Ken Sanchgren, interim executive director of the Oregon Public Defense Commission, told the Senate Judiciary committee that statewide numbers of unrepresented persons have fallen from recent peaks following new contracts and targeted interventions.

Sanchgren highlighted county-level successes and tactics: Coos County has narrowed its unrepresented list to one out-of-custody case and zero in-custody (recently), aided by OPDC trial team deployments and a monthly early-resolution docket; Marion County reduced its numbers by roughly 75% after combined contract adjustments and early-resolution dockets; Jackson County used early-resolution dockets to resolve about 150 cases since May 2025.

Sanchgren emphasized that much of the problem is capacity rather than policy. OPDC has expanded contracts and allowed experienced attorneys to exceed MAC limits in some counties, staffed early-resolution dockets with OPDC trial attorneys, and deployed trial-division resources to counties with critical needs. "Our trial division operates under the same MAC requirements as our providers," he told the committee, and described OPDC's role in supplementing local capacity in 25 counties.

Committee members asked about a recent Clackamas County judicial order affecting a Marion County contract; Sanchgren said OPDC would follow the order once it was released and provide follow-up to the committee.

What happens next: OPDC will continue monthly data reporting to the legislature, pilot early-resolution dockets in more counties as capacity allows, and consider lessons from successful counties for broader adoption.