Oregon Justices of the Peace Association
Local Courts Serving Oregon Communities Since 1847
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. 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.
Officers
Cris Patnode, President
Lise Yervasi, Vice President
Rod McDermid, Immediate Past President
Carol Roberts, Secretary
Charles Fadeley, Treasurer
Candace Hissong, Director at large
Oregon Municipal (City) Courts
DISCLAIMER. The information on these pages is general information, and is not to be construed as legal advice or counsel in any particular situation or case. The reader is advised to consult their own legal counsel. A particular court may have its own particular policies and/or procedures, and a party to a pending case or ticket is advised to contact that particular court for that court's procedures, fees, and requirements. Courts and their staff cannot provide legal advice or legal counsel.
ŠOregon Justices of the Peace Association, 2006-8
This page last updated May 02, 2008