Welcome to the Multnomah Bar Association Website

New Court Fee Schedule Effective July 1

The Governor signed HB 2287 B on June 30, which increased some fees beginning July 1. There are also changes in fees for dissolution, separation and annulment driven by the action of the Board of County Commissioners. In addition, new fees and fee increases are scheduled to take effect October 1. Watch this space for more information and a revised fee schedule before that date.

Oregon Minority Lawyers Association Holds 10th Auction July 23

OMLA celebrates its 10th auction and summer social on July 23 at the World Trade Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. A raffle drawing will be held at 7:30 p.m. There are only 1000 raffle tickets available to purchase for $5 each or five for $20. Ticket sale proceeds fund Opportunities for Law in Oregon, a successful and nationally recognized ethnic minority law student recruitment and retention program.

 

US Supreme Court Rules When Judges Must Withdraw over Campaign Contributions

The US Supreme Court ruled June 8 that judges should withdraw from considering cases when their campaign “contributions are so large, so important, or so closely tied to a pending case as to ‘imperil’ public confidence in the fairness and integrity of the nation’s elected judges.”

Statement by ABA President Thomas Wells, “The American Bar Association applauds the Supreme Court’s ruling that judges should withdraw from considering cases before them when contributions to their election campaigns by parties to those cases influenced the outcome of the judge’s election, creating a “serious risk of actual bias.” But the standards laid out by the court must not be viewed as the final word on this issue. The court established standards for clear violations of due process, cases where the campaign contributions are so large, so important, or so closely tied to a pending case as to “imperil ‘public confidence in the fairness and integrity of the nation’s elected judges.’” But instances remain where campaign contributions raise suspicions that justice leans to the highest bidder. Studies show the public and even many judges themselves believe campaign money from litigants and from their lawyers influences judicial decisions.

“Courts rely on public confidence in the fairness of our legal system to foster willing compliance with their rulings.  When confidence succumbs to cynicism, our government is at risk.  The pervasive influence of money on judicial election campaigns threatens to create a crisis of confidence in our state court systems….”

For additional information see the Associated Press and National Law Journal articles.

Governor Announces Appointments to the Multnomah County Bench

On May 8, Governor Ted Kulongoski announced three appointments to the Multnomah County Circuit Court: Angel Lopez, David Rees and Karin Immergut. By agreement with Chief Justice Paul J. De Muniz, all three appointments will be effective on July 1.

The YOUthFILM Project

The 2009 YOUthFILM Project premiered on April 28. Prizes were awarded by Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice, Paul J. De Muniz.

Oregon Courthouse Facilities Update

The Oregon legislative Interim Committee on Court Facilities met for the last time on January 7. The committee's outside consultants shared details on their methodology for their final facilities prioritization report. Risk of harm and funding effectiveness (highest risk/lowest cost) were the guiding principles. The consultants were to figure out if there were high-risk and small-cost projects with the direction that it would be better to mitigate more lower-costs projects than spend millions on one. The Multnomah County Courthouse, with an estimated replacement cost of $209 million, ranked last in the prioritization list of 48 courthouse facilities. Reports and more details may be found on the courts page.

"Tips from the Bench" Topics

Do you have questions for the court? The popular "Tips from the Bench" column will now be written by several judges, on a rotating basis. The judges have asked for topics to plan their columns. This is your opportunity to submit them.

2009 Pro Bono Pledge

Help increase access to justice by committing to take at least one pro bono matter in 2009. Take the pro bono pledge today, and Take a Matter that Matters!