We’re back with Episode 5 of Sidebar Sessions by CD Law, our podcast featuring two lawyers and guests breaking down law and life over a glass of wine.
Episode 5 is now streaming on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
In this episode, CD Law partners Miguel Custodio and Vineet Dubey sit down with Eyvin Hernandez — Los Angeles Public Defender, UCLA Law alum, and former political prisoner — for one of the most powerful and personal conversations we’ve had on the show. What begins as a discussion about trial work and public defense turns into an account of survival, identity, and the power of the mind under pressure.
In March 2022, while traveling near the Colombia–Venezuela border, Eyvin was kidnapped at gunpoint by armed, masked men connected to the Maduro regime. He was accused of being a spy and held for nearly 21 months inside a Venezuelan intelligence prison. Much of that time was spent in a tiny concrete cell, isolated from the world he had dedicated his life to serving.
But this episode is not just about captivity.
It’s about resilience.
Before becoming a public defender, Eyvin grew up in some of the toughest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. He didn’t plan on becoming a lawyer. He nearly left law school in his first few weeks. What changed his trajectory was mentorship, discipline, and the decision to fight for something bigger than himself.
From trying more than 60 cases as a Public Defender to surviving solitary confinement in a foreign prison, Eyvin shares what preparation really means, how mindset can determine survival, and why defending the accused is one of the most important — and misunderstood — roles in the legal system.
About Eyvin Hernandez
- Los Angeles Deputy Public Defender
- UCLA School of Law alumnus
- Tried more than 60 cases as a criminal defense attorney
- Former political prisoner detained in Venezuela from March 31, 2022 to December 20, 2023
The Wine
For Episode 5, Miguel and Vineet open Breathless Blanc De Blanc — as always, the wine sets the tone for honest dialogue, reflection, and a few unexpected laughs in between heavy moments.
Episode Highlights
- Kidnapped by a regime: Eyvin recounts the moment he was taken at gunpoint and the shock of being accused of crimes he did not commit.
- Surviving solitary confinement: What nearly two years in detention taught him about discipline, routine, and the power of the mind.
- The role of a public defender: Why defending the accused requires courage, preparation, and an unshakeable belief in constitutional rights.
- Mentorship and transformation: The teacher who changed his path and why belief from one person can alter a life.
- Trial as performance: Why preparation, storytelling, and fearlessness matter when standing in front of a jury.
Why Listen?
Whether you’re:
- A lawyer who believes in the Constitution and the role of defense
- A law student questioning your path
- Trial attorney who understands the mental grind of the courtroom
- Someone drawn to stories of survival, resilience, and second chances
This episode offers an unfiltered look at what it means to fight — not just in court, but for your freedom, your sanity, and your identity.
So pour yourself a glass, hit play, and join us for Sidebar Sessions: Episode 5 with Eyvin Hernandez.
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March 04, 2026