Oregon State Bar
Indigent Defense Task Force
Survey of Judges


______________________
Jurisdiction
(County, Federal, etc.)
  
______________________
Current Position
  
______________________
Years in Position

Prior Legal Experience: (Check all that apply.)

private practice       county counsel       none
public defender       judge’s clerk          other

Primary form of Indigent Defense delivery services in your jurisdiction:

public defender       law firm       other
consortium              list               retained

1. In your experience, how would you characterize the quality of defense for indigent accused in your jurisdiction?

excellent       good       fair       poor

2. In your experience, is there a difference in quality for indigent defense between felony and misdemeanor practice?

Yes       No, Explain: ____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

3. Indicate your observations of the quality of representation for criminal defendants overall in your jurisdiction?

excellent       good       fair       poor

4. Indicate your observations of the quality of representation for retained criminal defendants in your jurisdiction?

excellent       good       fair       poor

5. Indicate your observations of the quality of representation for indigent defendants in your jurisdiction?

excellent       good       fair       poor

6. Please identify your chief areas of concern in the quality of criminal defense in your jurisdiction?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

7. Please rate the below listed characteristics of criminal defense attorneys that you perceive as most important in producing quality representation:

Characteristic

Very
Important
Neutral
  

Not Very
Important

a. Temperament
b. Knows the law
c. Agressive
d. Organized
e. Ethical
f. Communicative
g. Timely
h. Reasonable
i. Trustworthy
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1

8. Specifically, indicate the quality of the following practice characteristics for criminal defense attorneys who represent the indigent in your jurisdiction:

Defense attorneys are generally prepared for pretrial:
 always       most of the time       sometimes       rarely

Defense attorneys are generally prepared for trial:
 always       most of the time       sometimes       rarely

Defense attorneys are generally prepared for sentencing issues:
 always       most of the time       sometimes       rarely

Defense attorneys work hard at negotiating the case:
 always       most of the time       sometimes       rarely

Defense attorneys resolve cases pre-trial (settlement):
 always       most of the time       sometimes       rarely

Deputy District Attorneys have realistic expectations about the strengths or weaknesses of the case:
 always       most of the time       sometimes       rarely

Unrealistic expectations about the strengths of their case by Deputy District Attorneys impact the resolution of the case:
 always       most of the time       sometimes       rarely

Please explain: _______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

9. Rate your perception of criminal defense representation in the following areas:

Pre-charging investigation
 excellent       good       fair       poor

Negotiations
 excellent       good       fair       poor

Motion practice
 excellent       good       fair       poor

Plea practice
 excellent       good       fair       poor

Trial practice
 excellent       good       fair       poor

Sentencing
 excellent       good       fair       poor

Client contact
 excellent       good       fair       poor

Post-trial issues
 excellent       good       fair       poor

P. V. issues
 excellent       good       fair       poor

Appeal
 excellent       good       fair       poor

10. Please identify your chief strong points of criminal defense in your jurisdiction?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

11. Please identify the chief areas of concern for criminal defense practice in your jurisdiction?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

12. In your experience, is there a difference between the quality of representation for retained and court appointed clients?

Yes       No, Explain: ____________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________