Latest News

Due to ongoing staffing challenges, which the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is working on a recruitment process to solve, the Inverness lobby will close at 3 p.m. on weekends, just as it does during the week. Any visits already in progress at that time will be allowed to continue. Additional information.

Supplementary Local Rules for the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for Multnomah County, the Fourth Judicial District, are effective February 1 and may be found here.

Governor Kate Brown announced five appointments to fill judicial vacancies, all effective January 1. The governor appointed Judge Stephen Bushong and Judge Bronson James to the Oregon Supreme Court, Judge Megan Jacquot to the Oregon Court of Appeals, and Bryan Francesconi and Rima Ghandour to the Multnomah County Circuit Court.

In total, Governor Brown has appointed 112 judges during her time in office, including eight appointments to the Oregon Supreme Court - more than any other Oregon governor - representing a diversity of backgrounds and life experiences.

News release

Presiding Judge Judith Matarazzo has issued two Presiding Judge Orders to take effect October 1, 2022.

•  PJO 2201-0006 addresses remote vs. in-person appearances.
  • There are no changes in Domestic Relations, Juvenile and Probate proceedings.
  • The court will continue to follow the protocols in the October 29, 2021 PJO, which are incorporated into PJO 2201-0006.
• PJO 2201-0007 addresses face masks.
  • Signs will be displayed on monitors to alert people coming into the courthouse if masks are required that day. Masks will be required when the CDC determines that the COVID-19 risk level in Multnomah County in “High.”
  • PJO 2101-0007 allows for different mask requirements in the Juvenile Justice Complex.

A message from Presiding Judge Judith Matarazzo, August 15, 2022: Staffing shortages have created a need for everyone to examine how their work is completed. The Courthouse is experiencing the same difficulties as most office environments. To streamline our work and avoid a great deal of duplicative work, the court has developed best practices guidelines for appearances in Presiding Court.

The Draft Supplementary Local Rules for the Fourth Judicial District are available here for review and comment.

The rules will be submitted to the State Court Administrator on September 1. If approved, the rules will become effective on February 1, 2023. 

Please direct questions and comments to MUL.Public.Information@ojd.state.or.us. 

Are you a dedicated and talented criminal defense attorney who wants to represent indigent defendants in federal court?
 
The District of Oregon Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel is now accepting applications. The panel opens to new applicants at least once every four years. We value diversity, and encourage skilled criminal defense attorneys to apply. You do not need to be a member of the federal bar at the time of application. Applications are due Friday, June 10, 2022, and are available on the Federal Public Defender website at https://or.fd.org/content/criminal-justice-act.
 
Direct Links
CJA Application 2022 for New Applicants (Deadline June 10, 2022)
CJA Application 2022 for Renewing Applicants (Deadline June 10, 2022)
 
Questions?
Please contact OR_PanelTeam@fd.org.

Multnomah County Circuit Court Lunch and Learn: Providing Court Services to People Who are Elderly or Disabled
Facilitated by Judge Morgan Long
12-1 p.m.

Speakers: The Honorable Patrick Henry, Chief Probate Judge, and Mark Sanford, MG, Program Manager, Multnomah County Public Guardian and Conservator at Multnomah County

This presentation is one of a series offered to court employees and judges. All are welcome. There is no charge to attend.

Join via video or phone:

     https://oregonjudicial.webex.com/oregonjudicial/j.php?MTID=m0aa551fb0d0f6d0f7b9d86da7f98c717
     Meeting number: 2484 296 9322
     Password: VpFCvy8j$36

     Join by video system
     Dial 24842969322@oregonjudicial.webex.com
     You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.

     Join by phone
     +1.408.418-9388 United States Toll

     Access code: 248 429 69322

Contact: Roger Rand, roger.s.rand@ojd.state.or.us

Presiding Judge Judith Matarazzo has considered current COVID-19 transmission data and feedback from judges, staff, lawyers, jurors and others, and has decided to continue to require that face masks be worn in Multnomah County Courthouses in all public areas. At their discretion, a judge presiding over a trial or other proceeding may authorize any person participating in the trial or proceeding to temporarily remove the protective face covering to facilitate communication as the judge deems appropriate. This policy will be revisited in May.

In a Presiding Judge Order issued March 10 and taking effect March 12, Presiding Judge Judith Matarazzo is ending social distancing in the courthouse effective March 27 and returning to in-person voir dire effective March 28. Facial coverings will still be required through April with some exceptions, such as for witnesses while testifying, which are detailed in the PJO.

PJO 2201-00001 issued March 10, 2022

CJO 22-002 issued March 9, 2022