Courts in Oregon
| More information on Oregon's state courts: |
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| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
In Oregon, there is one federal district court, a state supreme court, a court of criminal appeals, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
The image below depicts the flow of cases through Oregon's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
- See also: Judicial selection in Oregon and Oregon judicial elections
Selection of state court judges in Oregon occurs exclusively through nonpartisan elections. Judges must run for re-election at the end of their terms if they wish to remain on the court.[1]
Federal courts
The federal district court in Oregon is the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
Appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.
Active judges
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 22, 2011 - |
University of California, Los Angeles, 1978 |
Harvard Law School, 1981 |
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| May 30, 2013 - |
Gonzaga University, 1983 |
Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College, 1988 |
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| August 5, 2019 - |
Amherst College, 1982 |
University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, 1987 |
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| February 23, 2023 - |
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 1990 |
University of Texas, Austin School of Law, 1993 |
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| August 22, 2024 - |
Wake Forest University, 1995 |
Lewis & Clark School of Law, 2001 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democrat appointed: 5
- Republican appointed: 1
Judicial selection
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
Bankruptcy courts
There is one federal bankruptcy court in Oregon. This court has subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy court in Oregon is:
State supreme court
- See also: Oregon Supreme Court
Founded in 1859, the Oregon Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has seven judgeships.[2][3] The current chief of the court is Meagan A. Flynn.
As of September 2023, all seven judges on the court were appointed by a Democratic governor.
The following judges sit on the court:
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon Supreme Court Position 1 | Stephen K. Bushong | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2023 |
| Oregon Supreme Court Position 2 | Rebecca Duncan | Nonpartisan | 2017 |
| Oregon Supreme Court Position 3 | Meagan A. Flynn | Nonpartisan | April 1, 2017 |
| Oregon Supreme Court Position 4 | Chris Garrett | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2019 |
| Oregon Supreme Court Position 5 | Aruna Masih | Nonpartisan | September 1, 2023 |
| Oregon Supreme Court Position 6 | Roger J. DeHoog | Nonpartisan | January 19, 2022 |
| Oregon Supreme Court Position 7 | Bronson James | Nonpartisan | January 1, 2023 |
State court of appeals
- See also: Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court in Oregon. The court hears all civil and criminal appeals from the circuit courts and also has jurisdiction to review some state administrative agency actions. The court does not have jurisdiction to hear death penalty cases, which is reserved for the Oregon Supreme Court, or tax court appeals, which is reserved for the Oregon Tax Court.[4]
The 13 judges of the court are selected by voters in statewide nonpartisan elections to six-year terms. The administrative head of the court is the chief judge who is appointed by the chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.[4]
The following judges sit on the court:
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
October 17, 2013 - Present |
John Kitzhaber |
|
|
October 17, 2013 - Present |
John Kitzhaber |
|
|
2017 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
|
2003 - Present |
Ted Kulongoski |
|
|
January 17, 2020 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
|
2013 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 19, 2021 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
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January 1, 2016 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
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January 19, 2022 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
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January 19, 2021 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
|
2017 - Present |
Kate Brown |
Trial courts
Circuit court
- See also: Oregon Circuit Courts
The Oregon Circuit Courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction in Oregon. Each of Oregon's 36 counties has a circuit court, and there are 137 judges between the 27 judicial districts.[5][1]
Tax court
- See also: Oregon Tax Court
The Oregon Tax Court has jurisdiction over cases involving tax appeals, local budget laws, and property tax limitations. The tax court has two divisions: The Magistrate Division and the Regular Division.[6]
County courts
- See also: Oregon County Courts
The Oregon County Courts have jurisdiction over juvenile and probate matters.[7]
Justice courts
- See also: Oregon Justice Courts
The justice courts have jurisdiction in their own counties over all criminal prosecutions except felony trials; small claims up to $7,500; and traffic, boating, wildlife, and other violations occurring within the county.[8]
Municipal courts
- See also: Oregon Municipal Courts
The municipal courts have concurrent jurisdiction with the circuit and justice courts over violations and misdemeanors in the city in which the court is located.[9]
To read more about judicial elections in Oregon, click here.
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Oregon," archived on November 23, 2020
- ↑ State of Oregon Law Library, "The Supreme Court of Oregon," accessed March 12, 2021
- ↑ Oregon State Courts, "Oregon Supreme Court," accessed March 12, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Oregon State Courts, "Oregon Court of Appeals - Home," accessed March 12, 2021
- ↑ Oregon Judicial Department, "Circuit Courts," archived January 9, 2010
- ↑ Oregon State Courts, "Oregon Tax Court," accessed March 12, 2021
- ↑ Oregon Blue Book, "County Courts," accessed March 12, 2021
- ↑ Oregon Blue Book, "Justice Courts," accessed March 12, 2021
- ↑ Oregon Blue Book, "Municipal Courts," accessed March 12, 2021
Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Oregon • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Oregon
State courts:
Oregon Supreme Court • Oregon Court of Appeals • Oregon Circuit Courts • Oregon Tax Court • Oregon County Courts • Oregon Justice Courts • Oregon Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Oregon • Oregon judicial elections • Judicial selection in Oregon
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