Hearings Referee (Downtown Hearings Referee)

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Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) serves the public, and the people we serve may be facing challenging life circumstances, high levels of stress, or confusion about their next steps. The work you will do in this role affects members of our community who come to the court to have their cases resolved. We need people who want to impact their communities, value OJD’s efforts to remove barriers to access justice services, and welcome interacting with the public.

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We consider relevant work experience, education, and any transferable skills and abilities that may meet our qualifications or the skills and attributes we need for this position. We welcome all candidates who are inspired by our work and mission.

Portland, Oregon, was founded in 1845 (incorporated in 1851). It is the state’s largest city and the county seat for Multnomah County. It is named for Portland, Maine. It is situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Recreational activities include, numerous museums (including OMSI), parks (including Forest Park, largest wilderness park in city limits in the nation), hiking (including in-city hiking trails), restaurants (including Food Carts), Mt Hood (about 50 miles east) and much more. Portland is home to three major sports teams: Trailblazers (NBA), Timbers (MLS), and Thorns (NWSL).

The Multnomah County Circuit Court is hiring for two Hearings Referee/ProTem Judges for the downtown courthouse.

In this role…

You will preside over a variety of legal matters before the court, including but not limited to: routine preliminary criminal proceedings; misdemeanor trials and hearings; traffic and parking violation motions, hearings, trials, and mail pleas; small claims and landlord/tenant motions, hearings, and trials; mental illness commitment proceedings; and other cases as assigned. Your assignments will rotate depending on the needs of the court.

Other duties include:

• Investigating facts by examining evidence and testimony

• Instructing participants as to their rights

• Ruling on subpoenas for witnesses or the production of evidence

• Ruling on the relevancy or admissibility of evidence

• Making findings of fact and conclusions of law

• Imposing fines, fees, and sentences

• Reviewing mail pleas and correspondence from litigants and making judicial determinations 

• Other matters as assigned

Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs. 

• Workday times out after approximately 15 minutes of inactivity and all progress will be lost.

(These must be evident in your resume or work history.)

The qualified candidate must have a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school

(These must be verifiable.)

Be an active member of the Oregon State Bar in good standing for a period of at least three years.

OJD is an eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. To learn more about this program, and how to qualify, please click here.

Five (5) years of experience as a trial attorney in criminal, civil, or family litigation

The qualified candidate must currently be approved by the Oregon Supreme Court to sit as a Circuit Court Judge pro tempore

If not currently approved, the qualified candidate must be approved and complete the process to sit as an Oregon Circuit Court Judge pro tempore within 60 calendar days of the date of hire (additional days to complete the process may be granted to address circumstances beyond the control of the candidate).

Click here to view the eligibility requirements.

Per the pro tem eligibility requirements, the candidate must be recommended by the local bar association’s judicial screening committee. Please click here for information about the Multnomah Bar Association’s process for pro tem and judicial appointments. Please click here to complete the Multnomah Bar Association Form for Pro Tem Applicants.

The OJD Pro Tem Application is available here.

(These must be addressed in your cover letter.)

• Currently approved to sit as a Circuit Court Judge pro tempore by the Oregon Supreme Court or able to obtain approval within 60 days of hire.

• Current Oregon resident.

• Skill conducting quasi-judicial or administrative hearings.

• Skill communicating effectively, orally and in writing, to a variety of audiences.

• Commitment to the tenets of procedural fairness.

• This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt position, and the work schedule is typically 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The position is not eligible for overtime compensation for hours worked in excess of 40 per work week.

• Frequent work before or after regular courthouse hours is required.

• Hearings Referees are assigned to one of four courthouses in Multnomah County and one courtroom facility at a local hospital; hearings are also sometimes conducted in alternate locations.

• Frequent contact with people from diverse backgrounds.

• Frequent contact with litigants who are angry, upset and confused, with attorneys and law enforcement during hearings for criminal and violations cases, with alleged mentally ill persons in civil commitment hearings, and with unrepresented litigants in violations, landlord-tenant, and small claims cases.

• Hearings Referees simultaneously maintain judicial composure, keep order in the courtroom, address and meet the needs of all persons present for respect and affirmation, and render fair and comprehensible decisions, which can be constantly stressful.

• Daily prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer, both in the courtroom and in chambers.

• Regular use of the following office equipment: telephone, OJD-assigned computer with multiple monitors, copier, and scanner.

• The employee must maintain their membership in the Oregon State Bar.

• The employee must obtain (if not already in possession of) and maintain a pro tempore appointment to sit as a circuit court judge.

Multnomah County Circuit Court does not provide parking for the central courthouse or justice center staff. Daily parking is available across SW 1st St. from the central courthouse (monthly parking is limited). Another option is the Douglas Garage at 1835 S River Dr., Portland, OR 97204. Parking cost is $160/month and is a half-mile from the courthouse and justice center.

By submitting your application to OJD, you consent to reference checks about your qualifications, your workplace performance, and your work product.

United States Employment Eligibility
OJD does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. OJD will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.

OJD does not request or require your age, date of birth, or attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.

• If you require an alternate format to complete the application process, call 503-986-5930, or TTY: Oregon Relay Service 711 for the hearing impaired. Be prepared to describe the alternate format needed.

• Workday related information and resources are available here.

• For questions about a specific OJD job posting, call 503-986-5930 or email ojd.hrsd@ojd.state.or.us.