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Public defenders and defense group urge caution as committee hears bill to create district defender offices
Summary
At a public hearing on House Bill 3,376, defense providers said the measure to establish a district defender in each judicial district raises questions about potential duplication, cost and the role of local providers; the bill's amendment removes language about judge-level compensation.
The House Committee on Judiciary held a public hearing on House Bill 3,376, a measure that would establish an office of the district defender in each judicial district and empower the Oregon Public Defense Commission executive director to appoint district defenders subject to commission approval.
The original bill set the district defender's compensation equal to that of a circuit court judge, but the -1 amendment before the committee removed the compensation language while retaining the offices and specifying powers and duties for the district defenders. Committee staff said the amendment was in front of members.
Carl McPherson, executive director of Metropolitan Public Defender, testified…
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