The Courts

The Courts

Judicial Screening Process

For Judicial Vacancies to Be Filled by Gubernatorial Appointment

Governor Tina Kotek Announces Judicial Vacancy, May 31 May 8, 2026 Governor Tina Kotek announced that she is accepting applications for a judicial vacancy on the Multnomah County Circuit Court created by the upcoming resignation of Judge Leslie G. Bottomly. Judge Bottomly’s resignation takes effect May 31, and Governor Kotek will fill the position by appointment. Interested applicants should address their completed application forms to Richard A. Lane, General Counsel, Office of the Governor, and email (no mail or hand delivery) those completed forms to Shevaun Gutridge at shevaun.gutridge@oregon.gov. Forms must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 28. Governor Kotek fills judicial vacancies based on merit. She encourages applications from lawyers with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. ORS 3.041 and 3.050 provide that at the time of appointment to the court, the candidate must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Oregon, and a member of the Oregon State Bar. In addition, ORS 3.041(2) requires the vacancy to be filled by a person who is a resident of or has a principal office in the judicial district or an adjacent judicial district. For questions about the appointment process, or to request an interest form, contact Shevaun Gutridge at 503.378.6246 or shevaun.gutridge@oregon.gov. The judicial interest form is also available online.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Judicial Vacancies to be Filled by Spring 2026 Elections February 10, 2026 There will be three judicial vacancies on the ballot this spring for the Multnomah County Circuit Court as a result of Judge Nan Waller (4th District, Position 2), Judge Christopher Marshall (4th District, Position 5), and Judge Amy Holmes Hehn (4th District, Position 14) transitioning to senior status in 2026. These positions will be filled by election, not gubernatorial appointment. The candidate elected to Position 14 will be assigned to the court’s family law docket; the candidates elected to Position 2 and Position 5 will be assigned to the court’s general bench docket (civil and criminal). Therefore, interested candidates should make certain they file for the appropriate position. Interested candidates must file to run for election no later than March 10. Candidate Statements for the County Voters' Pamphlet are due by March 12 to be included in the County Voters' Pamphlet.  ORS 3.041 and 3.050 provide that at the time the person becomes a candidate for election, the candidate must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Oregon, and a member of the Oregon State Bar. In addition, ORS 3.041(2) requires the vacancy to be filled by a person who is a resident of or has a principal office in the judicial district or an adjacent judicial district.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Process and Forms

• For questions about the governor's appointment process, contact Shevaun Gutridge (503.378.6246, shevaun.gutridge@oregon.gov).
• To request the governor's judicial interest form, contact Shevaun Gutridge, or link to the form here.

New and Renewing Pro Tem Applicants and Referees - Process and Forms

• Review the MBA screening process: MBA Judicial Screening Process
• Download and complete the MBA Information Request Form: MBA Judicial Appointee and Pro Tem Judge Information Request Form 
• Complete the fillable OJD Pro Tem Application
• Send the MBA Information Request Form and the OJD Pro Tem Application and any supporting materials to Pamela Hubbs (pamela@mbabar.org).
• Electronic or digital signatures are acceptable.
• Please allow sufficient time for the review process. The committee does not hold regular meetings during the summer.
• Questions? Contact Pamela Hubbs (503.854.5237, pamela@mbabar.org). 

Proposed Supplementary Local Rules

Deadline Extended to October 31 for Comment on Proposed Changes to SLRs

The court invites feedback regarding the Proposed Supplementary Local Rules for the Fourth Judicial District, which may be found here. The official deadline has ended for public comment on proposed changes to the SLRs, but the court can still consider comments if the proposed changes are minor. 

If approved, the rules will become effective on February 1, 2026.

To share comments or questions with the court about these proposed changes, contact MUL.Public.Information@ojd.state.or.us by October 31.

Multnomah County Presiding Judge Orders 
Presiding Judge Orders for Multnomah County Circuit Court operations may be found here.
Related
Felony Pre-Trial Conference Checklist
eFiling Exhibits

Resources

Multnomah County Deposition Guidelines, updated 2024
These guidelines are the result of a collaboration between the bench and bar. They are meant to be read in conjunction with the applicable rules to help avoid disputes during depositions. No attempt is made to cover every potential area of dispute; instead, the intent is to address common issues in discovery depositions. Other references include OSB Publications Civil Pleading & Litigation and the Multnomah County Judges Civil Motion Consensus Statement.

