Justice courts (Oregon)

Last updated

Justice courts are state courts of law in Oregon. [1] [2] While the Justice Court is a kind of state court, and the Justice of the Peace is an Oregon State Court judge, the Justice Courts are financed and authorized by their respective counties. [1] Because Justice Courts are financed by the counties, they are not part of the Oregon Judicial Department. [3]

Justice Courts have been part of Oregon's legal framework since before Oregon was a territory. [1] In Oregon, Justice Courts have jurisdiction over civil lawsuits of less than $10,000; [4] evictions; [5] misdemeanors, [6] and violations, [6] like traffic tickets, boating violations, and wildlife violations. Further, Justice Courts have jurisdiction over violations of the county code, and some Justice Courts act as the municipal court of certain cities. [7] Justice courts do not have jurisdiction over certain types of civil cases, including disputes over title to real estate, false imprisonment, libel, slander, and malicious prosecution. [8] Justices of the Peace are authorized to perform courthouse weddings in Oregon. [9]

Justice Courts can empanel juries, but most matters in Justice Court are tried to the bench, where the Justice is the factfinder. [1] No Justice Court is currently a court of record, so appeals run through the Circuit Court. [1]

The Judge at a Justice Court is called the Justice of the Peace. [1] A Justice of the Peace is elected for a term of six years. [10] If a Justice of the Peace position becomes vacant during the Justice's term, the Governor appoints a Justice to fill the vacancy until the next general election. [11]

Justice Courts are smaller than circuit courts, so many customers find them easier to navigate. [1] Further, the filing fees in Justice Court are often cheaper than the filing fees in Circuit Court. [12] [13] Most cases in Justice Court are either pro se (no lawyers) or half-se (only one side represented by lawyers) so Justice Courts are accustomed to working with self-represented litigants. [1]

As of 2023, there are 22 justice courts in the following counties: Baker, [14] Clackamas, [15] Columbia, [16] Deschutes, [17] Douglas (Canyonville), [18] Douglas (Reedsport), [18] Gilliam, [19] Grant, [20] Harney, [21] Hood River, [22] Jackson, [23] Klamath, [24] Lane, [25] Linn, [26] Malheur, [27] Marion, [28] Morrow, [29] Sherman, [30] Tillamook, [31] Union, [32] Washington, [33] and Wheeler. [34]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kidd, Justin (June 2023). "The Role of Justice Courts: These Underutilized Resources Alleviate Backlogs, Increase Access to Justice" (PDF). Oregon State Bar Bulletin: 34–35.
  2. Kuhnhausen v. Stadelman, 174 OR 290, 305 (1944); Webster v. Boyer, 81 OR 485 (1916)
  3. Oregon Judicial Department (2008). "Other Courts". Oregon Courts. Oregon Judicial Department. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  4. ORS 51.080
  5. ORS 105.110
  6. 1 2 ORS 51.050
  7. ORS 51.035
  8. Northwest Location Services (2008). "Oregon Justice Courts". The Guide to Oregon Courts. Court Records Free Reference and Directory. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  9. "Weddings".
  10. ORS 51.210
  11. ORS 51.260
  12. ORS 51.310(1)(c)
  13. ORS 46.570
  14. "Baker County-Justice Court".
  15. "Justice Court | Clackamas County".
  16. "Columbia County, Oregon Official Website - Justice of the Peace".
  17. "Justice Court Home | Deschutes County Oregon".
  18. 1 2 "Justice Courts | Douglas County, OR".
  19. "Justice Court".
  20. "Justice Court | Grant County, OR".
  21. "Harney County Justice Court". client.pointandpay.net. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  22. "Justice Court".
  23. "Jackson County, Oregon Justice Court".
  24. "Justice Court | Klamath County, OR".
  25. https://www.lanecounty.org/government/county_departments/county_administration/administration/justice_courts.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. "Justice Court".
  27. "Justice Courts – Malheur County Oregon".
  28. "Justice Court".
  29. "Morrow County Justice Court | Morrow County Oregon".
  30. "Justice Court".
  31. "Justice Court".
  32. "Justice Court - Union County". 18 October 2017.
  33. "Justice Court | Washington County, OR".
  34. "Wheeler County | Justice Court".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harney County, Oregon</span> County in Oregon, United States

Harney County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,495, making it the sixth-least populous county in Oregon. The county seat is Burns. Established in 1889, the county is named in honor of William S. Harney, a military officer of the period, who was involved in the Pig War and popular in the Pacific Northwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justice of the peace</span> Judicial officer elected or appointed to keep the peace and perform minor civic jobs

