A Washington County Circuit judge’s long and contentious relationship with a major public defense provider boiled over this week when the judge announced he will recuse himself from all cases involving the Metropolitan Public Defender.
In a barb-filled two-page letter, Judge D. Charles Bailey on Monday told presiding Judge Beth Roberts that he will no longer hear cases in which defendants are represented by the Portland-based nonprofit organization. The Oregonian/OregonLive obtained the letter through a public records request.