Legal Clinic in Eugene Helps Residents Clear Eligible Convictions

A community legal clinic scheduled for December 19 at the Public Defender’s Office in Eugene will assist qualified Lane County residents in drafting and filing motions to set aside eligible criminal convictions. The final clinic of the year is led by Lane County Public Defender supervising attorney Tucker Campbell and Restored Connections Peer Center Director Stephanie Cameron, and more than 60 people already had appointments with organizers welcoming walk in participants.

Volunteers at the clinic will help eligible participants prepare motions to file with the court. Once a motion is filed the District Attorney has 90 days to file an objection. If the District Attorney does not object within that window the court may grant the motion without a hearing. An objection from the District Attorney can trigger a court hearing, and judges retain final authority over outcomes. Organizers emphasize these procedural steps to set realistic expectations about the timeline and possible results.

Not all convictions qualify for set aside relief. Class A felonies and many driving related offenses are not eligible for set aside. The clinic model began in 2023 and has since helped nearly 300 people obtain set asides, addressing nearly 1,000 convictions. Those gains illustrate how targeted legal assistance can produce measurable changes in individual records and open doors to new opportunities.

Clearing eligible convictions has direct implications for public health and community stability. Removing barriers to employment and stable housing can reduce stress, improve economic security, and enhance access to health care and social services. For communities already facing inequities in employment and housing, set aside clinics offer a practical intervention that intersects with broader policy questions about reentry, criminal justice reform, and access to services.

At the same time the limits of set aside relief underline the continuing role of prosecutors and judges in shaping outcomes. For Lane County residents considering participation the clinic offers immediate, hands on help while highlighting the larger policy conversation about how the justice system affects health, housing, and economic equity. The clinic will take place at the Public Defender’s Office in Eugene on December 19, and organizers advised that walk in participants are welcome.