This is a list of Oregon judges that have served within the confines of the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
in the state of
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
, as well as people from Oregon that have served in federal courts outside of the state. These include judges that served prior to statehood on February 14, 1859, including the judges of the
Provisional Government of Oregon
The Provisional Government of Oregon was a popularly elected settler government created in the Oregon Country, in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Its formation had been advanced at the Champoeg Meetings since February 17, 1841, a ...
. Those listed include judges of the
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court (OSC) is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States.Oregon Tax Court, and the
Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is the state intermediate appellate court in the US state of Oregon. Part of the Oregon Judicial Department, it has thirteen judges and is located in Salem. Except for death penalty cases, which are reserved to the O ...
at the state level. Judges for the
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon (in case citations, D. Ore. or D. Or.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union ...
and judges from Oregon that have served on other federal courts are also listed. The judges of the
Oregon circuit courts
Oregon's circuit courts are general jurisdiction trial courts of the U.S. state of Oregon. These courts hear civil and criminal court cases.
The state has 27 circuit court districts, most of which correspond to the boundaries of Oregon's 36 cou ...
, who generally serve a single county, are not listed.
Pre-Provisional Government
John Kirk Townsend
John Kirk Townsend (August 10, 1809 – February 6, 1851) was an American naturalist, ornithologist and collector.
Townsend was a Quaker born in Philadelphia, the son of Charles Townsend and Priscilla Kirk. He attended Westtown School in ...
is recorded to have served as a judge prior to the establishment of the
Provisional Government of Oregon
The Provisional Government of Oregon was a popularly elected settler government created in the Oregon Country, in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Its formation had been advanced at the Champoeg Meetings since February 17, 1841, a ...
.
Provisional Government
Formation process of the Provisional Government
No formal judicial system existed in the region prior to February 18, 1841, when settlers at the
Champoeg Meetings
The Champoeg Meetings were the first attempts at formal governance by European-American and French Canadian pioneers in the Oregon Country on the Pacific Northwest coast of North America. Between 1841 and 1843, a series of public councils was held ...
, in their effort to form a Provisional Government, elected Babcock as Supreme Judge as well as four justices of the peace and a High Sheriff as minor executive position, while they failed to establish the introduction of a governor because of discontent by French-Canadian settlers. That meant that Babcock also acted as executive and law-maker until the establishment of an
Executive Committee
A committee or commission is a body of one or more persons subordinate to a deliberative assembly. A committee is not itself considered to be a form of assembly. Usually, the assembly sends matters into a committee as a way to explore them more ...
in 1843.
Creation of the Provisional Government
On May 2, 1843, the Provisional Government of Oregon was finally created through a narrow 52–50 vote under the English American and French Canadian settlers. This government constructed a judicial system headed by a single Supreme Judge.
Oregon Supreme Court
The
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Ori ...
was created in 1848 by the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...
. Congress then created a three judge supreme court for the territory. In 1859, the territory became the state of Oregon, with the
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court (OSC) is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States.Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is the state intermediate appellate court in the US state of Oregon. Part of the Oregon Judicial Department, it has thirteen judges and is located in Salem. Except for death penalty cases, which are reserved to the O ...
decide cases appealed from the Oregon Circuit Court. The court has a total of thirteen judgeships.
Federal district court
Upon Oregon's entry into the Union, the federal government created the
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon (in case citations, D. Ore. or D. Or.) is the federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union ...
, a federal trial level court. At first there was a single judge, but currently there are six judgeships.List of Oregon District judges. Federal Judicial Service. Retrieved January 31, 2008. Those who have served as the chief judge are listed in italics.Chief judges of the District of Oregon. Federal Judicial Service. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
Other federal
Judges from Oregon who have served on federal courts other than the District Court of Oregon. This includes judges who have been assigned to the
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (in case citations, 9th Cir.) is the U.S. federal court of appeals that has appellate jurisdiction over the U.S. district courts in the following federal judicial districts:
* District ...
' duty station at the
Pioneer Courthouse
The Pioneer Courthouse is a federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon, United States. Built beginning in 1869, the structure is the oldest federal building in the Pacific Northwest, and the second-oldest west of the Mississippi River.
Along with ...
in
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
.
Oregon Tax Court
In 1962, the state of Oregon created a specialized court to handle state tax cases. The Oregon Tax Court consists of a single state-wide elected judge.Oregon Blue Book: Tax Court Judges of Oregon. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
Lists of Oregon-related topics
These are lists of Oregon-related topics, attempting to list every list related to the state of Oregon
Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northe ...
References
{{Lists of US Justices
Judges
A judge is an official who presides over a court.
Judge or Judges may also refer to:
Roles
*Judge, an alternative name for an adjudicator in a competition in theatre, music, sport, etc.
*Judge, an alternative name/aviator call sign for a membe ...
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
Judges
A judge is an official who presides over a court.
Judge or Judges may also refer to:
Roles
*Judge, an alternative name for an adjudicator in a competition in theatre, music, sport, etc.
*Judge, an alternative name/aviator call sign for a membe ...