Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Bronson James
2023 - Present
2031
2
Bronson James is a judge for Position 7 of the Oregon Supreme Court. He assumed office on January 1, 2023. His current term ends on January 6, 2031.
James ran for re-election for the Position 7 judge of the Oregon Supreme Court. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Gov. Kate Brown (D) appointed James to the Oregon Supreme Court on December 28, 2022, to replace Martha Walters.[1] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Biography
Bronson James earned a bachelor's degree from Reed College in 1994 and a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2003. His career experience includes working as an attorney in private practice and as a judge at the Multnomah County Circuit Court and the Oregon Court of Appeals.
Elections
2024
See also: Oregon Supreme Court elections, 2024
General election
General election for Oregon Supreme Court Position 7
Incumbent Bronson James won election in the general election for Oregon Supreme Court Position 7 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bronson James (Nonpartisan) | 98.1 | 1,212,011 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.9 | 23,702 | ||
| Total votes: 1,235,713 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Bronson James advanced from the primary for Oregon Supreme Court Position 7.
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for James in this election.
2018
General election
General election for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 2
Incumbent Bronson James won election in the general election for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 2 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bronson James (Nonpartisan) | 98.2 | 992,125 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.8 | 17,957 | ||
| Total votes: 1,010,082 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
Judges of the Oregon Court of Appeals are chosen in nonpartisan elections to serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving.[2] In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement. The appointee serves until the next general election occurring 60 or more days after the appointment, at which point he or she may run for election.[2]
Qualifications
To serve on the court of appeals, a judge must be:
- a qualified elector of his or her county of residence;
- a state bar member; and
- under the age of 75.[2]
Selection of the chief judge
The chief judge of the court of appeals is appointed by the chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court to serve a two-year term.[2]
2016
| Oregon 4th Judicial District, Position 15, Primary Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Bronson James Incumbent (unopposed) |
98.50% | 92,522 |
| Write-in votes | 1.5% | 1,405 |
| Total Votes | 93,927 | |
| Source: Oregon Secretary of State, "May 17, 2016 Primary Election : Unofficial Election Results," accessed May 18, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
Judges of the Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals and Oregon Circuit Courts are all selected in an identical manner. They are chosen in nonpartisan elections to serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving.[2]
The chief judges of the circuit courts are appointed by the chief justice of the state supreme court to serve a two-year term.[2]
Qualifications
To serve on the circuit court, a judge must be:[2]
- a U.S. citizen;
- a state resident for at least three years;
- a resident of his or her circuit for at least one year;
- a state bar member; and
- under the age of 75.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Bronson James did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Appointments
2022
Oregon Governor Kate Brown (D) appointed Stephen K. Bushong to the Oregon Supreme Court effective January 1, 2023. Bushong succeeded Justice Thomas Balmer, who retired on December 31, 2022.[3] Balmer's replacement was Governor Kate Brown's (D) sixth nominee to the seven-member supreme court.
At the time of the vacancy under Oregon law, the governor appointed a replacement. The appointee served until the next general election occurring 60 or more days after the appointment, at which point they could run for election.
State supreme court judicial selection in Oregon
- See also: Judicial selection in Oregon
The seven justices on the Oregon Supreme Court are selected through nonpartisan elections.[4] Judges' terms begin on the first Monday in January following their election.[5]
Judges serve six-year terms. Judges seeking to serve more than one term must stand for re-election.[4]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a judge must be:
- a U.S. citizen;
- a state resident for at least three years;
- a state bar member; and
- under the age of 75.[4]
Chief justice
The chief justice is selected by peer vote and serves in that capacity for a six-year term.
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the governor appoints a replacement. The appointee serves until the next general election occurring 61 or more days after the vacancy, at which point he or she may run for election.[4] The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
External links
|
Candidate Oregon Supreme Court Position 7 |
Officeholder Oregon Supreme Court Position 7 |
Footnotes
- ↑ State of Oregon Newsroom, "Governor Kate Brown Appoints Judges to Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, and Multnomah County Circuit Court," December 28, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Oregon," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ State of Oregon Judicial Department, "Oregon Supreme Court Justice Thomas Balmer Announces Retirement," October 3, 2022
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Oregon," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "Oregon Constitution," accessed August 29, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Martha L. Walters |
Oregon Supreme Court Position 7 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Oregon Court of Appeals Position 2 2017-2023 |
Succeeded by Megan Harris-Jacquot |
| Preceded by - |
Oregon 4th Judicial District Circuit Courts Position 15 |
Succeeded by - |
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
 |
State of Oregon Salem (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
