Pamplin Media Group - State public defense panel members to be dismissed
State public defense panel members to be dismissed, Local News, Portland local News, Breaking News alerts for Portland city.
Stay updated with breaking news from Stephen Singer. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
State public defense panel members to be dismissed, Local News, Portland local News, Breaking News alerts for Portland city.
Oregon’s chief justice has fired all the members of the Public Defense Services Commission, frustrated that hundreds of defendants charged with crimes and who cannot afford an attorney have been unable to find public defenders to represent them
State public defense panel members to be dismissed, Local News, Portland local News, Breaking News alerts for Portland city.
The unprecedented action comes as Oregon's unique public defender system has come under such strain that it is at a breaking point.
Criminal defendants in Oregon who have gone without legal representation due to a shortage of public defenders filed a lawsuit in May that alleges the state is violating their constitutional right to legal counsel and a speedy trial.