The number of unrepresented defendants in Oregon courts decreased by 30% over the last 6 months as the Oregon Public Defense Commission’s (OPDC) 12-month plan started delivering results.

OPDC Public Defenders Shrink Number Of Unrepresented Defendants

The work of OPDC’s 12-month plan, including public defense providers, the state-run Trial Division, and special dockets, led to a decrease in the number of unrepresented defendants in Oregon.

The Oregon Judicial Department dashboard shows that, as of Nov. 11, 2,835 defendants were awaiting an attorney, compared with 4,029 on May 1.

The numbers tell the story better than words, here’s how the backlog has changed in just six months:

Tidings Data Snapshot

Public-Defense Backlog in Oregon (May → Nov 2025) 4,029 Defendants Awaiting Coun

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