Cascadia today: OR court rules in public defense case + limits on license plate readers + protecting Olympic marmots
OR court rules charges must be dismissed for those without public defender
According to OPB, the Oregon supreme court ruled today that criminal charges against defendants must be dropped if the defendant cannot be provided with a public defender. This is a critical ruling in a state that faces a severe shortage of public defenders and where nearly 2,500 people are currently without representation. The order gives prosecutors 60 days for misdemeanors and 90 days for felony charges. I wrote about the national crisis of lack of public defense – especially dire in Oregon – for the American Bar Association's magazine ABA Journal in 2024.
Federal judge blocks ICE arrests without warrant in OR
A federal judge upheld the most basic constitutional principle Wednesday when it ruled that ICE agents can't make warrantless arrests in OR, Washington DC, or Colorado, Oregon Capital Chronicle reports. One of the plaintiffs was the Portland-based public interest law organization Innovation Law Lab. Meanwhile, OPB reports that at Yemeni family living near Portland's ICE was terrified when an errant tear gas canister shattered their apartment window.
It's clear that ICE isn't in Cascadia to protect us, but to terrify our residents.
Today, the judge ruled that ICE can’t just grab people and figure out the justification later." – Stephen Manning, Innovation Law Lab.
Meanwhile, CBC reports on the presence of ICE officers in Canada – and a growing movement to force them to leave.
WA legislature considers limits on license plate readers
Two guest columnist for the Stranger write that the Washington legislature needs to pass strong limits on automated license plate readers, such as controversial Flock cameras. Unfortunately, as it nearly always does, the state senate watered down the original legislation in SB 6002 and extended the time limit agencies can hold data from 72 hours to 21 days. If you live in Washington, let your state house reps know you support shorter time limits.
In related legislative news, the WA legislature is considering a new tax on those making more than $1 million annually. One step you can take in support: Sign in PRO to voice your support for a millionaire's tax by 12:30 pm Friday 2/6.
As riders await new Sound Transit line, agency at crossroads
The Urbanist looks at a new light rail line opening March 28 between Seattle and the cities of Bellevue and Redmond, and the battles that lie ahead to expand the system to Ballard and West Seattle. Capitol Hill Blog gets a sneak peek at the projects the Seattle Dept of Transportation will work on this year with levy funds. The city of Bremerton could possibly build its first protected bike lane (yay!) while the city of Medford is removing one bike lane downtown (boo!). And southeast Alaska's ferry system could run out of funds and this summer and is at risk of a total shutdown thanks to federal cuts.
Olympic marmots may receive federal protection
KNKX reports that the Olympic marmot, a species endemic to Washington's Olympic mountain range, is being considered for protected status by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Populations of the furry, whistling critters have diminished to population of around 2,000 because of rising temperatures due to climate change.
Thanks for reading. Keep loving and keep fighting! --Andrew
