Public Record: Request for Review – Oregon State Hospital Legal Access Restrictions
Publication Date: February 18, 2026
Introduction
This post serves as a public record of a formal communication submitted to the Office of Governor Tina Kotek through the official contact form on the State of Oregon website.
The purpose of publishing this communication is to ensure transparency, preserve documentation, and establish a clear timeline of notice provided to state leadership regarding conditions at the Oregon State Hospital that may impact patients’ ability to access legal materials, obtain copies, and meaningfully participate in their legal proceedings.
When concerns involve constitutional rights and access to the courts, it is important that notice is not only provided through internal systems but also preserved in a public forum. This record exists to document that notice has been given and to ensure accountability for any actions taken, or not taken, in response.
Message Submitted to the Office of Governor Tina Kotek
Governor Kotek,
I am writing to formally request your review and intervention regarding policies and practices at the Oregon State Hospital that interfered with my ability, as a civilly committed patient, to access legal materials, obtain copies, and meaningfully participate in my legal proceedings.
While a patient at the hospital, I submitted multiple written requests for legal materials, copies of grievances and documents, and constitutional and statutory resources necessary to prepare for and communicate in my case. These requests were directed to my assigned social worker, unit staff, and the program director, and I also filed formal grievances documenting these concerns.
I was repeatedly informed that all legal copies had to be made exclusively during scheduled law library time. However, law library access was limited to approximately 30–45 minutes per week, and this time was required to cover legal research, printing, and copying. There were no accommodations made for canceled sessions, and staff declined to provide requested materials directly. As a result, I was required to choose between researching applicable law, printing statutes, or making copies of documents necessary to communicate with my attorney, the court, and other officials.
In addition, I requested a copy of the hospital policy being cited to justify these restrictions. Supervisory staff acknowledged the request and indicated that a copy would be provided, but despite multiple follow-ups, no policy was ever produced.
I maintained contemporaneous documentation of these events, including communication forms, grievances, and a detailed log of interactions with staff and supervisors. These records demonstrate repeated notice to hospital personnel and a failure to take corrective action.
I have also previously contacted the Oregon Attorney General’s Office regarding these concerns, providing notice of the limitations on access to legal materials and copies, as well as related issues affecting my ability to participate in my legal proceedings. To date, these concerns remain unresolved.
The practical effect of these policies and practices was to interfere with my ability to assist in my own defense and to access the courts. While I was provided with legal counsel, the restrictions placed on access to materials and copying limited my ability to prepare, document concerns, and communicate effectively regarding my case.
I am requesting that your office review:
- The adequacy of law library access for patients at the Oregon State Hospital
- Policies governing access to legal materials and copying
- Procedures for providing patients with copies of grievances and legal documents
- Whether current practices meet constitutional standards for meaningful access to the courts
I also request that policies relied upon by staff be made available to patients upon request and that reasonable accommodations be implemented to ensure patients are not prevented from participating in their legal proceedings.
This issue reflects a broader systemic concern affecting patients who rely on the hospital for both care and access to the legal process.
I am prepared to provide documentation supporting these concerns upon request.
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Killian Yates
Closing Statement
This publication is intended to preserve an accurate and timestamped record of communication with state leadership. When issues involving access to legal processes arise within state institutions, transparency and accountability are essential.
Any response, action, or lack thereof from the Office of the Governor will be documented as part of an ongoing effort to ensure that systems operating under the authority of the State of Oregon meet constitutional standards and uphold the rights of those in their custody.
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