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Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals, established by statute in 1969, is the intermediate appellate court in Oregon. The court hears all civil and criminal appeals from the circuit courts and also has jurisdiction to review some state administrative agency actions. The court does not have jurisdiction to hear death penalty cases, which is reserved for the Oregon Supreme Court, or tax court appeals, which is reserved for the Oregon Tax Court.[1] The 13 judges of the court are selected by voters in statewide nonpartisan elections to six-year terms. The administrative head of the court is the chief judge who is appointed by the chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.[2]
Due to its heavy caseload, the Oregon Court of Appeals hears cases divided into four three-judge panels. At the beginning of each month, the chief judge of the court assigns cases to each panel. The chief judge is not a member of a panel, but instead, may serve as a substitute for a judge who has a conflict of interest in the case or is not available to hear it.[1]
Appeals court decisions are subject to a petition by an aggrieved party for review by the Oregon Supreme Court. The petition must be made within 35 days of the decision, and the Oregon Supreme Court determines by vote of the justices whether to review the case.[2]
- Published opinions of the Oregon Court of Appeals can be found here.
| Oregon Court of Appeals | |||
 | |||
| Court information | |||
| Judges: | 13 | ||
| Founded: | 1969 | ||
| Location: | Salem, Oregon | ||
| Salary: | Associates: $184,584[3] | ||
| Judicial selection | |||
| Method: | Nonpartisan election of judges | ||
| Term: | 6 years | ||
Judges
- Note: One seat on the court is currently vacate following Meagan A. Flynn's appointment to the Oregon Supreme Court.
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
October 17, 2013 - Present |
John Kitzhaber |
|
|
October 17, 2013 - Present |
John Kitzhaber |
|
|
2017 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
|
January 1, 2023 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
|
2003 - Present |
Ted Kulongoski |
|
|
January 17, 2020 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
|
2013 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 19, 2021 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
|
January 1, 2016 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
|
January 19, 2022 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
|
February 19, 2025 - Present |
Tina Kotek |
|
|
January 19, 2021 - Present |
Kate Brown |
|
|
2017 - Present |
Kate Brown |
Judicial selection
Judges of the Oregon Court of Appeals, like those of the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon Circuit Courts, are chosen in nonpartisan elections to serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving.[4] For details about Oregon's judicial elections, visit the Oregon judicial elections page.
Qualifications
To serve on the court of appeals, a judge must be:
- a United States citizen;
- a qualified elector of his or her county of residence;
- a member of the Oregon State Bar; and
- under the age of 75.[1][4]
Salary
The annual salary for judges of the Oregon Court of Appeals was set to $132,820, commencing on January 1, 2015. The annual salary for the chief judge was set to $135,688, also commencing on January 1, 2015.[5]
Annual salaries for the judges and chief judge were previously set at $127,820 and $130,688, respectively, for the annual year commencing on January 1, 2014.[5]
Elections
2018
Judges with expiring terms
- This is a list of the judges who must stand for election in 2018 in order to remain on the bench. Judges may choose not to stand for election or may retire. Non-incumbent candidates may file to run against incumbent judges in nonpartisan elections until the filing deadline has passed. The list is subject to change if judges retire or are appointed.
■ Bronson James
■ Robyn Ridler Aoyagi
■ James C. Egan
■ Steven Powers
■ Erika L. Hadlock
■ Rex Armstrong
2016
- See also: Oregon judicial elections, 2016
On the Oregon Court of Appeals, three of the five seats up for election were due to routine term endings. Those seats were elected in a primary on May 17. Judges Darleen Ortega, Meagan A. Flynn, and Rebecca Duncan each ran unopposed, and each was re-elected. The remaining two seats, held by midterm vacancy appointees Judges Scott A. Shorr and Roger J. DeHoog, who were also unopposed, were elected on November 8.
