Oregon’s court system is in crisis, leaving thousands of people charged with crimes stuck without lawyers for months or longer.
Because there aren’t enough public defenders, cases stall and defendants have no real way to fight back.
One example is Corshelle Jenkins, a Portland mother wrongly charged with theft after someone else used her name. Even knowing it was a mistake, she couldn’t defend herself without an attorney. She spent over two years dealing with court dates, stress, and risk to her job before the case was dismissed.
Others have lost housing, jobs, or faced serious health impacts while waiting.
The Oregon Supreme Court has ordered cases dismissed after long delays, but charges can still be refiled.
The shortage stems from low pay, burnout, and a complicated system. While there are signs of progress, many people—guilty or not—are still forced to wait.
Summarized from “Falsely charged with a crime, no way to fight it: inside Oregon’s court crisis” by Sam Levin, The Guardian, April 28, 2026.