Petitioner Files Opposition to State's Attempt to Dismiss Wrongful Conviction Claim

PORTLAND, Ore. - EntSun -- In a move that has raised eyebrows among justice reform advocates, Attorney General Dan Rayfield's office has assigned Assistant Attorney General Michelle Enfield to defend a conviction that was prosecuted by Bracken McKey, a former Washington County Deputy District Attorney whose conduct came under public scrutiny after a series of misconduct allegations.

McKey, who served during the era when Oregon permitted non-unanimous jury verdicts, was placed on administrative leave in 2023 following a human resources investigation, as reported by OPB. Internal records later revealed that he shared inappropriate images of himself and made sexually charged remarks to colleagues — allegations detailed in a KPTV investigative report. In Paul's case, McKey also withheld exculpatory evidence at trial to secure the conviction, a violation documented in court records and Post-Conviction transcripts.

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"It's disturbing to see the state defend the actions of a single bad actor rather than correct the harm he caused," said Paul. "Senate Bill 1584 was passed to offer justice to people like me—those who were caught in a system that one prosecutor manipulated, despite knowing better."

Paul was convicted by a non-unanimous jury — a practice ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in Ramos v. Louisiana (2020). Oregon's non-unanimous jury law, enacted in 1934 with the backing of the Ku Klux Klan and other nativist groups, was designed to silence minority voices and erode the principle of fair trial. Despite this shameful origin, the state continues to defend convictions that relied on it.

Despite his personal frustration, Paul says he is open to resolving the matter without further litigation — especially if the state is willing to acknowledge that this case is not a defense of the entire system, but of one prosecutor whose removal already signals broader institutional concerns.

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"I've already lost years of my life. What I want now is acknowledgment, accountability, and a resolution that honors the intent of the law without dragging this through more public controversy."

Paul spent over 2,000 extra days in prison, even working as a Certified Wildland Firefighter during the fires of 2020 while his convictions were overturned.

For media inquiries or to request a full copy of the petition and exhibits, contact:
Samuel Paul
samuelpabloisfree@gmail.com
X/Twitter: @samuelpablo

@ORDOJ, @DanRayfield, @opb, @innocence, @NAACP, @ACLUnationwide, @GovTinaKotek, @Oregonian

#OregonJustice, #WrongfulConviction, #ORSB1584, #JusticeReform, #NonUnanimousJury, #CivilRights, #FixTheSystem
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