Oregon Court Records Search

Oregon Court Records & Case Lookup

Oregon courts preside over 500,000 cases annually. Incoming cases from the civil courts account for over 130,000, while there are over 80,000 incoming cases from the criminal courts. Nearly 40,000 cases are filed at the domestic courts in Oregon. In addition, Oregon courts adjudicate over an estimated 9,000 cases at the Juvenile Courts and 275,000 cases at the traffic courts.

Generally, court records are public records in Oregon. According to the Oregon Public Records Law, every citizen has the right to receive copies or inspect any public record maintained by public bodies. Public records include any document containing information on the government's business, such as the courts. Consequently, Oregon's court records are open to everyone on request.

Despite the state's stance on public access to court records, not all court documents are open to the public. In Oregon, some court records are exempted from public disclosure to protect an individual's privacy or to comply with federal or state legal requirements. Generally, court records involving minors, national security, or sealed or expunged court records are unavailable to the public. Similarly, sensitive personal information on court documents is restricted to prevent misuse or identity theft.

Persons interested in accessing Oregon court records may utilize any of the options provided by the state's judicial department. In addition, most county courts maintain databases of legal proceedings within their jurisdiction and make them available to the public on request.

State of Oregon Court System

The Oregon Judiciary comprises the Appellate Courts, Trail Courts, and Specialty Courts. The appellate courts in Oregon consist of the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeal is the state's intermediate court, handling civil and criminal appeals from the lower court. The appeal courts provide detailed reviews of lawsuits from the lower court to ensure fairness in the judicial process and compliance with state laws.

The Oregon Supreme Court is the state's apex court. Known as Oregon's Court of last resort, the court reviews legal questions arising from the Court of Appeals. It presides over election-related cases and death penalty appeals. Typically, the decision from the Supreme Court sets legal precedents for future lawsuits.

Oregon Trial Courts

Oregon trial courts are courts of original jurisdiction. The trial courts are the entry point of all lawsuits in the state. As the first court to hear a case, Oregon's trial courts access the evidence presented by both parties to establish the facts of the case. The trial court judges apply relevant laws to the case facts to determine the outcomes of lawsuits. Oregon trail courts include:

Circuit Courts in Oregon

The Circuit Courts in Oregon preside over all criminal and civil cases. Criminal cases heard by the Circuit Courts include felonies and preliminary hearings for criminal cases. The court handles small claims cases and civil claims without financial limits. Circuit Courts hear lawsuits involving marriage dissolution, child custody, probate matters, and land disputes. Oregon's Circuit Courts are located in all 36 counties and are grouped into 27 judicial districts.

County Courts in Oregon

Existing in seven eastern Oregon Counties, the County Courts preside over juvenile or probate cases. Oregon County Courts have limited jurisdiction over some types of injunction in cases pending at the Circuit Courts. Typically, they act as additional resources to the Circuit Courts by providing injunctions when immediate action is required and the Circuit Court cannot readily grant one.

Municipal Courts in Oregon

Oregon Municipal Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction presiding over cases involving violations of city ordinances. It also hears cases involving animal and fire control. The Municipal Courts also preside over lawsuits involving traffic violations such as illegal parking and speeding.

Justice Courts in Oregon

Oregon Justice Courts have limited authority over some civil, criminal, and ordinance violation cases. Justice of Peace Courts has a Small Claims Division for civil claims for damages not exceeding $7,500. Criminal cases heard by the Justice Courts include misdemeanors and preliminary hearings for felonies. Justice Courts have jurisdiction over ordinance violations, including wildlife and traffic-related lawsuits.

Tax Courts in Oregon

Tax courts are specialized trial courts in Oregon, dealing exclusively with state tax lawsuits. The courts handle tax appeals, including property tax, excise tax, personal income tax, and corporate excise tax. Oregon Tax Courts have two divisions - the Magistrate Division, where tax law appeals are first heard, and the Regular Division, where the Magistrate Division decisions may be appealed.

What are the Specialty Courts in Oregon?

Oregon's specialty courts, also called problem-solving courts, focus on addressing the root cause of criminal behavior rather than relying solely on punishing the offender. Specialty courts focus on non-violent offenders whose criminal behavior can be traced to treatable conditions such as mental illness. Problem-solving courts in Oregon offer rehabilitation, education, and long-term behavioral change programs through the following Specialty Courts Programs:

• Adult Drug Courts
• DWI/DUI Courts
• DWI/Drug Hybrid Courts
• Family Treatment Courts
• Juvenile Drug Courts
• Mental Health Courts
• Veterans Treatment Courts

Oregon State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records

Oregon state court records and federal court records are documents from legal proceedings. While both state and federal court records ensure that the judicial system is operating openly and with fairness, their records differ in terms of case types, jurisdiction, and access methods.

Oregon State court records are documents arising from violating Oregon state laws It addresses various legal matters, including criminal cases, civil cases, probate matters, small claims, and traffic violations. Typically, state court records contain information on arrest warrants, plea agreements, and sentencing details. Access to the state's court records is through Oregon's Judicial branch or counties online portals. Access to the records is generally free but may require minimal fees for physical copies.

