Oregon Chapter 3

Chapter 3 — Circuit Courts Generally

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Chapter 3 — Circuit Courts Generally

 

2007 EDITION

 

CIRCUIT COURTS GENERALLY

 

COURTS OF RECORD; COURT OFFICERS; JURIES

 

JUDICIAL DISTRICTS, JUDGES AND JURISDICTION

 

3.012         Judicial districts

 

3.013         State as single judicial district

 

3.014         Special provisions for fourth judicial district (Multnomah County)

 

3.016         Special provisions for sixth judicial district (Morrow and Umatilla Counties)

 

3.030         Election of circuit judges

 

3.041         Qualifications of circuit judges; residence

 

3.050         Circuit judges to be members of bar

 

3.060         Salary of judges; expenses

 

3.070         Powers of judges in chambers; filing and entering of decisions not signed in open court

 

3.075         Powers of judges to act in joint or separate session; testing process

 

3.130         Transfer of judicial jurisdiction of certain county courts to circuit courts

 

3.132         Concurrent jurisdiction with justice and municipal courts

 

3.134         Application of state statutes to municipal ordinance

 

3.136         Jurisdiction over violations of Portland charter and ordinances; disposition of moneys; hearings officers

 

3.185         Habeas corpus hearings by Circuit Court for Marion County

 

3.220         Rules; procedure when judges disagree

 

3.225         Establishing specialized subject-matter departments; approval by Chief Justice; eligibility and assignment of judges

 

CIRCUIT COURT TERMS

 

3.232         Types of terms

 

3.235         Regular terms; minimum number required in certain districts

 

3.238         Power or duty to call special terms; procedure

 

JURISDICTION OVER JUVENILE AND FAMILY-RELATED MATTERS

 

3.250         Definitions for ORS 3.250 to 3.280

 

3.255         Policy and intent

 

3.260         Juvenile jurisdiction vested in circuit courts; authority for transfer of jurisdiction over family-related matters to circuit courts

 

3.265         Limits on transfer of juvenile jurisdiction

 

3.270         Transfer of juvenile jurisdiction and jurisdiction over family-related matters to circuit courts

 

3.275         Procedure for transfer of jurisdiction over certain family-related matters

 

3.280         Court services for circuit courts

 

PANEL OF REFERENCE JUDGES

 

3.300         Establishment and termination of panel for disposition of civil actions in circuit court; eligibility for panel; limitation on powers

 

3.305         Request for referral of action to reference judge; selection of reference judge; revocation of referral

 

3.311         Delivery of order to reference judge; notice of time and place of trial; procedure; witnesses

 

3.315         Proposed report of reference judge; objections; final report; filings with clerk; entry of report as judgment of court

 

3.321         Compensation of reference judge; payment procedure

 

FAMILY LAW

 

(Family Court Departments)

 

3.405         Application to establish family court department; assignment of judges; authority of judges

 

3.408         Matters assignable to family court department

 

3.412         Chief family court judge

 

3.414         Assignment of matters relating to same child

 

3.417         Coordination of services

 

3.420         Abolishment of family court department

 

3.423         Family court department rules

 

3.425         Family law education programs

 

(Family Law Facilitation Programs)

 

3.428         Family law facilitation programs

 

(Family Court Advocate Programs)

 

3.430         Family court advocate programs; goals; duties

 

3.432         Judicial education program on establishment and management of family court departments

 

(Coordination of Services to Families in Family Law Cases)

 

3.434         Adoption of coordination plan for services; local family law advisory committees; plan contents

 

3.436         Appointment of statewide family law advisory committee

 

3.438         Duties of State Court Administrator

 

3.440         Family Law Account

 

DRUG COURT PROGRAMS

 

3.450         Drug court programs; fees; records

 

      3.010 [Amended by 1957 c.713 §3; repealed by 1961 c.724 §34]

 

JUDICIAL DISTRICTS, JUDGES AND JURISDICTION

 

