Oregon’s Public Defender Crisis Improves | Portland News

Oregon’s public defender crisis is finally turning around, with a 66% drop in defendants waiting for lawyers since last year — now just over 1,100 people stuck without counsel. Governor Tina Kotek calls it a turning point, warning that justice stalls when legal representation is denied. The progress follows leadership changes, including replacing former Executive Director Jessica Kampfre with Ken Sanchagrin, and a 12-month action plan. Courts have also stepped in, with federal and state rulings mandating releases or dismissals if defendants aren’t assigned attorneys within strict timeframes. Frontline defenders credit the improvement to dedicated staff and increased funding — but stress that over 1,000 vulnerable Oregonians still lack their constitutional right to counsel. The battle for equal access to justice is far from won. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/37303bf3a0d9f1dd