Criminal Justice + Policing
Former Oregon Health Authority worker accused of embezzling $1.5 million in federal Covid funding
An Oregon Health Authority employee who processed requests for vendor payments has been indicted for embezzling nearly $1.5 million, state officials said Wednesday. A Marion County grand jury indicted Marzieh Abedin of Portland on 21 criminal counts, including theft, forgery, identity theft and computer crime – all felonies, according to a statement from Attorney General […]
Oregon governor, legislature, courts launch new effort to address public defender shortage
Lawmakers, Gov. Kate Brown and the Oregon Judicial Department are launching a new effort to address a shortage of attorneys that has left some Oregonians jailed without the legal representation they’re guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. A workgroup announced this week will analyze management, financial and structural challenges facing the state office that oversees roughly […]
Oregon Attorney General Rosenblum sues Covid testing company
Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum on Thursday sued a Covid testing business that the state Justice Department alleges provided questionable test results and took advantage of Oregonians. Center for Covid Control, an Illinois-based business that opened hundreds of testing sites nationally and five in Oregon, has been under scrutiny from state and federal officials for […]
U.S. Senate heads toward final vote this week on Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation
The U.S. Senate approved a procedural measure Tuesday to advance Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court, setting up a final vote on confirmation as early as Thursday. The roll call Tuesday was identical to the tally on another procedural vote Monday. Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt […]
Oregon adds hotline for sanctuary law violations
There’s a new number to call if police are suspected of investigating someone’s immigration status or otherwise violating Oregon’s sanctuary law. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum on Friday launched a new state hotline that anyone can call to report suspected violations of the decades-old sanctuary law that prevents state and local government and law enforcement from […]
Oregon to join most states in compensating the wrongfully convicted
Wrongfully convicted Oregonians will now be eligible for financial compensation for time of false imprisonment. On March 24, Gov. Kate Brown signed the Oregon Justice for Exonerees Act, which allows compensation for wrongful convictions. Victims will be able to receive money, housing assistance, counseling, a sealing of their records and a clear name. Previously, Oregon […]
Auditors: Oregon ranks high for domestic terrorism, Legislature should do more
After a decade that included the occupation of a federal wildlife refuge, clashes between groups of protesters in Portland and a mob forcing its way into the locked Capitol, Oregon ranks sixth in the nation for violent extremist attacks, according to a new state report. The Secretary of State’s Audits Division called on the Legislature […]
Oregon U.S. Senator Ron Wyden harshly criticizes U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas
Oregon’s senior U.S. senator, Democrat Ron Wyden, lashed out at U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday, insinuating that he is “corrupt.” “In light of new reporting from numerous outlets, Justice Thomas’ conduct on the Supreme Court looks increasingly corrupt,” Wyden said in a statement. He called on Thomas, one of the most conservative […]
GOP senators attack and interrupt in final day of questioning U.S. Supreme Court nominee
WASHINGTON D.C. — In the third day of hearings Wednesday on the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, several Republicans on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee interrogated her about sentences she handed down for child pornography offenses, disagreeing vehemently with her judicial decisions. Republicans grilled her with questions she had already […]
Mixed results for criminal justice reform bills in Oregon Legislature
Oregon will likely limit law enforcement’s ability to stop drivers and start paying wrongly convicted people for serving time for crimes they didn’t commit, but other legislative attempts to reform the criminal justice system have stalled. Both the House and Senate this week approved Senate Bill 1510, and Senate Bill 1584 could come up for […]
STATUS CHECK: Where key legislative bills are on week 5
The five-week session of the Oregon Legislature kicked off with lawmakers filing more than 200 bills. Those have been whittled down by House and Senate committees. Bills that didn’t pass out of committee by the end of the day on Feb. 14 died. Those that require the use of state funds must be considered by […]
STATUS CHECK: Where key legislative bills are on week 4
The five-week session of the Oregon Legislature kicked off with lawmakers filing more than 200 bills. Those have been whittled down by House and Senate committees. Bills that didn’t pass out of committee by the end of the day on Feb. 14 died. Those that require the use of state funds must be considered by […]