Justice courts (Oregon)
Encyclopedia
Justice courts are courts of law in Oregon
with jurisdiction within their county with the circuit court
in criminal prosecutions except felony
trials. They are held by a justice of the peace
. These courts are outside the state-funded court system. Their jurisdiction is limited to traffic, boating, wildlife and other minor violations, but they may handle city ordinance violations if an agreement exists with a city. Justice courts do not have jurisdiction over certain types of civil cases, including disputes over title to real estate, false imprisonment, libel, slander and malicious prosecution.
Justice courts were established in Oregon when the region was governed by the Oregon Provisional Government prior to the creation of the Oregon Territory
in 1848, 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.
There are currently thirty justice courts operating in twenty counties, which are conducted using the mode of proceeding and rules of evidence similar to those used in the circuit courts. The court district boundaries are established and authorized by boards of county commissioners.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
with jurisdiction within their county with the circuit court
Oregon circuit courts
Oregon's circuit courts are general jurisdiction trial courts of the U.S. state of Oregon. These courts hear civil and criminal court cases.The state has 27 circuit court districts, most of which correspond to the boundaries of the Oregon's 36 counties...
in criminal prosecutions except felony
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
trials. They are held by a justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. These courts are outside the state-funded court system. Their jurisdiction is limited to traffic, boating, wildlife and other minor violations, but they may handle city ordinance violations if an agreement exists with a city. Justice courts do not have jurisdiction over certain types of civil cases, including disputes over title to real estate, false imprisonment, libel, slander and malicious prosecution.
Justice courts were established in Oregon when the region was governed by the Oregon Provisional Government prior to the creation of the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
in 1848, 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.
There are currently thirty justice courts operating in twenty counties, which are conducted using the mode of proceeding and rules of evidence similar to those used in the circuit courts. The court district boundaries are established and authorized by boards of county commissioners.
External links
- Justice Courts - Oregon Blue BookOregon Blue BookThe Oregon Blue Book is the official directory and fact book for the U.S. state of Oregon copyrighted by the Oregon Secretary of State and published by the Office of the Secretary's Archives Division. As Governor Ted Kulongoski notes in his introduction for the 2005–2006 edition, it "provides...