Since its founding, ODCA has worked to protect public defense the private practitioners of public defense during an unprecedented funding crisis.  Our Association represents more than 200 attorneys that hold public defense contracts with the state.  Our work is at its most critical in 2024 and 2025 as we work to protect the contracting rights of private bar attorneys tat handle pulic defense.

The State’s obligation to guarantee the right to counsel under the State and Federal constitution is in peril.  According to a study by the American Bar Association (ABA), there are only one third of the public defenders Oregon requires to provide constitutionally adequate defense to those who can’t afford their own attorney.

As of December, 2025 more than 3000 Oregonians who qualified for a court-appointed attorney have not been provided the constitutionally-required legal counsel.  The average time for an out of custody unrepresented person to receive counsel is more than 100 days. 

 

Fewer new attorneys are willing to enter a profession that provides inadequate compensation, overwhelming workloads and little opportunity for long term security.  Experienced attorneys are leaving public defense to seek  better compensation and work life balance. 

 

Deputy District attorneys make 50% to 100% more in total compensation than their comparable defense  counterparts. 

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Our mission  is to obtain fair and adequate funding for public defense to assure the constitutional rights guaranteed to the accused under our State and Federal constitutions.