*** PRESS RELEASE ***
Mayor appoints Next Public Defender
 
San Francisco­Mayor London Breed’s selection of Deputy Public Defender Mano Raju to the position of acting Public Defender was met with a standing ovation from staff on Monday morning. The mayor addressed the office before formally making the announcement at City Hall.
 
Raju’s colleagues expressed gratitude to the mayor for choosing someone in-house and they praised Raju’s acumen as an attorney and a leader.
 
“I have known Mano Raju for two decades and am confident that he will be an outstanding Public Defender,” said Chief Attorney Matt Gonzalez. “Mano has a keen intellect, exceptional trial skills, and an awareness of the importance of being anchored in the communities we serve, all of which are essential parts of leading and inspiring the office. He has my full support.”
 
Raju has been working at the Public Defender’s Office since 2007 and has been one of two felony managers since 2016. Raju will take the helm in the place of Public Defender Jeff Adachi, who died unexpectedly on February 22.
 
Raju said that he intends to carry on Adachi’s powerful legacy.
 
“I’m honored and excited to continue to guide our office towards the goals for which Jeff Adachi so expertly laid the groundwork,” said Raju. “I share his passion for this work, his respect for our clients and community, and I am just as committed to bringing progressive criminal justice reform to our city, state, and country.”
 
Raju will be officially sworn-in after he moves to San Francisco with his family. For now, Gonzalez will assume the role of acting public defender. Once appointed, Raju’s official tenure will run through November, when the city will go to the polls and democratically elect a public defender to serve the next three years.