Category Archives: Judicial Dept.

Jackson County court ‘at a breaking point’

Local judges and lawyers are sending a strong message to the Oregon Legislature that Jackson County needs at least one more judge to handle the skyrocketing number of cases. The nine judges in Jackson County Circuit Court decide the fate of everyone from convicted murderers to children who have been placed in foster care due […]
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Deschutes County Circuit court asks for one more judge

Deschutes said to be one of Oregon’s most ‘under-judged’ counties. Deschutes County needs more judges, according to court officials, and 2019 could be the year it finally gets one more. To help deal with a burgeoning need, the administrator for Deschutes County Circuit Court has asked the Legislature to fund a seventh judge position in […]
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Capitol roundup: Legislature gets its House — and Senate — in order

New Supreme Court judge, lawmaker assignments as new year looms. The season has turned to winter, and soon, the calendar will flip to 2019, meaning the next session of the Legislature is rapidly approaching. The House and the Senate have been getting themselves organized over the past few weeks. Some of the key developments: Source: […]
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Gov. Brown appoints Appeals Court judge Chris Garrett to Oregon Supreme Court

Chris Garrett, who has been an Oregon Court of Appeals just for nearly five years, will fill a vacancy on the Oregon Supreme Court starting in 2019. Governor Kate Brown announced Monday that she is appointing Oregon Court of Appeals Judge Chris Garrett to a vacancy on the Oregon Supreme Court. Garrett will fill an […]
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Appeals judge, Willamette professor picked for Oregon Supreme Court

Chris Garrett, an appeals court judge, Willamette adjunct professor and former state representative, will join the Oregon Supreme Court in 2019. A Willamette adjunct professor, appeals court judge and former state representative will be joining the Oregon Supreme Court in 2019. Gov. Kate Brown announced Monday she will appoint Judge Chris Garrett to the state’s highest court […]
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Just in Time For Christmas, Gov. Kate Brown Gives Chris Garrett A Seat on Oregon Supreme Court

Former lawmaker will move up from the Oregon Court of Appeals. Gov. Kate Brown has named Oregon Court of Appeals Judge Chris Garrett to fill a vacant seat on the Oregon Supreme Court. After graduating from Reed College and the University of Chicago Law School,  Garrett practiced law for the Perkins Coie firm in Portland. […]
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Gov. Brown Appoints New Supreme Court Justice

Garrett is taking over for Justice Rives Kistler, who’s retiring at the end of the year. This marks Brown’s fifth appointment to the state’s highest court. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has appointed appeals court judge Chris Garrett to the state’s supreme court. Garrett is taking over for Justice Rives Kistler, who’s retiring at the end […]
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No-shows: Defendants skipped thousands of court dates

An effort to hold people in jail who repeatedly skip their court dates has netted 79 people who were no-shows 2,270 times. The failure-to-appear initiative was launched in the spring by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office — which runs the jail — in cooperation with police departments, the District Attorney’s Office and Jackson County Circuit […]
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Connell stepping down from Benton bench

Benton County Circuit Court Judge David Connell plans to retire at the end of the year. Connell, one of three judges on the court, announced his intentions last week in a letter to Gov. Kate Brown, Trial Court Administrator Linda Hukari said on Monday. Source: Connell stepping down from Benton bench | Local | gazettetimes.com

Oregon Lawmakers Continue Fighting Sexual Harassment Investigation With Appeal

After losing in court last week, Oregon’s top lawmakers aren’t done fighting an investigation into sexual harassment at the Capitol. On Friday, a lawyer representing Oregon’s Legislative Assembly formally appealed a Nov. 19 ruling that said Capitol officials had to produce documents and sit down with investigators from the state’s Bureau of Labor and Industries. Source: […]
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