Justice Courts in Oregon serve twenty Oregon counties with 31 Justices of the Peace in 40 courts.
Justices of the Peace are elected by the voters in their respective counties for six year terms and are non partisan. Justice Courts have jurisdiction over traffic tickets, fish and game tickets, landlord tenant cases, small claims cases, and, in some counties, have criminal jurisdiction for misdemeanor crimes.
Justice Courts were established in Oregon when Oregon was a territory, with the first Justice of the Peace chosen in 1847. When Oregon became a state in 1859, Justice Courts continued in every county. In the second half of the twentieth century, Justice Courts declined, but the Circuit Courts were not able to handle the volume of cases as quickly as Justice Courts. See, History.
Now, the number of Justice Courts are growing, as counties are realizing that Justice Courts are able to serve the needs of citizens for speedy and responsible justice and adjudication of disputes. Justice Courts are an integral part of county government.
Justices of the Peace are required to attend continuing legal education classes. About half of the Justices of the Peace in Oregon are lawyers. Justices of the Peace are paid by the county general fund and their salaries and the courts' budgets are not determined by any fine revenue. Many judges are members of the National Judges Association, which also provides legal training classes.
Disclaimers
History of Oregon Justice Courts
©2009 Oregon Justices of the Peace Association
This page last updated February 13, 2009