Oregon Law
Law as of Jan 1, 2026
Chapter contents
51.010Justice court defined; no terms of court; court always open for business 51.020Justice of the peace districts; establishing and modifying boundaries; maximum number of districts 51.025Justice court as court of record 51.028Justice court ceasing operation as court of record 51.030[Amended by 1963 c.614 §3; repealed by 1997 c.487 §2 and 1997 c.801 §106] 51.035Justice of peace as municipal judge 51.037Agreement between city and county for provision of judicial services 51.040[Amended by 1971 c.743 §312; 1979 c.777 §43; 1987 c.907 §13; repealed by 1999 c.605 §8 and 1999 c.1051 §42] 51.050Criminal jurisdiction 51.053Transfer to circuit court 51.055Notice to Department of State Police of conviction; rules 51.060[Amended by 1957 c.644 §27; 1971 c.743 §314; repealed by 1999 c.605 §8 and 1999 c.1051 §42] 51.070[Amended by 1973 c.836 §328; repealed by 2025 c.268 §35] 51.075Civil jurisdiction 51.080[Amended by 1973 c.625 §2; 1979 c.447 §1; 1983 c.149 §2; 1989 c.839 §34; 1993 c.735 §10; 1997 c.801 §107; 1999 c.84 §4; 2007 c.71 §13; 2007 c.125 §4; 2011 c.595 §52a; repealed by 2025 c.268 §35] 51.090[Amended by 1983 c.673 §9; 2003 c.14 §22; 2011 c.262 §5; 2019 c.213 §14; repealed by 2025 c.268 §35] 51.100Where action may be commenced in civil cases 51.105Recording and reporting of proceedings 51.107Adverse party contact information 51.110[Repealed by 2025 c.268 §35] 51.115Case record 51.120[Amended by 1999 c.788 §43; 1999 c.1051 §244; repealed by 2025 c.268 §35] 51.125Keeping of case records 51.130[Amended by 1995 c.658 §56; repealed by 2025 c.268 §35] 51.140Office, courtroom and clerical assistance; books, office equipment and supplies 51.210Each district to elect one justice 51.220[Amended by 1961 c.724 §25; 1965 c.510 §21; repealed by 1997 c.487 §2 and 1997 c.801 §106] 51.230At what election justice to be elected 51.240Qualifications for office 51.245Continuing education 51.250Time when term begins; filing certificate of election, oath of office and undertaking 51.260Filling vacancy; temporary appointment; appointment during justice’s vacation 51.270[Repealed by 2019 c.426 §1] 51.280[Repealed by 2019 c.426 §1] 51.290[Repealed by 1953 c.306 §18] 51.300Temporary service by circuit court judge or other justice of the peace 51.310Schedule of fees; payment of fees to county treasurer 51.340Monthly report of fines collected 51.350[Repealed by 1983 c.77 §1 and 1983 c.310 §21] 51.360[Repealed by 1983 c.77 §1 and 1983 c.310 §21] 51.410[Repealed by 1965 c.624 §12] 51.440[Amended by 1965 c.624 §1; 1971 c.136 §1; 1995 c.658 §59; repealed by 2015 c.212 §19] 51.450[Amended by 1965 c.624 §3; 1983 c.83 §3; 1995 c.658 §60; repealed by 2015 c.212 §19] 51.460[Amended by 1965 c.624 §4; 1995 c.658 §61; repealed by 2015 c.212 §19] 51.470[Amended by 1965 c.624 §5; 1995 c.658 §62; repealed by 2015 c.212 §19] 51.480[Repealed by 2015 c.212 §19] 51.490[Amended by 1965 c.624 §6; repealed by 2015 c.212 §19] 51.500[Amended by 1965 c.624 §7; repealed by 2015 c.212 §19] 51.520[Repealed by 1953 c.306 §18] 51.530[Amended by 1965 c.624 §8; repealed by 1973 c.393 §4] 51.540[Amended by 1965 c.624 §9; repealed by 2015 c.212 §19] 51.550[Amended by 1965 c.624 §10; repealed by 2015 c.212 §19] 51.610[Amended by 1965 c.134 §1; 1965 c.624 §11; repealed by 1971 c.136 §3] 51.620[Repealed by 1971 c.136 §3] 51.630[Amended by 1959 c.621 §1; repealed by 1971 c.136 §3] 51.640[Amended by 1965 c.613 §26; repealed by 1971 c.136 §3] 51.650[Repealed by 1953 c.306 §18] 51.660[Repealed by 1965 c.510 §24] 51.670[Amended by 1965 c.510 §22; repealed by 1965 c.624 §12] 51.680[Repealed by 1953 c.306 §18] 51.690[Repealed by 1953 c.306 §18] 51.700[1965 c.624 §2; repealed by 1971 c.136 §3]

Chapter 51 — Justice Courts; Jurisdiction

ORS 51.100 Where action may be commenced in civil cases

(1)

Except as provided in this section, a civil action subject to the jurisdiction of a justice court must be commenced in the county where one of the parties resides.

(2)

If a defendant in a civil action subject to the jurisdiction of a justice court does not reside in this state, the action may be commenced in any justice district of this state.

(3)

If all parties reside in the same justice district, a civil action may be brought only in the justice court for that justice district.

(4)

Motions for change of venue in justice courts are subject to the same laws governing change of venue in circuit court.

Official sources · 2Tap to view provenance and version history

Online copy of the published ORS edition

Provenance

Version history

Earlier statutory text is available in an ingested published ORS edition.