Oregon Court Information, Location and Jurisdictions

One of the most efficiently functioning legal systems in the entire United States can be found in the State of Oregon. The judiciary in this state has a specific commitment – to provide all the residents quick, effective and fair justice.

The task of any Oregon court is not just limited to delivering timely justice. The courts are also the custodians of vital public records. Whenever you need to, such records can be retrieved from the repositories of the courthouses.

The legal system in the state has the following courts:

•    The Supreme Court
•    The Appeals Court
•    The Circuit Courts (there are 36 courts in the state – each county has one)
•    The Justice Courts
•    The Municipal Courts
•    The County Courts
•    The Tax Court

Get Acquainted with the Oregon Court Network

Before you can actually bring a case to any of the Oregon courts, it is of extreme importance that you understand the way in which they work. Of course you will also need to know about the jurisdiction of the courts; this is because if you do not know where you should file your case, you run the risk of the case being dismissed.

To help you in this matter, there is an official legal website for the Oregon court system and it is http://courts.oregon.gov/OJD. This is the official website of the state’s Judicial Department. Apart from a complete enumeration of the number and types of courts that are present in the state, the website also helps you know about the laws and the methods, the court calendar, news and notices.

Oregon Supreme Court

The Oregon court system has a clearly defined hierarchy. At the highest rung is the state Supreme Court, and above this is the Supreme Court of the U.S.. It is located at 1163 State Street, Salem, OR 97301-2563. If you need to for some reason, you can contact the concerned personnel at the Supreme Court by calling 503.986.5555.

Just as it is the case in the other states, the Supreme Court is an appeals court where you need to go if you are unhappy with the decisions of the court that is just below it. The court enjoys discretionary powers, meaning that it can decide which cases it wants to hear. Usually, the court hears only the most important cases, with the others going to the Appeals Court in the state.

Oregon Appeals Court

The Appeals Court in the state hears most of the appeal cases, the only exception being cases involving the death penalty-these cases go directly to the Supreme Court, and cases involving tax evasions that go to the Tax Court. Most other criminal and civil case appeals come to this Appeals Court from the Circuit Courts.

Legal Functions of the Courts of Oregon

The laws prevalent in the state have gone a long way in simplifying the legal procedures. In fact, through the official court website, you also have the option of filing your lawsuit electronically.