Chief Justice Meagan A. Flynn, Oregon Supreme Court Justice, Sponsored SB 95 to increase judicial positions in Oregon circuit courts. Flynn served for nearly six years on her appointment by Governor Kate Brown before elected. Reported by Ballotpedia, Flynn scores as a mild Democrat based on her past partisan behavior before joining the court.

Justice Flynn is also sponsoring SB 96, which increases the salaries for all state court judges. However, the increased amount is left blank. The last increase was $5,000 annually on July 1, 2020. Current salaries range from $147,136 for circuit court judges to $159,040 for the Supreme Court.

Proposed added positions in SB 95 to Circuit Courts are:

• Crook and Jefferson in the 22nd district has 3 judges proposed to raise to 4 judges.
• Lane County, 2nd district, has 15 judges proposing 17 judges.
• Clackamas County, 5th district, has 11 judges, proposed to raise to 13 judges.
• Morrow and Umatilla, 6th district, has 5 judges proposing 6 judges.
• Douglas County, 16th district, has 5 judges proposing 6 judges.

These eight new positions requested in SB 95 will add $1,177,088 to the budget, plus the increase proposed in SB 96. Both bills are scheduled for a work session March 3, and subsequent referral to the Ways and Means Committee.

It seems like the public isn’t tracking how liberty and freedom is related to courts, leaving all testimony to supporting judges, Bar members and organizations who want favorable standing with judges. One testimony claims the judicial branch needs to be prioritized for the preservation of our democracy. The questions Oregonians should be asking is what is their definition of “democracy”. Is it the “republic” of our founding fathers, or mob rule? A judge and law firms should know America is a Republic.

Why are they asking for more judges? Judges made a difference in Ballot Measure 114, which amended the Oregon Constitution on gun rights passed in 2022. The Measure has had five lawsuits filed against its passage. Four were consolidated in Portland court and the other was filed in Harney County. Gun owners lost in the Portland case, but the judge gave time for the legislature to make the constitutional changes. HB 3075 proposes to override the unconstitutional issues in the ballot measure. The unconstitutionality was known by Secretary of State Shamia Fagan, who allowed it on the ballot in violation of Article IV of the Oregon Constitution.

Meantime Harney County’s single judge put a hold on the Ballot Measure 114 challenge in his court. This created an uproar from the Executive and Legislative branches calling for a second judge in Harney County.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

HB 3075 and other bills are now requiring a challenge to legality of a bill to be filed in the Marion County Circuit, referred to as stacking court cases. Designating a court that is sure to give proponents a favorable decision, is not forbidden or condoned by Oregon constitution or statutes. Until Measure 114, it was never an issue that legislators and administration would use such tactics to compromise our Republic and require certain cases to be heard in certain counties.

Governor Kate Brown appointed 112 judges, and Governor Kotek has appointed 12 circuit court judges, and together they dominate courts. The voters confirm these appointments because no one dare run against them.

Now SB 95 proposes to add 8 more judges and gives Governor Kotek authority to fill these positions prior to an election. Oregonians have remained silent for far too long.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-03-10 17:40:09

Last Update: 2025-03-11 00:00:10