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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Criminal defendants in Oregon who have gone without legal representation for long periods of time amid a critical shortage of public defense attorneys filed a lawsuit Monday that alleges the state violated their constitutional right to legal counsel and a speedy trial.
Criminal defendants in Oregon who have gone without legal representation for long periods since the pandemic filed a lawsuit against the state Monday.
The crisis has led to the dismissal of dozens of cases and left an estimated 500 defendants statewide without legal representation.
The complaint, which seeks class-action status, was filed as state lawmakers struggle to address the huge shortage of public defenders statewide.
Despite a constitutional right to an attorney, approximately 500 people charged with crimes have been denied a public defender, according to a lawsuit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court.