      3.011 [1961 c.724 §1; 1963 c.491 §1; 1965 c.510 §1; 1965 c.618 §1; 1967 c.532 §1; 1967 c.533 §1; 1969 c.370 §1; 1971 c.640 §1; 1971 c.777 §1; 1973 c.572 §1; 1975 c.629 §1; 1977 c.386 §1; 1979 c.568 §14; 1981 c.215 §2; 1981 c.759 §1; 1985 c.65 §1; 1985 c.274 §1; 1985 c.311 §1; 1987 c.359 §1; 1989 c.1021 §1; 1991 c.298 §1; 1995 c.658 §§6,142,143a,144; repealed by 1997 c.801 §1 (3.012 enacted in lieu of 3.011)]

 

      3.012 Judicial districts. (1) The judicial districts, the counties constituting the judicial districts and the number of circuit court judges for each judicial district are as follows:

      (a) The first judicial district consists of Jackson County and has nine judges.

      (b) The second judicial district consists of Lane County and has 15 judges.

      (c) The third judicial district consists of Marion County and has 14 judges.

      (d) The fourth judicial district consists of Multnomah County and has 38 judges.

      (e) The fifth judicial district consists of Clackamas County and has 11 judges.

      (f) The sixth judicial district consists of the counties of Morrow and Umatilla and has five judges.

      (g) The seventh judicial district consists of the counties of Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco and Wheeler and has four judges.

      (h) The eighth judicial district consists of Baker County and has one judge.

      (i) The ninth judicial district consists of Malheur County and has two judges.

      (j) The tenth judicial district consists of the counties of Union and Wallowa and has two judges.

      (k) The eleventh judicial district consists of Deschutes County and has seven judges.

      (L) The twelfth judicial district consists of Polk County and has three judges.

      (m) The thirteenth judicial district consists of Klamath County and has five judges.

      (n) The fourteenth judicial district consists of Josephine County and has four judges.

      (o) The fifteenth judicial district consists of the counties of Coos and Curry and has six judges.

      (p) The sixteenth judicial district consists of Douglas County and has five judges.

      (q) The seventeenth judicial district consists of Lincoln County and has three judges.

      (r) The eighteenth judicial district consists of Clatsop County and has three judges.

      (s) The nineteenth judicial district consists of Columbia County and has three judges.

      (t) The twentieth judicial district consists of Washington County and has 14 judges.

      (u) The twenty-first judicial district consists of Benton County and has three judges.

      (v) The twenty-second judicial district consists of the counties of Crook and Jefferson and has three judges.

      (w) The twenty-third judicial district consists of Linn County and has five judges.

      (x) The twenty-fourth judicial district consists of the counties of Grant and Harney and has one judge.

      (y) The twenty-fifth judicial district consists of Yamhill County and has four judges.

      (z) The twenty-sixth judicial district consists of Lake County and has one judge.

      (aa) The twenty-seventh judicial district consists of Tillamook County and has two judges.

      (2) The Secretary of State shall designate position numbers equal to the number of judges in each of the judicial districts established by this section. The positions shall reflect any qualifications established by ORS 3.041. [1997 c.801 §2 (enacted in lieu of 3.011); 1997 c.801 §2a; 2001 c.779 §1; 2001 c.823 §1; 2005 c.800 §1]

 

      3.013 State as single judicial district. For the purposes of 15 U.S.C. 1692i, the state shall be considered a single judicial district. [1997 c.340 §7]

 

      3.014 Special provisions for fourth judicial district (Multnomah County). (1) One of the judges of the fourth judicial district shall hold court in the City of Gresham, Multnomah County, as directed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court but in no event less than one day a week. All proceedings resulting from alleged state traffic offenses or misdemeanors occurring east of 122nd Avenue extended to the north and south boundaries of Multnomah County shall be conducted in the court in Gresham unless the accused at first appearance in each action requests trial in Portland.

      (2) A proceeding to be conducted in Gresham as provided in subsection (1) of this section shall be transferred without further order of the court to a court facility in Portland for all purposes if:

      (a) The accused person is in the custody of a county sheriff or the Department of Corrections at the time set for any scheduled proceeding; or

      (b) A circuit court in the fourth judicial district issues a bench warrant or a warrant of arrest against the accused for any criminal action pending before the court.

