The Oregon Defense Consortia Association (ODCA), founded in 2015, is the only statewide organization dedicated exclusively to protecting and strengthening Oregon’s private public defense workforce. We advocate for fair compensation, sustainable workloads, and stable contracting structures for the firms and attorneys who fulfill the constitutionally mandated right to counsel. We also work to educate policymakers and the public about the essential role private public defense professionals play in safeguarding both individual rights and the integrity of the justice system.
 

As Oregon confronts an unprecedented public defense crisis, ODCA has taken a leading role in negotiations and policy reform efforts affecting the future of the system. The decisions being made today carry profound constitutional, financial, and professional consequences both for the workforce and for communities that rely on a well functioning judicial system.  A stable and respected defense workforce is essential to protecting the rights guaranteed under the Oregon and United States Constitutions.