Laserfiche WebLink
<br />~ ~ ~ ~ ~N~U~ND DISTRICT COURTS OF OREGON <br />THIRD JUDICIAL DISTRICT <br />Ul.~+ 5 ~997 MARIONCOUNTYCOURTHOUSE <br />P.O. BOX 12869 <br />SALEM, OREGON 97309-0869 <br />MARIOY COU(~TY <br />JAMES H. MURCr~D OF COMtv~ISS ONERS <br />Coud Atlminislretor <br />(503) 588-5368 <br />December 4, 1997 <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Members, Board of <br />FROM: James H. <br />SUBJECT: Court Facilities <br />~~ <br />~F~' , <br />~ <br />i `'fi,' /~O'~9 <br />;, <br />_~ HA R W <br />S I f`~{"` <br />`~S~i +~SF€1'~-- <br />A I . - <br />, ... ~ ., <br />°~*j~~ ~ZI~oY <br />We spoke recently about the continuing need of the Oregon Court system for <br />adequate facilities for courts here in Marion County. I indicated that I would review our <br />situation and provide you with an update. <br />As Judge Lipscomb has recently stated, the Marion County Courts have grown to <br />12 judicial positions over the past several years, with a 13th position to be ftlled as of January <br />1999. In addition, we have five judicial hearing officers, for a total of 18 judicial and judicial <br />officers within the next 13 months. <br />Further, we had developed the workload justification in 1996 for three new <br />judgeships, but for other reasons (including facilities limitations) requested only two such <br />positions be created. The 1997 Legislature in fact created only one of these judgeships at this <br />time. We fully expect to again approach the Legislature seeking additional judicial positions in <br />the next session. <br />The Court system, however, is more than judges. We concluded the last biennium <br />with 100 FTE. In October of this year, we hired five additional staff, and will be increasing by <br />five more azound the first of 1999, along with the new judgeship. <br />Facility needs of the Court are more than chambers and courtrooms. Staff offices <br />and program space are also serious issues. As you may recall, we have a jury assembly room on <br />the second floor wluch comfortably accommodates around 40 or 50 individuals. We regularly <br />summon panels of around 150-175 jurors. Present space is obviously woefully inadequate for <br />panels of this size; it is even ridiculously worse for significant trials where even larger jury <br />panels are required. <br />