State Circuit Court Fee Schedule

US District Court Fee Schedule

Recommended Practices for Civil Jury Trials in Multnomah County Circuit Court

Attorney Reference Manual - Updated 2020
The Attorney Reference Manual is provided as an aid to attorneys practicing before the Circuit Court in Multnomah County. It is intended only to provide assistance regarding some local internal practices, primarily in the area of civil practice, which are determined by common law, rules and statutory authority (including the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure, Uniform Trial Court Rules, and Supplementary Local Rules). This manual deals with procedures and practices in Presiding Court for civil cases. For procedures and information regarding criminal and family court matters, please contact the appropriate section or department.  

OJD CJI Task Force Report
The Justice Initiative Task Force Report and Executive Summary is now posted on the OJD and MBA websites. The report evaluates civil case management in the Oregon state courts and makes recommendations for civil justice improvements in a variety of areas. Executive Summary Read the full report here.

Civil Motion Panel Statement of Consensus, updated May 2023

eCourt Open Hours
The court provides noontime interactive training to answer questions about File & Serve and eCourt. Upcoming dates are available on the court website.

Consider "white-listing" the following email addresses, from which you will receive court notifications:

• Court_notification@ojd.state.or.us
• Hearing_rescheduled@ojd.state.or.us
• Hearing_CANCELED@ojd.state.or.us
• Hearing_scheduled@ojd.state.or.us
• Judgment@ojd.state.or.us

Oregon eCourt System Components Overview - DEFINITIONS OF SYSTEMS

OJIN
The Oregon Judicial Information Network (OJIN) is the original green-screen, COBOL-language case management system developed in the 1980s, and running to this day as the heart of the Oregon Judicial Department's circuit court case management system. Within the scope of OJIN is included the Financial Information and Accounting System, and a later-developed Graphical User Interface (GUI) component to the original OJIN, known as GUI/OJIN. OJIN will run forever, but it will never leave the 1980s, and everyone who knows how to program in COBOL has retired or will soon. On both scores, it is time to move to web-based technology and a person-based system.

OJIN OnLine
OJIN OnLine is the version of OJIN that can be run externally from the Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) network over the web. Using third-party software, users access an image of OJIN. It is a subscriber-based system based on usage. To use the system, offices buy one or more log-on credentials and pay a monthly fee for use. One log on could be used serially by many individuals, one at a time.

In June of 2012, the OJIN OnLine log on changed. There were now two icons on the screen - one for OJIN, and a new one for the Oregon eCourt Case Information (OECI) system. With the passage of HB 4066, the name OJIN OnLine may soon be replaced with Oregon Judicial Case Information Network (OJCIN). The main change accomplished by HB 4066 is the perpetuation of revenue and fees for access and use of OJCIN systems made up of Appellate Case Management System (ACMS), OJIN, OECI and Oregon eFile and Serve for now. The revenue collected from these fees is dedicated to the support and maintenance of the OJCIN systems.

OECI
The Oregon eCourt Case Information system is the name given to the new system by the OJD. The entire system comprises components purchased or operated by Tyler Technologies, Inc., the vendor of Odyssey. Odyssey is a "person-based" case, document and revenue management system; it is the heart of the Oregon eCourt. When you hear someone from OJD refer to "Odyssey," they are speaking specifically about this case management component, which holds all the case documents, all the case hearings, all of the case revenue transactions, and all of the related software to permit this system to be the management system for Oregon's circuit courts. About 12 states have selected Tyler Technologies' Odyssey product as a statewide solution for their court systems.

Oregon eFile and Serve
Another product that is a part of Oregon eCourt is the Tyler Technologies' electronic filing software known as File and Serve. This product was acquired by Tyler Technologies and was known formerly as Wiznet eFile and Serve. Tyler now operates this product under its own name. The financial model for Odyssey eFile and Serve is "software as a service," and there is a fee for each use of the system. In 2013, it was decided that the fee for using the Oregon eFile and Serve system would be covered by a one-time, 5%, across-the-board increase in filing fees dedicated to this purpose. HB 4066 has made that revenue stream, and the fee increase, a permanent part of the structure. The "user" fee for Oregon eFile and Serve will be paid from this source, and not directly by the party using the system.