Los Angeles Times

Former LA public defender picked to lead federal Access to Justice office

Public Defender Rachel Rossi took part in the debate at the California African-American Museum on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019.

WASHINGTON — During a college internship at the Orange County Public Defender's office, Rachel Rossi was sent to the local jail. She was given a simple instruction: Ask people who had recently been arrested what they need.

"'Do you need medication? Is your family OK? Are your kids OK?' In that role and seeing the racial disparities of people who are in the system, but also seeing just the humanity of the people, it sold me that this was where my passion, my fight would be," Rossi told The Times in an interview.

She went on to become a public defender in Los Angeles and

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