HERMISTON, Ore. – The Hermiston City Council is set to address ongoing challenges the Hermiston Municipal Court is facing in securing public defense services. This issue will be discussed at the council's regular meeting on Monday.

The court has struggled since resuming jurisdiction over Class A misdemeanors in January 2024. A statewide shortage of attorneys and recruitment challenges in eastern Oregon have contributed to the difficulty.

The council is considering two main options to resolve the issue. One option is to return misdemeanor prosecution responsibilities to Umatilla County Circuit Court. The other is to increase attorney compensation to attract long-term solutions.

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