      (3) Multnomah County shall provide facilities in the City of Gresham for a court judge to hold court as described under subsection (1) of this section. [Formerly 46.010; 2005 c.275 §1]

 

      3.015 [1961 c.724 §32; repealed by 1965 c.510 §24 and 1965 c.618 §11]

 

      3.016 Special provisions for sixth judicial district (Morrow and Umatilla Counties). In the sixth judicial district, the judges of the district shall hold court in Pendleton, Hermiston, Milton-Freewater and Heppner as required by caseload. [1995 c.658 §6c; 2005 c.800 §2]

 

      3.020 [Amended by 1955 c.677 §2; 1957 c.665 §2; 1957 c.713 §4; repealed by 1959 c.557 §1 (3.022 enacted in lieu of 3.020)]

 

      3.021 [1953 c.52 §§1,2,3; repealed by 1955 c.677 §6]

 

      3.022 [1959 c.557 §2 (enacted in lieu of 3.020); repealed by 1961 c.724 §34]

 

      3.030 Election of circuit judges. Each circuit judge shall hold office for the term for which the circuit judge was elected; and at the general election or, if applicable, at the election specified in ORS 249.088 next prior to the expiration of the term of office there shall be elected a circuit judge to succeed the circuit judge. [Amended by 1991 c.719 §1]

 

      3.040 [Amended by 1955 c.677 §3; 1957 c.665 §4; 1957 c.713 §5; repealed by 1961 c.724 §34]

 

      3.041 Qualifications of circuit judges; residence. (1) Each judge of the circuit court shall be a citizen of the United States and a resident of this state.

      (2) Each judge of the circuit court shall be a resident of or have principal office in the judicial district for which the judge is elected or appointed, except that in any judicial district having a population of 500,000 or more, according to the latest federal decennial census, any judge of the circuit court may reside within 10 miles of the boundary of the judicial district.

      (3) In the seventh judicial district, two of the judges of the circuit court shall be residents of or have principal offices in Wasco County, Sherman County, Gilliam County or Wheeler County and two shall be residents of or have principal offices in Hood River County, Sherman County, Gilliam County or Wheeler County.

      (4) In the fifteenth judicial district, four of the judges of the circuit court shall be residents of or have principal offices in Coos County and two shall be residents of or have principal offices in Curry County.

      (5) The residence within this state required by subsection (1) of this section shall have been maintained for at least three years, and the residence or principal office required by subsections (2) to (4) of this section shall have been maintained for at least one year, immediately prior to appointment or becoming a candidate for election to the office of circuit court judge. [1961 c.724 §2; 1963 c.491 §6; 1965 c.510 §2; 1965 c.618 §4; 1967 c.532 §3; 1967 c.533 §7; 1971 c.777 §2; 1973 c.572 §2; 1977 c.386 §4; 1979 c.568 §15; 1981 c.759 §8; 1985 c.65 §2; 1985 c.311 §3; 1995 c.79 §3; 1995 c.658 §6a; 1997 c.801 §6; 2001 c.779 §2]

 

      3.050 Circuit judges to be members of bar. No person is eligible to the office of judge of the circuit court unless the person is a member of the Oregon State Bar. [Amended by 1961 c.724 §3]

 

      3.060 Salary of judges; expenses. Each of the judges of the circuit court shall receive such salary as is provided by law. When any judicial district is composed of more than one county a judge thereof is entitled to reimbursement for hotel bills and traveling expenses necessarily incurred by the judge in the performance of duties outside the county of residence. When any circuit judge holds court in any county outside of the judicial district for which the circuit judge was elected or appointed, hotel bills and traveling expenses necessarily incurred by the judge in the performance of that duty shall be paid by the state. Such hotel bills and traveling expenses are to be paid by the state upon the certificate of the judge to the truth of an itemized statement of such hotel bills and traveling expenses. The certificate of expenses is a sufficient voucher upon which the Oregon Department of Administrative Services shall review the claim as required by ORS 293.295 and draw its warrant upon the State Treasurer for the amount thereof in favor of such circuit judge. [Amended by 1953 c.516 §3; 1955 c.531 §1; 1957 c.646 §1; 1959 c.552 §14; 1961 c.702 §2; 1965 c.171 §1; 1965 c.619 §1; 1967 c.38 §1; 1967 c.111 §1; 1969 c.365 §1; 1971 c.95 §2; 1971 c.642 §1]