Federal court records are legal papers from cases falling under federal jurisdiction, interstate matters, or cases involving national issues. Typically, federal courts preside over money laundering, tax evasion, bankruptcy, and intellectual property disputes. Federal court records contain filings, dockets, motions, and case rulings.

Access to federal court records is through a centralized database - Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER). The platform requires users to register and pay applicable fees to obtain the recipes. Oregon has one federal court - The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.

What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in Oregon?

Public court records are documents from legal proceedings open to the public for inspection and copying. Generally, court records are public records in Oregon and are accessible to anyone on request. Non-public records are court documents restricted from the public. The records are confidential and only accessible to the persons named on the record and their legal representatives. The following table provides a guide on what court records may be accessible to the public and what is excluded from public view.

How To Seal or Expunge Oregon Court Records

Section 137.225 of the Oregon Revised Statute(ORS) lays the foundation for erasing criminal convictions from a person's record. Sealing a court record differs from expunging it. Sealing court records hides the record from the public. The record is not destroyed. It still exists and may be viewed by law enforcement officers of government agencies. Expungement, on the converse, destroys the record as though it ever existed. The record is wiped off completely.

In Oregon, expungement of criminal records is called setting aside the record. Per state law, not all offenses qualify for setting aside. They include:

• Violent offenses, such as murder and aggravated assaults
• All DUI-related offenses
• Pornography, obscenity, and sexual exploitation of minors
• All traffic violations
• Sex offenses
• Certain domestic violence offenses

How To Expunge Court Records in Oregon

Persons eligible for expungement, called setting aside in Oregon, may file a motion with the relevant court. The following persons qualify to have their court records set aside in Oregon:

• Arrests without criminal charges or dismissals
• The person convicted is for a Class B or C felony or Class A, B, or C misdemeanor
• Juvenile offenses under specific conditions
• The petitioner has fully completed their sentence, has completed all terms of their probation, and has paid all related fines
• There is no current pending criminal case in any state or federal courts in the U.S.
• The petitioner has fulfilled the waiting period

The waiting period varies and is determined by the type of conviction. For Class B and C felonies, the waiting period is 7 years and 5 years from the release date. There is a 3-year waiting period for Class A misdemeanors, while Class B and C misdemeanors require a waiting period of one year. There is a 60-day waiting period for charges that were not pursued. There is no waiting period for acquittals or dismissed charges.

The process of seeking expungement of the court record begins with filling out the Motion to Set Aside and Declaration in Support Form. Next, the petitioner must obtain a complete set of fingerprints using approved fingerprint cards from the Oregon State Police Bureau of Criminal Identification.

The request to set aside court records is typically filled in the county where the petitioner was charged. Where there are no charges, the petitioner may file the Motion in the Circuit Court in the country where the charges would have been brought. Mail a copy of the completed form to the prosecuting attorney, usually the District Attorney per Oregon law. Usually, the prosecuting attorney has 120 days to notify the court of their objection to the Motion. If the court grants the request to set aside the court records, copies of the Order are mailed to all relevant agencies, removing the record from public view.

How Do You Access State of Oregon Court Records?

Oregon court records are accessible online through a centralized database provided by the state's judiciary. Also, persons seeking Oregon court records may visit the courthouse where the case was tried to access the document from the record custodian. Most courthouses also entertain mail requests for court records to access the documents.

Online Access to Oregon Court Records

Online access to Oregon court records is through the following:

• Oregon Judicial Branch Online Records Search: The web tool provides free access to basic court case information from the Oregon Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, and Tax Court. The platform also offers free access to court calendars.
• The Oregon Judicial Case Information Network (OJCIN): The OJCIN provides electronic access to detailed court case information from all Circuit Courts in Oregon. Searchers may access criminal, civil, small claims, tax, and domestic relation cases using the platform. Access to court records via the OJCIN is through a paid subscription service.
• Court Record Requests: The court record request is an online form searchers may use to obtain Oregon court records. The form may be used to request certified, regular, exemplified copies of the court document.

In-Person Access to State of Oregon Court Records

Oregon court records are also accessible in person at the courthouses. To locate the specific record, searchers may contact the courthouse where the case was tried. Most courthouses permit phone calls or email requests for court records. Additionally, all Circuit Courts have free public access terminals in their lobby, where record seekers may look up the record in person at the courthouse.

Generally, access to basic information on court records at the courthouse is free. However, the records custodian requires written requests to obtain copies of the court records. Record seekers may provide the case name or number to ensure the appropriate record is retrieved. There are fees associated with obtaining copies of the record.

How To Request Judicial Administrative Records?

Judicial administrative records are information and documents related to the administration and operations of the courts. They are not records from lawsuits filed in court. They are records from the daily operations of the judiciary. Judicial administrative records include budget and financial records, staff directories, minutes from administrative meetings, and procurement records.

Interested persons may request judicial administrative records from the Office of the State Court Administrator. The office permits electronic requests for the record using the Public Record Center. Alternatively, record seekers may send the request by mail to:

How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in Oregon

Interested persons may visit the office of the Clerk of Courts to access older court records. The record custodian requires written requests to obtain copies of the record. Additionally, older and historical court records that are no longer held by the courthouses in Oregon, are accessible at the Oregon State Archives. The state archives provide access to a searchable database of archived public records, including archived court records.