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A whale's tail shows above the surface of the water off the coast of Depoe Bay. (Photo courtesy Bob Bechtold)
The Office of Public Defense Services is governed by the Public Defense Services Commission (PDSC), which in turn is appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. The office is managed by the executive director whose duties under ORS 151.219 include representation of indigent persons in the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court in felony, misdemeanor and parole appeals, and the negotiation and administration of contracts for public defense services across the state on criminal, juvenile, civil and post conviction relief cases.
The PDSC consists of seven members who are appointed to four-year terms. The current chair is Barnes Ellis, Portland. The merger of all indigent defense services under the PDSC occurred in July, 2003 with the statutory transfer of the State Indigent Defense Program from the Office of the State Court Administrator. The commission was created in 2001 and is authorized by ORS 151.211–151.225.
Source
Ingrid Swenson, Executive Director
Address: 1175 Court St. NE, Salem 97301-4030
Phone: 503-378-3349
Fax: 503-378-2163
Staff Directory from Oregon.gov