The bill would have allowed judges to ratchet down some misdemeanor offenses to violations, meaning no jail time.

legislative director of the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, said at a Wednesday public hearing. "We need all hands on deck." Here are some of the bills lawmakers are considering to ...

The agency has a tumultuous history with its leadership. Its previous director, Stephen Singer, battled Oregon’s former chief ...

Gov. Tina Kotek fired Oregon’s public defense leader amid an ongoing shortage of public defense attorneys in the state and ...

Jessica Kampfe led the Oregon Public Defense Commission through an overhaul that began in 2023, but has received criticism ...

Despite leadership changes and legislative fixes, Oregon has for years failed to provide attorneys to everyone charged with ...

Flynn has warned all Oregon judges to use “extraordinary caution” in taking a position on the state’s public defense crisis .

Thousands of defendants are currently unrepresented in Oregon. Public defenders say the problem is one of supply and demand.