https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/02/29/it-results-in-more-justice-new-public-defender-program-looks-to-even-the-field-at-arraignments/ > SAN JOSE — On a recent afternoon in arraignment court in the Santa Clara County Hall of Justice, rows of men and women in jail-issued jumpsuits sat quietly while a judge made his way through a heavy caseload. > Defendants were called. Many had been appointed an attorney, usually from the Public Defender’s Office, whom they’d met just a few moments before. In most cases, the defendant was sent back to jail — the attorneys had scant information that could be used to argue for  their release.