Shannon I. Wilson was raised in East Los Angeles County, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada. Growing up amid domestic violence and economic hardship, they developed a deep commitment to liberty, fairness, and justice. Inspired by the guidance of mentors and the unwavering support of their family, Shannon dedicated their life to protecting people harmed by systemic inequities and sustaining their public defense practice with fierce compassion. 

Shannon started their public defense career in 2006 with the Juvenile Rights Project and has represented clients in more than 14 Oregon counties. They later began working in public defense administration and leadership in Clackamas County. In June 2021, Shannon became Executive Director of the Public Defender of Marion County (PDMC). 

Shannon has been a leading advocate for the right to effective assistance of counsel and ethical public defense workloads. In 2023, Shannon and PDMC brought a mandamus action before the Oregon Supreme Court challenging the appointment of cases to attorneys carrying excessive workloads and highlighting Oregon’s public defender shortage. In 2026, Shannon helped secure a landmark trial court victory protecting public defenders from retaliation for declining workloads that would compromise ethical obligations and clients’ constitutional rights. The ruling affirmed that attorneys must have the time and resources necessary to provide ethical and effective representation. 

A resident of Marion County for more than 16 years, Shannon remains committed to strengthening the foundational principles and practices in public defense and ensuring that every person—regardless of income—has access to effective legal representation.