Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Oregon 4th Judicial District
| Local Courts |
|---|
|
| Trial courts and judges |
| Elections by state |
| Judicial selection by state |
| View courts by state: |
The Oregon 4th Judicial District Circuit Courts resides in Oregon and has jurisdiction in Multnomah County.
Click on the links below to learn more about the court's...
Jurisdiction
This court holds the following jurisdiction:[1]
| “ | Oregon circuit courts are Oregon’s trial courts that by law, decide all types of cases (this is called general jurisdiction). Circuit courts decide criminal, civil, domestic relations, traffic, juvenile, small claims, violations, abuse prevention act, probate, mental commitments, adoption, and guardianship cases. As the “courts of record,” every word spoken during a trial in the circuit courts is recorded and preserved to be available if the court’s decision is appealed.[2] | ” |
Judges
Elections
Oregon is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Oregon, click here.
- Oregon local trial court judicial elections, 2025
- Oregon local trial court judicial elections, 2024
- Oregon local trial court judicial elections, 2023
- Oregon local trial court judicial elections, 2022
- Oregon local trial court judicial elections, 2021
- Oregon local trial court judicial elections, 2020
- Oregon local trial court judicial elections, 2019
- Oregon local trial court judicial elections, 2018
- Oregon local trial court judicial elections, 2017
- Oregon local trial court judicial elections, 2016
- Oregon judicial elections, 2014
- Oregon judicial elections, 2012
- Oregon judicial elections, 2010
Selection method
- See also: Judicial selection in the states
- 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.[3]
The chief judges of the circuit courts are appointed by the chief justice of the state supreme court to serve a two-year term.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on the circuit court, a judge must be:[3]
- 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.
Judicial elections in Oregon
- See also: Oregon judicial elections
Oregon is one of 12 states that uses nonpartisan elections to select judges and does not use retention elections for subsequent terms. To read more about how states use judicial elections to select judges across the country, click here.
Primary election
The primary election is held in even-numbered years on the third Tuesday in May.[4]
If a candidate in the primary election receives more than 50% of the vote, she or he is elected. If not, the two candidates with the most votes advance to the general election. The exception to this rule is when the election is for a vacated seat that would not otherwise have been on the ballot.
All judicial races require a primary election except those to fill a midterm vacancy for a seat that would otherwise have not appeared on the ballot that year. In the case of such a midterm vacancy, the primary may be skipped if only one or two candidates file for that office. If there are three or more candidates running for that seat, however, they compete in the primary. If any of them receives over 50% of the vote in the primary, that candidate's name appears unopposed on the general election ballot. If no candidate receives a majority, then the top two candidates advance to the general election. This differs from regular judicial elections that are held at the end of a judge's term in that no candidates can be elected at the primary.[5]
Recounts
Close races may trigger an automatic recount. If the difference between the two highest-voted candidates is not more than one-fifth of one percent of the total votes for both candidates, a recount is required.[6] If, after a recount, two candidates are tied, the winner is decided by lot.[7]
Vote by mail
Oregon votes completely by mail. Registered voters receive a ballot two to three weeks prior to the election, which they must submit by mail or by dropping it in an official drop box. The deadline by which ballots must be received is 8 p.m. on the day of the election.[8]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Oregon Judicial Department, "About the Oregon Judicial Department," accessed May 19, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Oregon," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedsummary - ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Election Law Summary - ORS 249," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Revised Statutes, 258.280," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Revised Statutes, 254.575," accessed May 6, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Voting in Oregon," accessed May 6, 2014
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
