A retired circuit court judge from Multnomah County reflects on the critical state of public defense in Oregon. After serving over twenty years on the bench, he emphasizes the need for an increase in public defenders rather than simply increasing caseloads for existing lawyers. This lack of adequate legal representation, he argues, threatens constitutional rights and delays justice. His insights stem from a career dedicated to the administration of justice, highlighting the importance of adequate resources in the public defense system.
Providing adequate public defense fundamentally requires more public defenders - not simply heavier caseloads for the lawyers we already have. When there are not enough attorneys with the capacity to handle the volume of cases, matters stall, constitutional rights are jeopardized and the entire system slows to a crawl.
Though my service as a senior judge has concluded, I remain deeply invested in our state's administration of justice. From my judicial experience, I have witnessed firsthand how our public defense system affects the fundamental fairness of our courts.
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