Public Defender Shortages Suggest Rethinking Drug Criminalization

Matthew Cavedon and Kayla Susalla

Earlier this month, the Oregon Supreme Court required the state to dismiss about 1,400 criminal cases because of a lack of defense counsel. The court held that misdemeanor cases must be dismissed after 60 days, and felony ones after 90 days, in the event counsel cannot be appointed. Some of the dropped cases include charges of aggravated theft and strangulation. Several other states, including Maine, Illinois, and New Hampshire, are also facing severe public defender shortages.