Public Defenseless by Hunter Parnell

October 31, 2024 294 | A Judicial Candidate Speaks Out Against Retaliation by a High Ranking Member of Oregon Public Defense w/Rachel Philips

Today, Hunter is joined by Oregon Criminal Defense and Victim’s Rights lawyer Rachel Philips. Over the past three years, Rachel has been outspoken about retaliation that women attorneys faced from members of the Oregon Public Defense Commission. She joins the show to discuss her efforts to bring that retaliation to light and to discuss her candidacy for a seat on the bench in Multnomah County.

Guests:

Rachel Philips, Criminal Defense Lawyer, Victim’s Rights Lawyer, Candidate for Judicial Position 38, Multnomah County, Oregon

Resources:

Links to the Judicial Race:

League of women voters candidate forum: https://youtu.be/goGR8mEDSy8?si=dx9UqPhHSI5BdzwM

League of women voters interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTjwwMLP_JE

LWV candidate statements : https://www.vote411.org/plan-your-vote (If it doesn't pull it up, plug in my office address and it will by the race.

My campaign website: https://rachelphilipsforjudge.com/

Campaign Twitter: https://x.com/Rachel4Judge

Campaign Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelforjudge/

Oregonian article: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2024/10/surprise-open-seat-for-multnomah-county-judge-draws-pack-of-contenders.html?outputType=amp

Willamette Week article: https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/09/12/the-window-opens-and-shuts-quickly-for-unusual-judicial-vacancy-in-multnomah-county/

Multnomah Bar Association Candidate Statements: https://www.mbabar.org/about/mba-news/candidate-statements---circuit-court-judge-position-38/

Also, here's the Oregonian's endorsement of the DA (not a surprise): https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2024/10/editorial-endorsement-november-2024-elect-jeff-auxier-to-multnomah-county-bench.html

And my answers to their questions: https://www.oregonlive.com/editors/2024/10/rachel-philips-multnomah-county-judge-position-38.html

Also Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Philips

And the Multnomah Bar Association candidate statements: https://mbabar.org/judicialcandidates

https://www.portlandmercury.com/election-guide-2024/2024/10/16/47453705/your-mercury-2024-election-cheat-sheet

Folder with Report and Statements

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QbvIppKcTDpSpLiQD4nFhA0IxLfVajiV?usp=sharing

Media coverage of defense crisis and investigation into OPDS, I tried to keep it mainly chronological, from oldest to most recent:

https://www.oregoncapitalinsider.com/news/state-public-defense-office-out-of-money/article_b7e0e664-dae4-59fc-b846-23c86f14e8ae.html

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2021/07/as-state-public-defense-office-emerges-from-nearly-4-million-deficit-attorneys-raise-other-concerns-about-mismanagement.html

https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2021/08/11/35853142/women-defense-attorneys-accuse-oregons-public-defense-agency-of-retaliation-and-pay-inequity

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2021/08/aclu-calls-for-investigation-after-female-attorneys-raise-retaliation-pay-concerns-at-state-public-defenders-office.html

This mentions Tara Herivel not being paid her negotitated rate:

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2022/03/states-embattled-public-defense-office-signed-contracts-worth-400000-to-hire-consultants-including-former-state-rep-jennifer-williamson.html

Tara's guest column: https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2022/03/opinion-oregons-public-defense-crisis-rooted-in-longstanding-failures.html

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/12/09/oregon-criminal-justice-system-publid-defender-shortage-crisis/

https://www.opb.org/article/2022/08/16/day-after-firing-public-defense-commissioners-oregons-chief-justice-appoints-new-members/

Here is Oregon ACLU landing page with timeline and their letters and actions: https://www.aclu-or.org/en/campaigns/fighting-gender-based-discrimination-public-defense-system#:~:text=Timeline-,August%202021,J.D.%2C%20to%20begin%20the%20investigation.

https://x.com/rachelbusygrl/status/1681469783194357762 - has opinion in Tara's case that she won against OPDS

https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2023/07/ousted-oregon-public-defense-leader-to-get-380000-to-settle-whisteblower-claims.html?utm_campaign=theoregonian_sf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

https://www.opb.org/article/2023/07/18/former-head-oregon-public-defense-singer-settles-with-state-for-380000k/

https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2024/02/report-shows-some-female-public-defenders-in-oregon-earned-less-than-male-counterparts-with-lots-of-caveats.html

https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2024/08/15/report-finds-top-lawyer-at-state-public-defense-agency-retaliated-against-two-female-attorneys/#:~:text=The%20report%20was%20commissioned%20by,represent%20every%20indigent%20criminal%20defendant.

https://www.wweek.com/news/courts/2024/02/07/long-awaited-investigation-into-gender-disparities-in-public-defender-pay-finds-considerable-inconsistency/

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2024/09/no-discipline-for-oregon-public-defense-agency-leader-accused-of-retaliating-against-women-lawyers.html

Rachel’s letter to the editor in 2023: https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2023/05/readers-respond-public-defense-system-needs-accountability.html

https://www.wweek.com/news/2024/10/20/aclu-demands-firing-of-state-public-defense-agencys-top-lawyer/

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2024/10/aclu-demands-dismissal-of-top-lawyer-at-oregon-public-defense-agency.html?outputType=amp

Contact Hunter Parnell:

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