 

      3.065 [1967 c.531 §1; 1981 s.s. c.1 §8; repealed by 1995 c.781 §51]

 

      3.070 Powers of judges in chambers; filing and entering of decisions not signed in open court. Any judge of a circuit court in any judicial district may, in chambers, grant and sign defaults, judgments, interlocutory orders and provisional remedies, make findings and decide motions, demurrers and other like matters relating to any judicial business coming before the judge from any judicial district in which the judge has presided in such matters. The judge may hear, in chambers, contested motions, demurrers and other similar matters pending within the judicial district, at any location designated under ORS 1.085. Upon stipulation of counsel, the judge may try and determine any issue in equity or in law where a jury has been waived and hear and decide motions, demurrers and other like matters, in chambers, at any location in the state where the judge may happen to be, relating to any judicial business coming before the judge from any judicial district in which the judge has presided in such matters. The judge may exercise these powers as fully and effectively as though the motions, demurrers, matters or issues were granted, ordered, decided, heard and determined in open court in the county where they may be pending. If signed other than in open court, all such orders, findings and judgments issued, granted or rendered, other than orders not required to be filed and entered with the clerk before becoming effective, shall be transmitted by the judge to the clerk of the court within the county where the matters are pending. They shall be filed and entered upon receipt thereof and shall become effective from the date of entry in the register. [Amended by 1983 c.763 §5; 1991 c.111 §1; 2003 c.576 §269; 2007 c.547 §9]

 

      3.075 Powers of judges to act in joint or separate session; testing process. If two or more persons are sitting as judges of the circuit court in a judicial district:

      (1) Any two or more of them may act in joint session for the trial or determination of any cause, matter or proceeding before the court in the judicial district, including jury cases. If the judges acting in joint session are equally divided in opinion, the opinion of the presiding judge prevails; otherwise the decision of the majority prevails.

      (2) Each of them may proceed separately with and try, simultaneously in the judicial district and during the same term, all causes, matters and proceedings brought before the court.

      (3) Process may be tested in the name of any of them. [1959 c.552 §9; 1995 c.781 §6]

 

      3.080 [Repealed by 1959 c.552 §16]

 

      3.081 [1959 c.552 §5; repealed by 1975 c.706 §10]

 

      3.090 [Repealed by 1959 c.552 §16]

 

      3.091 [1959 c.552 §6; repealed by 1975 c.706 §10]

 

      3.096 [1959 c.552 §7; repealed by 1975 c.706 §10]

 

      3.100 [Repealed by 1959 c.552 §16]

 

      3.101 [1961 c.405 §1; 1969 c.591 §263; repealed by 1995 c.658 §127]

 

      3.102 [Formerly 3.110; 1959 c.576 §1; renumbered 3.570]

 

      3.105 [1953 c.35 §1; repealed by 1959 c.549 §7]

 

      3.106 [1953 c.35 §2; repealed by 1959 c.549 §7]

 

      3.107 [1953 c.35 §3; repealed by 1959 c.549 §7]

 

      3.108 [1953 c.35 §4; repealed by 1959 c.549 §7]

 

      3.109 [1953 c.35 §5; repealed by 1959 c.549 §7]

 

      3.110 [Renumbered 3.102 and then 3.570]

 

      3.111 [1953 c.35 §6; repealed by 1959 c.549 §7]

 

      3.112 [1953 c.35 §9; repealed by 1959 c.549 §7]

 

      3.113 [1953 c.35 §7; repealed by 1959 c.549 §7]

