Chief Justice Martha Walters has entered CJO 20-036 directing that the Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, and Oregon Tax Court be partially closed on Friday, September 11, due to air quality issues in Salem.

The order provides in part:

1. This order applies to the described court operations in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Tax Court, and OSCA, on September 11, 2020.

2. The courts are closed, within the meaning of ORS 1.060(3) and ORS 174.120(2), for the following purposes: staffing public counters, answering telephones, and filing documents. This closure has no impact to eFiling systems, remote access to case records, or issuance of decisions.

3. This order documents the effect that the partial closure described in paragraph 2 has on any statutory time limitation that applies to any filing on September 11, 2020, regardless of the manner of submission.

4. The following previously scheduled events shall proceed as planned, to be conducted via remote means, within the meaning of Chief Justice Order 20-016, paragraph 1.e.:

a. Court of Appeals oral arguments.

5. This order is not a court closure for employees of the Oregon Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Tax Court, and OSCA who are authorized to work remotely.

The partial closing is posted on the OJD’s “2020 Fire Information and Court Operations” page:  https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/Pages/2020FireInfo.aspx

Chief Justice Martha Walters has entered CJO 20-035 directing that the Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, and Oregon Tax Court be partially closed on Thursday, September 10, due to air quality issues in Salem.

The order provides in part:

1. This order applies to the described court operations in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Tax Court, on September 10, 2020.
2. The courts are closed, within the meaning of ORS 1.060(3) and ORS 174.120(2), for the following purposes: staffing public counters, answering telephones, and filing documents. This closure has no impact to eFiling systems, remote access to case records, or issuance of decisions.
3. This order documents the effect that the partial closure described in paragraph 2 has on any statutory time limitation that applies to any filing on September 10, 2020, regardless of the manner of submission.
4. This order is not a court closure for employees of the Oregon Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Tax Court, or Appellate Court Records Section who are authorized to work remotely.

The closing is currently reflected in the “alerts and emergency closures” box on the OJD webpage:  https://www.courts.oregon.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Chief Justice Martha Walters has entered CJO 20-034 directing that the Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, Oregon Tax Court, and Oregon State Court Administrator’s Office be partially closed on Wednesday, Sept 9, due to air quality issues in Salem.

The order provides in part:

1. This order applies to the described court operations in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, the Tax Court, and OSCA, on September 9, 2020.
2. The courts are closed, within the meaning of ORS 1.060(3) and ORS 174.120(2), for the following purposes: Staffing public counters, answering telephones, and filing documents. This closure has no impact to eFiling systems or remote access to case records.
3. This order documents the effect that the partial closure described in paragraph 2 has on any statutory time limitation that applies to any filing on September 9, 2020,regardless of the manner of submission.
4. The following previously scheduled events shall proceed as planned, to be conducted via remote means, within the meaning of Chief Justice Order 20-016,paragraph 1.e.:
   1. Supreme Court conference and public meeting;
   2.  Court of Appeals oral arguments; and
   3.  Tax Court case management conferences.
5. This order is not a court closure for employees of the Oregon Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Tax Court, and OSCA who are authorized to work remotely.

The closing is currently reflected in the “alerts and emergency closures” box on the OJD webpage:  https://www.courts.oregon.gov/Pages/default.aspx

SUMMARY:  The ORAP Committee seeks proposals to amend the Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure.  Please email your proposals to [email protected] by January 1, 2020.

BACKGROUND:  The Supreme Court and Court of Appeals have authority to enact rules of procedure. See ORS 2.120; ORS 2.560(2). The Chief Justice and Chief Judge created the ORAP Committee to aid the courts in creating and modifying those rules.

The committee meets in even numbered years, and so it will convene in 2020. The basic process is:

• Late Winter / Spring (approx. Feb – May): Committee prepares a package of proposed amendments.

• Summer (approx. July-Aug): The proposed amendments are published and opened for public comment.

• Fall (approx. Sept-Oct): The committee reviews the comments and makes any final modifications.

• Late fall (approx. Nov): The finalized package of amendments is submitted to the appellate courts for their review and approval.

The approved amendments will become effective on January 1, 2021.

For more information, please see the committee’s webpage at

https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/appellate/rules/Pages/orap-committee.aspx

Oregon Appellate eFiling and public access to the Appellate Case Management System (ACMS), via an Oregon Judicial Case Information Network (OJCIN) subscription, will be unavailable between 5pm and 6pm on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 and again between 6pm and 9pm on Friday, November 15, 2019.

Appellate eFiling deadlines will not be extended; please plan your business with the Court of Appeals and the Oregon Supreme Court accordingly.

