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Oregon’s Department of Justice Creates New Consumer Units
In September, Oregon’s Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the creation of new units to address a higher volume of consumer complaints. Regarding the creation of the agency’s new Economic Justice Section, Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a September 30 media release, “Today, we’re right-sizing this part of our agency to protect hardworking families, consumers, and seniors.”
The new section is to include a Working Families Unit staffed by several additional attorneys. The announcement signals a strengthened commitment from DOJ leadership to workers’ rights, workplace justice, and filling a gap where federal enforcement in the space has slowed.
The release also noted that because the new section will self-fund through casework, it is established at no additional cost to taxpayers.
Oregon’s Public Defense Picture Improves
On November 13, the Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC) published a press release regarding the decline in the number of unrepresented Oregonians. The release cites an overall decrease in volume of unrepresented persons of 30% over the course of the past six months. The Commission cited its Trial Division, special dockets, and committed work across its provider network as contributing to this progress.
The Commission has been publishing regular monthly Unrepresented Reports to its website since December 2024. OPDC addressed the Senate and House Interim Committees on Judiciary with its latest report on November 17 and 18 during the Oregon Legislature’s November Legislative Days.
Oregon State Bar House of Delegates Passes Resolutions Supporting Legal Aid, Court System
On Thursday, October 30, the Oregon State Bar House of Delegates (HOD) convened in a hybrid format.
The annual HOD meeting is an opportunity to approve changes to the Oregon Rules of Professional Conduct and modify or rescind actions of the Board of Governors.
The HOD also heard and considered several member resolutions. Among those resolutions passed by the HOD was Resolution 5 (Support of Adequate Funding for Legal Services to Low-Income Oregonians). The resolution, presented by Heather Decker (House of Delegates, Region 7) on behalf of a group of submitters, charges the bar with renewing and strengthening its commitment to Oregon’s civil legal services system and to promoting a fair, inclusive, and accessible justice system.
The HOD also passed Resolution 6 (Support for Adequate Funding of the Judicial Branch), presented by Vanessa Nordyke (Region 6). The resolution urged sufficient resourcing of the Oregon Judicial Branch to realize investments outlined in the agency’s Justice Campaign for 2024–2027.
Video and materials from the HOD meeting can be viewed on the bar’s website.
Interim Committees Review Agency Budget Modeling During Legislative Days
During the recent November Legislative Days, many state agencies presented updated budget modeling reflecting “reduction options.” Among them were the Oregon Judicial Department and the Oregon Public Defense Commission, both of which presented reduction options before the Joint Subcommittee on Public Safety on November 17.
Oregon’s Legislative Fiscal Office recently requested that state agencies prepare 5 percent budget cut scenarios for the upcoming biennium in lieu of a projected $372.7 million state budget shortfall. Factors contributing to the projected shortfall include anticipated and realized cuts to federal funding and a slowing economy.
On November 19, the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis released its most recent revenue forecast, reflecting a shrinkage of the forecasted budget deficit due to corporate tax payments.
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