In a blunt email Monday, Public Defense Services Executive Director Stephen Singer told Marion County Presiding Judge Tracy Prall to take his staff off the cases. “(W)e need to get these baseless and useless appointments rescinded asap so that we can all focus on the work at hand which includes finding attorneys to represent unrepresented clients in Marion County,” Singer wrote. “Please, please do something to make this unnecessary, ineffective, and improper conduct by the judges in your court stop.”File art
The director of the embattled agency that manages Oregon’s public defense system this week took a judge to task for “unnecessary, ineffective and improper conduct” because her colleague on the bench appointed some of his staff to take criminal cases.
Marion County Judge Jennifer Gardiner earlier this month appointed state appellate lawyers and the general counsel of Oregon Public Defense Services to handle about 16 misdemeanor and felony cases.
Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission.