If you have questions, please consult the Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure (Link below), Rule 16.25 for electronic filing deadlines, or call the Appellate Court Records Section at 503.986.5555.

https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/appellate/rules/Pages/orap.aspx ​

Access to Circuit Court and Tax Court eFiling, ePay, and public access through OJCIN/OECI will not be affected.

Daniel Parr, Appellate Court Administrator/Director, has asked me to post the following:

Oregon Supreme Court – New Screening Procedures Effective January 2, 2020

Starting on January 2, 2020, all non-Oregon Judicial Department persons and their belongings entering the Supreme Court premises will be subject to metal-detector and x-ray screening. When coming to the Supreme Court, please allow a few extra minutes to get through screening.

As a reminder, the Supreme Court is now in a temporary location, 2850 Broadway NE in Salem, while the Supreme Court Building is receiving seismic upgrades.

If you have any questions, contact Evan West, Chief Marshal (503-986-4547; [email protected]).

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Daniel Parr, Appellate Court Administrator/Director, has asked me to post the following:

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Members of the Oregon Appellate Section,

Beginning in November 2019, the Oregon Supreme Court building will undergo renovations to preserve and protect the historic structure and improve safety, function, efficiency, and access for years to come. The project will include earthquake reinforcement and upgrades to heating, cooling, electrical, technology, and plumbing systems to meet modern standards.

The project is anticipated to take 18 to 24 months.

In October 2019, the Oregon Supreme Court, Appellate Court Services Division (which includes Appellate Court Records, the State of Oregon Law Library, and OJD Publications), and the Appellate Commissioner’s office will physically move to a temporary location at:

2850 Broadway St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97303

We anticipate that operational impacts will be minimal, however, please review the following information regarding addresses, oral arguments, and the State Law Library:

Mailing Address

1163 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301 will remain the mailing address for the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon Court of Appeals. This includes mail sent to Appellate Court Records.

Physical Address

Physical filings (when allowed by rule) will be accepted at 2850 Broadway St., Salem, Oregon 97303.

Supreme Court Oral Arguments

Starting November 1, 2019, Oral arguments for the Supreme Court will primarily be held in a courtroom at the temporary location. For the duration of the renovation, when a notice states that oral argument will be held at the Supreme Court Courtroom that location is 2850 Broadway St. NE, Salem, Oregon 97303. There is free parking around the building, but seating in the courtroom is extremely limited. The Supreme Court will continue to webcast oral arguments.

Court of Appeals Oral Arguments

Oral arguments for the Court of Appeals will primarily be held in the Justice Building room 306 (1162 Court St NE, Salem, Oregon 97301).

State of Oregon Law Library

The State of Oregon Law Library will be housed at the temporary location in a reduced physical capacity. Physical materials will still be available although there may be a delay in providing such materials as many resources are being stored off-site.

Questions can be directed to Daniel Parr at [email protected]

Thank you,

Daniel Parr
Appellate Court Administrator/Director
Appellate Court Services Division
1163 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301

The Chief Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals has issued the following media release:

A Message from the Chief Judge

After 36 years of exemplary service to the Oregon appellate courts, Appellate Commissioner James W. Nass is retiring.  His last date of service as Commissioner will be May 31, 2019.

Commissioner Nass first came to work for the Oregon appellate courts in 1983, serving as Appellate Legal Counsel for both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.   Beginning in 1998, Commissioner Nass served as Appellate Legal Counsel exclusively for the Court of Appeals.  After the Court of Appeals created the Office of the Appellate Commissioner in 2008, Chief Judge David Brewer appointed James Nass as the first Appellate Commissioner.

Commissioner Nass deserves our abiding gratitude for his countless contributions to this court’s work and his dedication to efficient, quality decision making.  It has been the great honor of his colleagues to have served with him.

Although Commissioner Nass will be greatly missed, I am pleased to announce that Theresa M. Kidd will succeed him as the next Appellate Commissioner.  Ms. Kidd has been a staff attorney at the Court of Appeals since 2008 and, before becoming a staff attorney, worked in the Appellate Commissioner’s office as Assistant Appellate Legal Counsel.  A native of the Oregon coast, Ms. Kidd attended college at University of Oregon (B.S., Political Science & Psychology) and law school at Ohio Northern University.  After law school, she clerked at the Oregon Court of Appeals and then at the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.  In addition to her work for the courts, Ms. Kidd has worked in private practice and taught legal research and writing at Florida Coastal School of Law.  Please join me in welcoming Ms. Kidd to her new role as Appellate Commissioner.

Jim Egan
Chief Judge, Oregon Court of Appeals