Oregon Code § 135.050·Enacted ·Last updated March 01, 2026
Statute Text
Eligibility for court-appointed counsel; financial statement; termination;
civil liability.
(1) Suitable counsel for a defendant shall be appointed by a municipal, county
or justice court if:
(a) The defendant
is before a court on a matter described in subsection (5) of this section;
(b) The defendant
requests aid of counsel;
(c) The defendant
provides to the court a written and verified financial statement; and
(d) It appears to
the court that the defendant is financially unable to retain adequate
representation without substantial hardship in providing basic economic
necessities to the defendant or the defendants dependent family.
(2) Suitable
counsel for a defendant shall be appointed by a circuit court if:
(a) The defendant
is before the court on a matter described in subsection (5) of this section;
(b) The defendant
requests aid of counsel;
(c) The defendant
provides to the court a written and verified financial statement; and
(d)(A) The
defendant is determined to be financially eligible under ORS 151.485 and the
standards established by the Oregon Public Defense Commission under ORS
151.216; or
(B) The court
finds, on the record, substantial and compelling reasons why the defendant is
financially unable to retain adequate representation without substantial
hardship in providing basic economic necessities to the defendant or the
defendants dependent family despite the fact that the defendant does not meet
the financial eligibility standards established by the commission.
(3) Appointed
counsel may not be denied to any defendant merely because the defendants
friends or relatives have resources adequate to retain counsel or because the
defendant has deposited or is capable of depositing security for release.
However, appointed counsel may be denied to a defendant if the defendants
spouse has adequate resources which the court determines should be made
available to retain counsel.
(4) The defendants
financial statement under subsection (1) or (2) of this section shall include,
but not be limited to:
(a) A list of
bank accounts in the name of defendant or defendants spouse, and the balance
in each;
(b) A list of
defendants interests in real property and those of defendants spouse;
(c) A list of
automobiles and other personal property of significant value belonging to
defendant or defendants spouse;
(d) A list of
debts in the name of defendant or defendants spouse, and the total of each;
and
(e) A record of
earnings and other sources of income in the name of defendant or defendants
spouse, and the total of each.
(5) Counsel must
be appointed for a defendant who meets the requirements of subsection (1) or
(2) of this section and who is before a court on any of the following matters:
(a) Charged with
a crime.
(b) For a hearing
to determine whether an enhanced sentence should be imposed when such
proceedings may result in the imposition of a felony sentence.
(c) For
extradition proceedings under the provisions of the Uniform Criminal
Extradition Act.
(d) For any
proceeding concerning an order of probation, including but not limited to the
revoking or amending thereof.
(6) Unless
otherwise ordered by the court, the appointment of counsel under this section
shall continue during all criminal proceedings resulting from the defendants
arrest through acquittal or the imposition of punishment. The court having
jurisdiction of the case may not substitute one appointed counsel for another
except pursuant to the policies, procedures, standards and guidelines of the
Oregon Public Defense Commission under ORS 151.216.
(7) If, at any
time after the appointment of counsel, the court having jurisdiction of the
case finds that the defendant is financially able to obtain counsel, the court
may terminate the appointment of counsel. If, at any time during criminal
proceedings, the court having jurisdiction of the case finds that the defendant
is financially unable to pay counsel whom the defendant has retained, the court
may appoint counsel as provided in this section.
(8)(a) Except as
provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the court may order the defendant
in a circuit court to pay to the Public Defense Services Account established by
ORS 151.225, through the clerk of the court, in full or in part the administrative
costs of determining the eligibility of the defendant for appointed counsel and
the costs of the legal and other services that are related to the provision of
appointed counsel under ORS 151.487.
(b) A court may
not enter an order described in paragraph (a) of this subsection when the
defendant is charged only with unlawful possession of a controlled substance
constituting a drug enforcement misdemeanor as described in ORS 475.896.
(9) In addition
to any criminal prosecution, a civil proceeding may be initiated by any public
body which has expended moneys for the defendants legal assistance within two
years of judgment if the d
Plain English Explanation
This Oregon statute addresses Eligibility for court-appointed counsel; financial statement; termination;
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Key Points
01Part of Oregon statutory law
02Referenced as Oregon Code § 135.050
03Subject to legislative amendments
04Consult a licensed attorney for application to specific cases
Frequently Asked Questions
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