 

      3.114 [1953 c.35 §8; repealed by 1959 c.549 §7]

 

      3.115 [1953 c.35 §10; repealed by 1959 c.549 §7]

 

      3.120 [Repealed by 1959 c.552 §16]

 

      3.130 Transfer of judicial jurisdiction of certain county courts to circuit courts. (1) All judicial jurisdiction, authority, powers, functions and duties of the county courts and the judges thereof, except the jurisdiction, authority, powers, functions and duties exercisable in the transaction of county business, are transferred to the circuit courts and the judges thereof:

      (a) In Baker, Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, Lane, Marion and Tillamook Counties.

      (b) In any county for which a county charter providing for such transfer is adopted under ORS 203.710 to 203.770, to the extent that the judicial jurisdiction, authority, powers, functions and duties were not previously transferred as provided by law.

      (2) All matters, causes and proceedings relating to judicial jurisdiction, authority, powers, functions and duties transferred to the circuit courts and the judges thereof under this section, and pending in a county court on the effective date of the transfer, are transferred to the circuit court for the county. [Amended by 1955 c.677 §4; 1957 c.275 §1; 1957 c.713 §6; 1961 c.724 §4; 1963 c.512 §1; 1965 c.247 §1; 1965 c.510 §3; 1965 c.618 §5; 1967 c.268 §1; 1967 c.533 §8; 1967 c.534 §9; 1969 c.286 §1; 1969 c.591 §264]

 

      3.132 Concurrent jurisdiction with justice and municipal courts. In addition to other cases over which they have jurisdiction, circuit courts shall have the same criminal and quasi-criminal jurisdiction as justice courts and shall have concurrent jurisdiction with municipal courts of all violations of the charter and ordinances of any city wholly or in part within their respective judicial districts committed or triable within the counties in the judicial district. [Formerly 46.040]

 

      3.134 Application of state statutes to municipal ordinance. When an offense defined by municipal ordinance is tried in circuit court, it shall be subject to the same statutes and procedures that govern the trial and appeal of a like offense defined by a statute of this state. [Formerly 46.047]

 

      3.135 [1961 c.724 §5; repealed by 1965 c.510 §24]

 

      3.136 Jurisdiction over violations of Portland charter and ordinances; disposition of moneys; hearings officers. (1) The circuit court for a county within the boundaries of which there is situated the largest part of a city having a population of more than 300,000 shall have all judicial jurisdiction, authority, powers, functions and duties of the municipal court of each such city and the judges thereof with respect to all violations of the charter and ordinances of each such city.

      (2) All fees, fines, security deposit forfeitures and other moneys collected and received by a circuit court in matters, causes and proceedings with respect to all violations over which such circuit court is granted judicial jurisdiction by subsection (1) of this section shall be collected, handled and disposed of by the clerk of such circuit court as otherwise provided by law for moneys collected and received by such circuit court.

      (3) Subsection (1) of this section does not preclude the city from employing one or more quasi-judicial hearings officers empowered to hold hearings concerning violations of the charter, ordinances, rules and regulations of the city, to adopt rules and regulations relating to the conduct of the hearings process and to impose civil penalties and grant other relief as may be necessary to enforce and obtain compliance with the charter, ordinances, rules and regulations of the city. The jurisdiction and authority of a hearings officer shall not include any traffic or parking offense. The city may enforce any order of a hearings officer by a civil action in a court of appropriate jurisdiction. [Formerly 46.045; 1999 c.1051 §235]

 

      3.140 [Amended by 1965 c.510 §4; repealed by 1969 c.591 §305]

 

      3.150 [Amended by 1957 s.s. c.8 §1; 1961 c.724 §6; 1965 c.510 §5; 1979 c.77 §1; repealed by 1983 c.673 §26]

 

      3.160 [Amended by 1957 s.s. c.8 §2; 1959 c.557 §3; 1961 c.724 §7; 1965 c.510 §6; repealed by 1981 c.215 §8]

 

      3.165 [1961 c.724 §8; repealed by 1965 c.510 §24]

 

      3.170 [Amended by 1965 c.510 §7; repealed by 1981 c.215 §8]

 

      3.180 [1965 c.618 §7; 1967 c.533 §9; repealed by 1969 c.591 §305]

 

      3.185 Habeas corpus hearings by Circuit Court for Marion County. (1) Notwithstanding ORS 1.040, a judge of the Circuit Court for Marion County when hearing matters relating to writs of habeas corpus as provided in ORS 34.310 to 34.730 may direct that the court be held or continued at any location designated under ORS 1.085 and under such conditions as may be ordered.