A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower court, elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the same meaning. Depending on the jurisdiction, such justices dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions. Justices of the peace are appointed or elected from the citizens of the jurisdiction in which they serve, and are usually not required to have any formal legal education in order to qualify for the office. Some jurisdictions have varying forms of training for JPs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Oregon</span> Geographic and cultural region of the U.S. state of Oregon

Eastern Oregon is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity; thus, the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes the entire area east of the Cascade Range. Cities in the basic eight-county definition include Baker City, Burns, Hermiston, Pendleton, Boardman, John Day, La Grande, and Ontario. Umatilla County is home to the largest population base in Eastern Oregon, accounting for 42% of the region's residents — more than twice that of the region’s second most populous, Malheur County. Hermiston, located in Umatilla County, is the largest city in the region, accounting for 10% of the population. Major industries include transportation/warehousing, timber, agriculture and tourism. The main transportation corridors are I-84, U.S. Route 395, U.S. Route 97, U.S. Route 26, U.S. Route 30, and U.S. Route 20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States District Court for the District of Oregon</span> United States federal district court of Oregon (U.S. state)

The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union. Appellate jurisdiction belongs to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Matthew P. Deady served as its first judge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Register of Historic Places listings in Oregon</span>

This is a list of properties and historic districts in Oregon that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are listings in all of Oregon's 36 counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon's 2nd congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Oregon

Oregon's 2nd congressional district is the largest of Oregon's six districts, and is the seventh largest district in the nation. It is the second-largest congressional district in the nation that does not cover an entire state, and has been represented by Republican Cliff Bentz of Ontario since 2021.

Ted Ferrioli is an American politician who served as an Oregon state senator from 1997 until 2017. He represented Senate District 30, which encompasses Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson, Malheur, Sherman, Wasco, Wheeler, and portions of Clackamas, Deschutes, and Marion counties. He served as the Oregon State Senate majority leader and later as the minority leader.

Oregon's circuit courts are general jurisdiction trial courts of the U.S. state of Oregon. These courts hear civil and criminal court cases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Oregon gubernatorial election</span>

The 2002 Oregon gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democrat John Kitzhaber was barred by term limits from seeking a third consecutive term; he later successfully ran again in 2010 and 2014. To replace him, former Oregon Supreme Court Associate Justice Ted Kulongoski won a crowded and competitive Democratic primary, while former State Representative Kevin Mannix emerged from an equally competitive Republican primary. The campaign between Kulongoski and Mannix, who were joined by Libertarian nominee Tom Cox, was close and went down to the wire. Ultimately, Kulongoski eked out a narrow margin of victory over Mannix, which was slightly smaller than Cox's total vote share, allowing Kulongoski to win what would be the first of two terms as governor. As of 2023, this is the last time that Oregon voted for a gubernatorial nominee and a U.S. Senate nominee of different political parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of Oregon</span> Overview of and topical guide to Oregon

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the U.S. state of Oregon:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">District of Oregon (military)</span>

The District of Oregon was a Union Army command department formed during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon in the American Civil War</span>

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, Oregon raised the 1st Oregon Cavalry that was activated in 1862 and served until June 1865. During the Civil War, emigrants to the newfound gold fields in Idaho and Oregon continued to clash with the Paiute, Shoshone and Bannock tribes of Oregon, Idaho and Nevada until relations degenerated into the bloody 1864–1868 Snake War. The 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment was formed in 1864 and its last company was mustered out of service in July 1867. Both units were used to guard travel routes and Indian reservations, escort emigrant wagon trains, and protect settlers from Indian raiders. Several infantry detachments also accompanied survey parties and built roads in central and southern Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 United States presidential election in Oregon</span>

The 1968 United States presidential election in Oregon took place on November 5, 1968, as part of the 1968 United States presidential election. Voters chose six representatives, or electors, to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon's 30th Senate district</span>

District 30 of the Oregon State Senate comprises all of Baker, Crook, Grant, Harney, Lake, and Malheur counties, as well as parts of Deschutes and Jefferson counties. The district is composed of Oregon House districts 59 and 60 and is the largest state Senate district in Oregon. It is currently represented by Republican Lynn Findley of Vale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Idaho movement</span> Initiative to transfer counties in eastern Oregon to Idaho

The Greater Idaho movement is a conservative effort in the United States for counties east of the Oregon Cascades, to secede from the state of Oregon and join Idaho. If approved locally by voters via ballot measures, it would need approval from the state legislatures of both Oregon and Idaho, as well as the federal Congress.