"The shortage has pushed the legal system to the brink. Trapped in a byzantine court process, some people with outstanding charges and no representation have lost jobs, housing and custody of their children."
"In a sign of the magnitude of the crisis, the Oregon supreme court ruled in February that the state must dismiss all charges for people who have waited 90 days or more for a lawyer in felony cases and 60 days in misdemeanor cases."
"People who saw their case dismissed because of the supreme court decision could be charged again for the same offense. They may only learn of the fresh prosecution when a police officer arrests them on a warrant."
Corshelle Jenkins, a Portland resident, was wrongfully charged with theft and faced a public defender shortage in Oregon. After receiving a warrant for her arrest, she learned that the state had no lawyers available to represent her in court. This issue affects thousands of Oregonians, leading to job losses, housing instability, and health crises. The Oregon Supreme Court ruled that charges must be dismissed for those waiting too long for representation, yet many still face recharges and ongoing legal challenges.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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