Oregon Governor Wants Authority Over State's Public Defender Agency
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek made a request for changes to a state Senate bill that would overhaul Oregon's ...
Stay updated with breaking news from Jon Mosher. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek made a request for changes to a state Senate bill that would overhaul Oregon's ...
With just weeks remaining in Oregon’s legislative session, Gov. Tina Kotek is changing the course of a long-sought overhaul of the state’s public defense system. Kotek sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Rules this month requesting changes to Senate Bill 337, the bill meant to address a constitutional crisis that’s left thousands of people accused of crimes without attorneys.
The proposal would set up an hourly payment system and put public defenders on staff to bolster their ranks to represent the hundreds of people without legal representation
Public defense across the West suffers deep-rooted, decades-old problems. States have two solutions to consider: dole out more cash or shrink the criminal justice system.
Everyone accused of a crime deserves legal representation