Eric Deitrick | Special Counsel

Eric grew up in central Pennsylvania and took a train west after college, working as a line cook in Glacier National Park before settling in Portland. He began his legal career as a public defender and worked at Multnomah Defenders, Inc. for ten years, litigating criminal and civil commitment cases at the trial and appellate level. While there, he worked on criminal law reform legislation and started a campaign that reduced simple drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Before joining OJRC, Eric worked at the Oregon Public Defense Commission for nine years and served as the agency’s general counsel. In that role, he led the agency’s reform efforts, worked with national public defense advocates, and implemented public defense caseload standards. That work culminated in Oregon’s public defense reform bill – Senate Bill 337 – in 2023.

Eric previously served as counsel to the Oregon House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary and on Governor Brown’s Reentry Council. He lives in Multnomah Village with his family and cats and enjoys all things outdoors.

JD, Lewis and Clark Law School
BA, Pennsylvania State University, Schreyer Honors College