November 8 candidates
Position 5
■ Scott A. Shorr 
(Incumbent/Unopposed)
Position 8
■ Roger J. DeHoog (Incumbent/Unopposed)
November 8 election results
| Oregon Court of Appeals, Position 5, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Scott A. Shorr Incumbent (unopposed) |
98.14% | 1,113,271 |
| Write-in votes | 1.86% | 21,131 |
| Total Votes (100% reporting) | 1,134,402 | |
| Source: Oregon Secretary of State Official Results | ||
| Oregon Court of Appeals, Position 8, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Roger J. DeHoog Incumbent (unopposed) |
98.13% | 1,083,621 |
| Write-in votes | 1.87% | 20,663 |
| Total Votes (100% reporting) | 1,104,284 | |
| Source: Oregon Secretary of State Official Results | ||
May 17 candidates
Position 2
■ Rebecca Duncan (Incumbent/Unopposed)
Position 3
■ Darleen Ortega (Incumbent/Unopposed)
Position 7
■ Meagan A. Flynn (Incumbent/Unopposed)
May 17 election results
| Oregon Court of Appeals, Position 2, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Rebecca Duncan Incumbent (unopposed) |
98.87% | 645,237 |
| Write-in votes | 1.13% | 7,368 |
| Total Votes (100% reporting) | 652,605 | |
| Source: Oregon Secretary of State Official Results | ||
| Oregon Court of Appeals, Position 3, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Darleen Ortega Incumbent (unopposed) |
98.89% | 657,261 |
| Write-in votes | 1.11% | 7,375 |
| Total Votes (100% reporting) | 664,636 | |
| Source: Oregon Secretary of State Official Results | ||
| Oregon Court of Appeals, Position 7, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Meagan A. Flynn Incumbent (unopposed) |
98.96% | 653,981 |
| Write-in votes | 1.04% | 6,842 |
| Total Votes (100% reporting) | 660,823 | |
| Source: Oregon Secretary of State Official Results | ||
2014
- See also: Oregon judicial elections, 2014
| Unopposed | Judge Chris Garrett (Position 1) |
|---|
| Unopposed | Judge Timothy Sercombe (Position 4) |
|---|
| Unopposed | Judge Joel S. DeVore (Position 11) |
|---|
| Unopposed | Judge Erin C. Lagesen (Position 12) |
|---|
| Unopposed | Judge Douglas L. Tookey (Position 13) |
|---|
2012
- See also: Oregon judicial elections, 2012
| Candidate | Incumbency | Position | Primary Vote | Election Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allan J. Arlow | No | Position 6 | 20.87% | |
Erika L. Hadlock  | Yes | Position 9 | 99.31% | |
| James C. Egan | No | Position 6 | 46.15% | 58.05% |
| Lynn Nakamoto | Yes | 99.30% | | |
| Rex Armstrong | Yes | Position 10 | 99.28% | |
| Rick Haselton | Yes | Position 5 | 99.27% | |
| Tim Volpert | No | Position 6 | 32.56% | 41.20%  |
Ethics
The Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct sets forth ethical guidelines and principles for the conduct of judges and judicial candidates in Oregon. It is composed of six rules:
- Rule 1: Sets forth the "Scope and Application of this Code; Definitions; Fundamental Principles"
- Rule 2: Titled: "Maintaining the Integrity of the Judicial System," describes the role of judges in "Promoting Confidence in the Judiciary," "Avoiding Misuse of the Prestige of Office," and how they may go about "Testifying as a Character Witness."
- Rule 3: Titled: "Impartial and Diligent Performance of Judicial Duties," outlines the responsibilities of judges, including their duty to exhibit "Impartiality and Fairness" to preside with "Decorum, Demeanor and Communication with Jurors," and when judges must disqualify themselves from presiding over a case.
- Rule 4: Describes how a judge may "Minimiz[e] the Risk of Conflict Between a Judge's Activities and the Obligations of Judicial Office"
- Rule 5: Provides instruction on how judges and judicial candidates should "Engag[e] in Political Activity and Judicial Campaign Activity"
- Rule 6: Describes the "Procedure for Advisory Opinions and Consideration of Good Faith Compliance"[6]
The full text of the Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct can be found here.
Removal of judges
Judges in Oregon may be removed in one of two ways:
- By a recommendation of the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability to the Oregon Supreme Court, which may then discipline, retire or remove a judge.
- By a recall election.[7]
Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability
The Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability reviews charges or complaints against judges whose actions are in alleged violation of Article VIII of the Oregon Constitution or the Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct. If the commission files formal charges against the judge, a public hearing is held, after which, the commission submits its findings and recommendation of disciplinary action to the Oregon Supreme Court. The Oregon Supreme Court is the only court in the state which may discipline judges via suspension censure, or removal of the offending judge.[8]
State profile
| Demographic data for Oregon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 4,024,634 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 95,988 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 85.1% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 1.8% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 4% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 4.1% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 12.3% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 89.8% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 30.8% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $51,243 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 18.4% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Oregon. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Presidential voting pattern
- See also: Presidential voting trends in Oregon
Oregon voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Pivot Counties (2016)
Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, two are located in Oregon, accounting for 0.97 percent of the total pivot counties.[9]
Pivot Counties (2020)
In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Oregon had two Retained Pivot Counties, 1.10 of all Retained Pivot Counties.
More Oregon coverage on Ballotpedia
- Elections in Oregon
- United States congressional delegations from Oregon
- Public policy in Oregon
- Endorsers in Oregon
- Oregon fact checks
- More...
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Oregon Court Appeals. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Courts in Oregon
- Oregon judicial elections
- Judicial selection in Oregon
- Robert Wollheim (Former judge)
- News: Three candidates to compete in Court of Appeals elections, April 10, 2012
- News: Erika Hadlock appointed to Court of Appeals, July 14, 2011
- Courtroom Weekly: Lie detector detective caused unfair trial in meth case, December 12, 2013
External links
- Oregon Judicial Department, "Oregon Court of Appeals"
- Oregon Court of Appeals, "Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure"
- Oregon Revised Statutes, "Chapter 2 - Supreme Court; Courts of Appeals (ORS 2.010, et seq.)"
- Oregon Blue Book, "Oregon Court of Appeals Members"
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Oregon Judicial Department, "An Introduction to the Courts of Oregon," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Oregon Court of Appeals, "Welcome to the Oregon Court of Appeals," accessed November 3, 2014
- ↑ The salary of the chief judge may be higher than an associate judge.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Oregon," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Oregon Laws, "§292.406: Court of Appeals judges," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ Oregon Judicial Department, "Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Oregon, Removal of Judges," accessed April 2, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability, "About the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability," accessed April 21, 2015
- ↑ The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip of Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
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