{{Short description|Courts of law in Oregon}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} '''Justice courts''' are state courts of law in Oregon.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Kidd |first=Justin |date=June 2023 |title=The Role of Justice Courts: These Underutilized Resources Alleviate Backlogs, Increase Access to Justice |url=https://www.co.marion.or.us/JC/Documents/FromTheBench_Bulletin_June2023.pdf |journal=Oregon State Bar Bulletin |pages=34–35}}</ref><ref name=":1">Kuhnhausen v. Stadelman, 174 OR 290, 305 (1944); Webster v. Boyer, 81 OR 485 (1916)</ref> While the Justice Court is a kind of state court, and the Justice of the Peace is an Oregon State Court judge, the Justice Courts are financed and authorized by their respective counties.<ref name=":0" /> Because Justice Courts are financed by the counties, they are not part of the Oregon Judicial Department.<ref name="ojd">{{cite web |author=Oregon Judicial Department |date=2008 |title=Other Courts |url=http://www.ojd.state.or.us/courts/othercourts/index.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080926013542/http://www.ojd.state.or.us/courts/othercourts/index.htm |archivedate=September 26, 2008 |accessdate=January 11, 2009 |work=Oregon Courts |publisher=Oregon Judicial Department}}</ref>
Justice Courts have been part of Oregon's legal framework since before Oregon was a territory.<ref name=":0" /> In Oregon, Justice Courts have jurisdiction over civil lawsuits of less than $10,000;<ref>ORS 51.080</ref> evictions;<ref>ORS 105.110</ref> misdemeanors,<ref name=":2">ORS 51.050</ref> and violations,<ref name=":2" /> like traffic tickets, boating violations, and wildlife violations. Further, Justice Courts have jurisdiction over violations of the county code, and some Justice Courts act as the municipal court of certain cities.<ref>ORS 51.035</ref> Justice courts do not have jurisdiction over certain types of civil cases, including disputes over title to real estate, false imprisonment, libel, slander, and malicious prosecution.<ref name="courtreference">{{cite web |author=Northwest Location Services |date=2008 |title=Oregon Justice Courts |url=http://www.courtreference.com/Oregon-Courts.htm#245 |accessdate=January 11, 2009 |work=The Guide to Oregon Courts |publisher=Court Records Free Reference and Directory}}</ref> Justices of the Peace are authorized to perform courthouse weddings in Oregon.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Weddings|url=https://www.co.marion.or.us/JC/Pages/weddings.aspx}}</ref>
Justice Courts can empanel juries, but most matters in Justice Court are tried to the bench, where the Justice is the factfinder.<ref name=":0" /> No Justice Court is currently a court of record, so appeals run through the Circuit Court.<ref name=":0" />
The Judge at a Justice Court is called the Justice of the Peace.<ref name=":0" /> A Justice of the Peace is elected for a term of six years.<ref>ORS 51.210</ref> If a Justice of the Peace position becomes vacant during the Justice's term, the Governor appoints a Justice to fill the vacancy until the next general election.<ref>ORS 51.260</ref>
Justice Courts are smaller than circuit courts, so many customers find them easier to navigate.<ref name=":0" /> Further, the filing fees in Justice Court are often cheaper than the filing fees in Circuit Court.<ref>ORS 51.310(1)(c)</ref><ref>ORS 46.570</ref> Most cases in Justice Court are either pro se (no lawyers) or half-se (only one side represented by lawyers) so Justice Courts are accustomed to working with self-represented litigants.<ref name=":0" />
As of 2023, there are 22 justice courts in the following counties: Baker,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Baker County-Justice Court|url=https://www.bakercounty.org/justice/justice.html}}</ref> Clackamas,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court | Clackamas County|url=https://www.clackamas.us/justice}}</ref> Columbia,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Columbia County, Oregon Official Website - Justice of the Peace|url=https://www.columbiacountyor.gov/departments/JusticeCourts/justice-of-the-peace}}</ref> Deschutes,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court Home | Deschutes County Oregon|url=https://www.deschutes.org/court}}</ref> Douglas (Canyonville),<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title= Justice Courts | Douglas County, OR|url=https://www.douglascountyor.gov/231/Justice-Courts}}</ref> Douglas (Reedsport),<ref name=":3" /> Gilliam,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court|url=https://www.co.gilliam.or.us/government/justice_court/index.php}}</ref> Grant,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court | Grant County, OR|url=https://grantcountyoregon.net/243/Justice-Court}}</ref> Harney,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harney County Justice Court |url=https://client.pointandpay.net/web/HarneyCountyJusticeCourt |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=client.pointandpay.net}}</ref> Hood River,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court|url=https://www.hoodrivercounty.gov/justicecourt}}</ref> Jackson,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Jackson County, Oregon Justice Court|url=https://www.jacksoncountyor.gov/departments/_justice_court/index.php}}</ref> Klamath,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court | Klamath County, OR|url=https://www.klamathcounty.org/316/Justice-Court}}</ref> Lane,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Courts|url=https://www.lanecounty.org/government/county_departments/county_administration/administration/justice_courts}}</ref> Linn,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court|url=https://www.linncountyor.gov/justicecourt}}</ref> Malheur,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Courts – Malheur County Oregon|url=https://www.malheurco.org/justice-courts/}}</ref> Marion,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court|url=https://www.co.marion.or.us/JC}}</ref> Morrow,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Morrow County Justice Court | Morrow County Oregon|url=https://www.co.morrow.or.us/justicecourt}}</ref> Sherman,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court|url=https://www.co.sherman.or.us/departments/sherman-county-justice-court/}}</ref> Tillamook,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court|url=https://www.co.tillamook.or.us/justice-court}}</ref> Union,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court - Union County|date=18 October 2017 |url=https://union-county.org/justicecourt/}}</ref> Washington,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Justice Court | Washington County, OR|url=https://www.washingtoncountyor.gov/justice-court}}</ref> and Wheeler.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Wheeler County | Justice Court|url=https://www.wheelercountyoregon.com/justice-court}}</ref>
== Notes == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Pages/state/judicial/justice-courts.aspx Justice Courts] - Oregon Blue Book {{Oregon Judicial System}}
Category:Oregon state courts Category:1847 establishments in the United States Category:Courts and tribunals established in 1847