Lawsuit alleges county in Oklahoma running debtor’s prison - Bartlesville, OK
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The courthouse in Bartlesville is the location of this news story.
Waymark Code: WM154VZ
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 10/17/2021
Views: 0
A lawsuit against three judges alleges that poor people are having to stay in jail because they cannot afford court fees and fines. The courthouse is at the northeast corner of S. Johnstone and E. 5th in the downtown area of the city.
Article text:
Three indigent criminal defendants in a northeast Oklahoma county are suing three judges there alleging poor people are being unconstitutionally imprisoned because they can’t afford to pay court-ordered fees and fines.
Also named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed Thursday in Washington County is the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System.
The suit alleges that the state agency incentivizes its attorneys to close cases quickly, even if it means forfeiting the rights of their clients.
Washington County District Attorney Kevin Buchanan says it would be inappropriate to comment since he hadn’t reviewed the lawsuit.
A telephone message left Thursday with Special Judge Jared Sigler wasn’t immediately returned.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of three criminal defendants by the Washington, D.C.-based Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.
Type of publication: Television
When was the article reported?: 03/22/2019
Publication: kfor
Article Url: [Web Link]
Is Registration Required?: no
How widespread was the article reported?: local
News Category: Crime
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