      (2) When a court is held at a location directed as provided by subsection (1) of this section, every person held or required to appear at the court shall appear at the location so directed. [1975 c.236 §1; 1983 c.763 §6; 2007 c.547 §10]

 

      3.210 [Amended by 1955 c.677 §5; 1957 c.665 §3; 1957 c.713 §8; 1959 c.557 §4; repealed by 1961 c.724 §34]

 

      3.220 Rules; procedure when judges disagree. (1) A circuit court may make and enforce all rules necessary for the prompt and orderly dispatch of the business of the court and not inconsistent with applicable provisions of law, the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure or rules made or orders issued by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or the presiding judge for the judicial district. If a majority of the judges of the court in a judicial district having two or more circuit court judges do not agree in respect to the making of rules under this subsection, the decision of the presiding judge shall control.

      (2)(a) A certified copy of a rule referred to in subsection (1) of this section made or in effect before January 1, 1984, shall be filed in the office of the State Court Administrator not later than January 1, 1984. If a copy of a rule is not so filed, the rule is void.

      (b) A certified copy of a rule referred to in subsection (1) of this section made or amended on or after January 1, 1984, shall be filed in the office of the State Court Administrator. No rule or amendment shall be effective unless so filed, and no rule or amendment so filed shall become effective before the 30th day after the date of filing.

      (c) The State Court Administrator shall maintain the copies of all rules filed pursuant to this subsection, and shall keep a record of the date of filing thereof. The administrator shall, upon request, supply copies of the rules, and may charge a reasonable fee for such copies in order to recover the cost of compilation, copying and distribution of the rules. [Subsection (2) of 1955 part derived from 1953 c.52 §§6,7; 1957 c.713 §9; 1961 c.724 §9; 1967 c.531 §2; 1973 c.484 §3; 1981 c.215 §4; 1981 s.s. c.1 §9; 1983 c.763 §31; 1995 c.781 §7]

 

      3.225 Establishing specialized subject-matter departments; approval by Chief Justice; eligibility and assignment of judges. Subject to the approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a circuit court, by rule under ORS 3.220, may establish specialized subject-matter departments of the court, and may modify or abolish departments so established. Any judge of the court may act in any department so established or modified by rule. The presiding judge for the judicial district may assign any judge of the court to act in any department so established or modified by rule. [1981 c.215 §1; 1995 c.781 §8]

 

      3.227 [1987 c.714 §4; repealed by 1995 c.658 §127]

 

      3.229 [1987 c.714 §5; 1995 c.781 §9; repealed by 1995 c.658 §127]

 

      3.230 [Subsection (3) of 1957 part derived from 1953 c.52 §6; 1957 c.713 §10; 1957 s.s. c.8 §3; repealed by 1959 c.552 §16]

 

CIRCUIT COURT TERMS

 

      3.232 Types of terms. The terms of the circuit courts are either those appointed by law, or others appointed by a judge of the court. [Formerly 4.010]

 

      3.235 Regular terms; minimum number required in certain districts. (1) The regular terms of the circuit court in the several districts of the state shall be held at times designated by order of the presiding circuit judge of the court. The order shall be made and entered of record each year, and may be amended by making and entering of record further orders.

