Hearings Referee (Downtown Hearings Referee)

State of Oregon • Portland, OR

1d • $118,892 - $184,892 • Onsite

About The Position

The Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) is seeking a Hearings Referee for the Multnomah County Circuit Court in downtown Portland. This role involves presiding over various legal matters, including preliminary criminal proceedings, misdemeanor trials, traffic and parking violations, small claims, landlord/tenant disputes, and mental illness commitment proceedings. The assignments will rotate based on court needs. The position requires investigating facts, examining evidence, instructing participants on their rights, ruling on evidence and subpoenas, making findings of fact and conclusions of law, imposing penalties, and reviewing mail pleas. The work impacts community members facing challenging life circumstances and requires a commitment to access to justice and public interaction. OJD is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive team and encourages candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Five (5) years of experience as a trial attorney in criminal, civil, or family litigation.
• Currently approved by the Oregon Supreme Court to sit as a Circuit Court Judge pro tempore OR able to obtain approval 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 may be granted).
• Active member of the Oregon State Bar in good standing for a period of at least three years.
• Currently an 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.
• Must maintain membership in the Oregon State Bar.
• Must obtain and maintain a pro tempore appointment to sit as a circuit court judge.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual skills (includes ASL) may result in a 5% allowance if a skills test is passed and skills are used on the job.

Responsibilities

• Preside over a variety of legal matters including 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.
• Investigate facts by examining evidence and testimony.
• Instruct participants as to their rights.
• Rule on subpoenas for witnesses or the production of evidence.
• Rule on the relevancy or admissibility of evidence.
• Make findings of fact and conclusions of law.
• Impose fines, fees, and sentences.
• Review mail pleas and correspondence from litigants and make judicial determinations.
• Perform other matters as assigned.
• Accommodate changes in assigned tasks to meet workload and organizational needs.

Benefits

• 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums paid for full-time employees, including mental health coverage.
• 10 paid holidays.
• 2 floating holidays.
• 3 personal business days.
• Separate sick and vacation paid leaves (prorated for part-time employees).
• Optional insurances.
• Flexible spending plans.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior