MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — For the first time in 25 years, the Southern Oregon Public Defenders office had to turn down a murder case because its attorneys were already busy with other cases.
The overload forced Bert Putney, administrator for the office, to ask a judge Wednesday to delay the arraignment of Benjamin James George for three weeks.
The 29-year-old George is accused of murder, murder by abuse and assault in the death of his girlfriend’s toddler daughter on June 15.
Putney said the public defenders group already had its state-contracted quota of murder cases and had no attorneys available to take on another.
