Women deserve equal pay and respect in the workplace and should not have to face retaliation when fighting against discrimination.
The ACLU of Oregon is advocating on behalf of Oregon’s women public defense attorneys to halt discriminatory and hostile practices by the Office of Public Defense Services (OPDS).
What happened at OPDS?
Women attorneys shared concerns about pay inequity and retaliation at the Office of Public Defense Services (OPDS). The ACLU of Oregon asked for an investigation. OPDS has started an investigation by an outside investigator. We encourage everyone with information to participate in the investigation.
In August 2021, the ACLU of Oregon asked the Public Defense Services Commission (PDSC) to initiate an independent investigation of the Office of Public Defense Services (OPDS). We made this request after multiple women defense attorneys shared with us their experiences involving pay inequity and retaliation from OPDS. After we publicized this request for an investigation, several more women defense attorneys reached out to us with serious concerns about OPDS.
In response to our request, OPDS’ leadership at the time (Ed Jones, Interim Executive Director) engaged Jill Goldsmith, J.D. of Workplace Solutions Northwest to conduct an investigation.
At some point during 2022, the investigation stalled. In October 2022, the ACLU of Oregon wrote the PDSC to re-initiate and finish the investigation. The PDSC responded in November that the investigation had been reactivated following OPDS providing the records that Ms. Goldsmith had requested.
Ms. Goldsmith’s experience is set out at www.workplacesolutionsnw.com. She can be reached at jill@workplacesolutionsnw.com.
The ACLU of Oregon is advocating on behalf of Oregon’s women public defense attorneys to halt discriminatory and hostile practices by the Office of Public Defense Services (PDSC).
What is happening now?
While we are still digesting the contents of the report, one thing is clear: the investigator hired by the state found that the facts substantiated several women attorneys' concerns about retaliation and significantly problematic conduct by Eric Deitrick, General Counsel for OPDC.
The State of Oregon must explain why Deitrick continues to be employed as General Counsel.
We will continue to raise our concerns to the State of Oregon and OPDC until these matters are addressed appropriately and fully.
Timeline
August 2021
The ACLU of Oregon requests an investigation of concerns from women attorneys who experienced pay inequity and retaliation. OPDS hires third-party investigator Ms. Jill Goldsmith, J.D., to begin the investigation.
October 2022
The ACLU of Oregon requests new leadership of OPDS to re-initiate the investigation, which had been stalled.
November 2022
OPDS confirms the investigation has been reactivated.
February 2024
The investigation into reports of retaliation is complete, but not made available to the ACLU of Oregon despite numerous requests.
August 2024
Nearly three years after requesting the investigation, the ACLU of Oregon obtains copies of the reports that substantiate several women attorneys' concerns about retaliation.
October 2024
The ACLU of Oregon submits a letter to OPDC requesting appropriate action:
"It should be a given that the General Counsel of Oregon’s public defense agency should not engage in retaliation towards the agency’s employees and contractors. Moreover, after an investigation substantiates that the General Counsel engaged in retaliatory conduct against multiple people, the General Counsel should no longer be in their position.
We request that OPDC immediately take the only appropriate action in this situation: terminate Deitrick’s employment with OPDC."
Our criminal justice system is critical to our democracy, civil liberties, and civil rights, and criminal defense attorneys are critical to the integrity and functionality of this system.
Oregon has a dire shortage of public defense attorneys. Thousands of Oregonians still cannot access a public defender in violation of their constitutional rights. To address this workforce crisis, OPDC should be working to build a strong, ethical, and supportive work culture. Oregon can’t achieve this if state agencies don’t hold their leadership staff accountable for retaliatory misconduct.
