improving the quality of legal representation for low-income individuals, is thrilled to announce our 2021 Law School Partnership …
Episode 09 – The Pipeline to Social Justice: From the Classroom to the Courtroom
ON THIS EPISODE It’s Women’s History Month! For the last day of this momentous celebration, Jonathan Rapping and Ilham Askia sat down with Associate Professor of Sociology at Spelman College and the Director of UNCF/Mellon Programs, Dr. Cynthia …