      (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, in districts which are comprised of more than one county, the court shall designate sufficient regular terms in each county within the district to conduct those matters which arise from that county. In no event shall there be less than two terms per year in each such county. [Formerly 4.105]

 

      3.238 Power or duty to call special terms; procedure. (1) When a term of court is appointed by a judge it shall be done by a general order made and entered of record during term time, or by a special order made and filed in vacation for the trial of a particular cause or the transaction of certain business specified in the special order, a certified copy of which special order shall be served on the parties to the cause or business 10 days prior to such term. In the former case, at the term so appointed, any business may be transacted that could be transacted during a regular term, but in the latter case only such as is specified in the order.

      (2) Any circuit court judge of the third, seventeenth, nineteenth or twenty-first judicial district may, by order entered of record, convene special terms of court between regular terms, for the trial of actions, suits or other judicial proceedings, and may summon juries for such special terms.

      (3) The judge of the circuit court for Gilliam, Grant, Sherman and Wheeler Counties shall convene a sufficient number of special or adjourned terms of court in the county to speedily adjudicate all equity cases and other matters which may arise between regular terms, and shall also convene special jury terms when necessary. [Formerly 4.410; 1985 c.540 §20]

 

      3.240 [Amended by 1957 c.713 §11; repealed by 1961 c.724 §34]

 

JURISDICTION OVER JUVENILE AND FAMILY-RELATED MATTERS

 

      3.250 Definitions for ORS 3.250 to 3.280. As used in ORS 3.250 to 3.280, unless the context requires otherwise:

      (1) “Child” means a person under 18 years of age.

      (2) “Court services” includes but is not limited to services and facilities relating to intake screening, juvenile detention, shelter care, investigations, study and recommendations on disposition of cases, probation on matters within the jurisdiction of the court under ORS 3.260, family counseling, conciliation in domestic relations, group homes, and psychological or psychiatric or medical consultation and services provided at the request of or under the direction of the court, whether performed by employees of the court, by other government agencies or by contract or other arrangement. [1967 c.534 §1; 1987 c.158 §2; 1987 c.320 §12; 2001 c.904 §10; 2001 c.905 §10]

 

      3.255 Policy and intent. It is declared to be the policy and intent of the Legislative Assembly:

      (1) Notwithstanding concurrent jurisdiction, that family and family-related matters before the courts be concentrated in a single judicial jurisdiction, the circuit court.

      (2) The judges of the circuit court need adequate court services to assist them in exercising jurisdiction over the family and family-related matters. [1967 c.534 §2]

 

      3.260 Juvenile jurisdiction vested in circuit courts; authority for transfer of jurisdiction over family-related matters to circuit courts. (1) The circuit courts and the judges thereof shall exercise all juvenile court jurisdiction, authority, powers, functions and duties.

      (2) Pursuant to ORS 3.275, in addition to any other jurisdiction vested in it by law, the circuit court shall exercise exclusive and original judicial jurisdiction, authority, powers, functions, and duties in the judicial district in any or all of the following matters that on the date specified in the order entered under ORS 3.275 are not within the jurisdiction of the circuit court:

      (a) Adoption.

      (b) Change of name under ORS 33.410.

      (c) Filiation.

      (d) Commitment of persons with mental illness or mental retardation.

      (e) Any suit or civil proceeding involving custody or other disposition of a child or the support thereof or the support of a spouse, including enforcement of the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act and enforcement of out-of-state or foreign judgments and decrees on domestic relations.

      (f) Waivers of the three-day waiting period before a marriage license becomes effective under ORS 106.077.

      (g) Issuance of delayed birth certificate. [1967 c.534 §3; 1979 c.724 §1; 2003 c.576 §270; 2007 c.70 §2]

 

      3.265 Limits on transfer of juvenile jurisdiction. (1) Notwithstanding ORS 3.260, no transfer of jurisdiction required by ORS 3.260 (1) shall occur in the following counties until the county court approves such transfer either as of July 1, 1968, or thereafter:

      (a) Gilliam, Sherman, Wheeler, Harney or Morrow County.

      (b) Any county that as of July 1, 1968, has a population of less than 11,000 and in which the judge of the circuit court does not reside.

