Supporters urge narrow post-conviction pathway for cases tied to discredited forensics; district attorneys raise operational concerns

The House Rules Committee heard emotional and technical testimony on SB 1515 A, a measure that would change Oregon’s wrongful-conviction compensation statute and create a targeted post-conviction relief process for convictions relying on certain discredited forensic disciplines.

Senator Kim Thatcher, sponsor in the committee, said the bill fixes two problems: improving compensation for the wrongfully convicted and creating a limited path to review convictions built on discredited forensic evidence. ‘‘When Oregon passed its compensation statute in 2022… it wasn’t working right,’’ Thatcher said, explaining the need for statutory fixes.

Supporters included exonerees and advocates. Scott Cannon described being convicted in 1998 on what he said was ‘junk science’ and urged passage so others who lack a path back to court can obtain relief. Winnie Yee of The Innocence Project and other advocates said Oregon’s wrongful-forensic cases are disproportionately represented in exonerations and the legislation is narrowly tailored.

The Oregon District Attorneys Association (John Wentworth) and association counsel (Amanda Dalton) opposed the bill, saying legislative labeling of certain science as 'discredited' could tilt post-conviction reviews and that the bill expands relief to guilty pleas and would strain DA offices without funding. Wentworth urged a shorter sunset (two years) and argued the plain language needs clearer statutory definitions for terms such as 'diagnosis.'

Committee members heard both the personal impact testimony and procedural concerns; no committee vote was recorded at the hearing.