A judge hangs in the balance in Salem
By Terry Murry on Monday, June 2nd, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HEPPNER – There has been no action yet on Senate Bill 95, which would add a sixth judge to the Sixth Circuit Court overseeing Umatilla and Morrow counties, as well as new judges to a few other court districts. The bill received a “do pass” recommendation but no vote from the Senate and was sent to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson says it is vital that a judge be added to the district which covers two growing counties.
“The population has increased and the caseload has increased, but the number of judges has remained the same,” he said. “While we’ve done everything we can try to streamline that, even with technology, we are now at the breaking point, I believe.”
The Oregon Judicial Department requested Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner introduce the bill. OJD Director of Government Affairs and Communication Aaron Knott says the department will have a better sense of whether the bill will move forward in the next few weeks as Ways and Means finishes department budgets and moves into policy requests. “The revenue forecast poses a challenge for all levels of state funding in the months to come,” Knott wrote. “That said, we are continuing to meet with legislative leaders and make the case for these important investments.”