      (2) Notwithstanding the limitation on transfer of juvenile jurisdiction in subsection (1) of this section, the circuit court in the judicial district shall exercise exclusive and original judicial jurisdiction, authority, powers, functions and duties in all proceedings under ORS 419B.500 to 419B.508 filed after October 3, 1989. [1967 c.534 §3a; 1989 c.531 §1; 1993 c.33 §272; 1995 c.658 §13]

 

      3.270 Transfer of juvenile jurisdiction and jurisdiction over family-related matters to circuit courts. (1) All judicial jurisdiction, authority, powers and duties of the county courts and the judges thereof over matters described in ORS 3.260 (1), are transferred to the circuit courts and the judges thereof.

      (2) All judicial jurisdiction, authority, powers and duties of the county courts and justice courts and the judges thereof over matters described in ORS 3.260 (2) or so much thereof as may be ordered under ORS 3.275, in so far as such jurisdiction, authority, powers, functions and duties are exercised by such courts and the judges thereof on the date specified in the order entered under ORS 3.275, are transferred to the circuit courts and the judges thereof by which the order was entered.

      (3) All matters, causes and proceedings relating to jurisdiction, authority, powers, functions and duties transferred to the circuit court and the judges thereof under either subsection (1) or (2) of this section and pending in the county or justice court on the effective date of the transfer, are transferred to the circuit court for the county.

      (4) Appeals pending in a circuit court under ORS 179.650 (1987 Replacement Part), 419.561 (1991 Edition) or 419.A.200 immediately before the date specified in the order entered under ORS 3.275 shall be conducted and completed pursuant to the provisions of law in effect immediately before that date, except that the circuit court shall be considered to be the court appealed from in so far as further disposition of the case is concerned. [1967 c.534 §4; 1989 c.348 §13; 1993 c.33 §273; 1993 c.717 §3; 1995 c.658 §14]

 

      3.275 Procedure for transfer of jurisdiction over certain family-related matters. (1) After making a determination that conditions in the judicial district make it desirable to concentrate jurisdiction over all or part of family and family-related matters in the circuit court, the circuit court by its own order shall exercise jurisdiction over any or all of the matters described in ORS 3.260 (2) on and after July 1 next following entry of the order.

      (2) Any circuit court that enters an order pursuant to this section shall cause copies of the order to be filed with the Oregon Supreme Court and with the county or justice court whose jurisdiction is affected by the order. [1967 c.534 §5; 1995 c.658 §16]

 

      3.280 Court services for circuit courts. (1) The circuit court may obtain court services by using services available without charge or, with the prior approval of the governing body of each county in the judicial district, by:

      (a) Employing or contracting for personnel or services; or

      (b) Contracting or entering into agreements with public or private agencies or with private firms or individuals, or any of them.

      (2) Court services obtained under subsection (1) of this section shall be subject to the supervision of the circuit court.

      (3) The compensation and expenses of personnel performing or providing court services and the expenses of providing court services shall be determined by the circuit court and shall be subject to the approval of and be paid by the county or counties making up the judicial district, subject to the Local Budget Law. For purposes of retirement benefits, personnel employed by the court may be considered county employees. Personnel performing or providing court services are not state employees, and their compensation and expenses shall not be paid by the state. [1967 c.534 §6; 1981 s.s. c.3 §22]

 

PANEL OF REFERENCE JUDGES

 

      3.300 Establishment and termination of panel for disposition of civil actions in circuit court; eligibility for panel; limitation on powers. (1) Subject to the approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the presiding judge for a judicial district may establish, and may terminate, the use of a panel of reference judges for the trial and disposition of civil actions in the circuit court under ORS 3.300 to 3.321.

      (2) The Supreme Court, upon motion of the Chief Justice and the presiding judge may appoint any eligible person as a reference judge on the panel established under this section. A person is eligible for appointment as a reference judge if the person is a member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar. An eligible person need not reside within the judicial district for which use of the panel is established.

      (3) A person appointed as a reference judge on a panel may be removed from the panel by the Chief Justice or the presiding judge for the judicial dis