Oregon Supreme Court Considers Authority of Judges in Public Defense Dispute

Litigation attorney Kristin Asai was mentioned in an article published by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) about a case before the Oregon Supreme Court on whether judges can force public defenders to take new clients. The case arose when judges in Marion County forced a public defender at a nonprofit firm to take a new client, despite objections that taking on more clients than an attorney can handle violates both a defendant's constitutional rights to effective counsel and the lawyer's ethical duties. Ms. Asai, who represents the public defender firm, said "a clear rule from this court that this is improper" is needed, elaborating on the dangers of letting the situation continue.

"They are not providing sufficient representation to clients," she contended. "They're knowingly being forced to violate their ethical duties to other clients, and they're leaving this profession. They're leaving this office, which is further burdening the other attorneys there to take on and absorb their caseloads."

The case was also covered by Oregon Capital Insider, Courthouse News Service and NPR.

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