Court records in Clackamas County, Oregon, are maintained by the Clackamas County Circuit Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. ClackamasCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Clackamas County. You can also search records through the Clackamas County Circuit Court records page, the Oregon Judicial Department's online records and calendar search, and by contacting the clerk's office directly at the courthouse in Oregon City.
Clackamas Court System Overview
Oregon operates a unified court system, and Clackamas County is served by the Clackamas County Circuit Court, which is part of the 5th Judicial District. Unlike states that separate district and magistrate courts, Oregon circuit courts are general jurisdiction trial courts that handle all case types — criminal, civil, family, probate, and juvenile. The Clackamas County Circuit Court is located at the Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City. The court is administered by the Presiding Judge and a Trial Court Administrator.
Courts Serving Clackamas
Several courts at the state and federal level serve Clackamas County residents:
Clackamas County Circuit Court
Oregon Court of Appeals and Oregon Supreme Court
Appeals from the Clackamas County Circuit Court go to the Oregon Court of Appeals and, in some cases, the Oregon Supreme Court, both located in Salem.
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon (Portland Division)
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon
Municipal Courts
Several cities within Clackamas County operate municipal courts that handle local ordinance violations, including courts in Oregon City, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Milwaukie, and other incorporated cities. Contact the relevant city for municipal court details.
What Types of Cases Clackamas Courts Hear
The Clackamas County Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction, meaning it hears virtually all case types under Oregon law:
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Infractions and traffic violations (including DUI)
- Civil litigation (all dollar amounts)
- Small claims
- Family law — divorce, custody, child support, paternity
- Protective orders (restraining orders, stalking orders)
- Probate — decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships
- Juvenile — delinquency and dependency proceedings
- Adoption and termination of parental rights
- Mental health commitment proceedings
District Court Cases in Clackamas
Oregon does not use a separate district court and magistrate court structure. Instead, the Clackamas County Circuit Court handles all trial-level matters. Felony criminal cases are filed directly in circuit court after indictment by a grand jury or following a preliminary hearing. Civil cases of any dollar amount — including complex litigation, contract disputes, personal injury, and real property matters — are heard by circuit court judges. Appeals from administrative agencies and post-conviction relief proceedings also fall within the circuit court's jurisdiction. Cases are assigned to individual judges by the Presiding Judge, and scheduling is managed through the Trial Court Administrator's office.
Magistrate Court Cases in Clackamas
Oregon's circuit courts do not have a separate magistrate division in the way some other states do. However, certain case types are handled through streamlined procedures within the Clackamas County Circuit Court:
- Small claims: Under Oregon law (ORS 46.405–46.570), small claims cases have a jurisdictional limit of $10,000. These cases follow simplified procedures and typically do not involve attorneys.
- Traffic violations and infractions: Handled through the court's traffic division.
- Misdemeanors: Arraignments, plea hearings, and trials for misdemeanor charges.
- DUI cases: Arraignment and hearings for driving under the influence charges.
- Felony arraignments: Initial appearances for felony defendants before cases proceed to trial.
Civil cases below $10,000 (other than small claims) may also be subject to mandatory arbitration under Oregon's court-annexed arbitration program.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Clackamas
Family Law
The Clackamas County Circuit Court handles divorce (dissolution of marriage), custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, paternity, and protective orders. Stalking protective order forms and related information are available through the court's self-help resources. Family law cases are filed and managed in circuit court.
Probate
Probate matters — including decedent estates, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust disputes — are heard by the circuit court. Filings are made through the court clerk's office at the Clackamas County Courthouse.
Juvenile
Juvenile delinquency and dependency (child protective) cases are handled by the Clackamas County Circuit Court's juvenile department. Juvenile court records are confidential under Oregon law and are not available through public record searches. Adoption proceedings and termination of parental rights cases are also handled by the circuit court.
How Cases Move Through the Clackamas Court System
- Filing / Initiation: A case begins with the filing of a complaint (civil), petition (family/probate), indictment, or information (criminal) with the Clackamas County Circuit Court clerk.
- Assignment to Judge: The Presiding Judge assigns the case to a circuit court judge.
- Initial Hearing: Criminal defendants are arraigned; civil cases receive a scheduling conference or case management order.
- Pre-Trial Phase: Parties conduct discovery, file motions, and may engage in settlement negotiations or plea discussions. Court-annexed arbitration may apply to certain civil cases.
- Trial or Resolution: Cases proceed to jury or bench trial, or are resolved through plea agreement, settlement, default judgment, or dismissal.
- Post-Judgment: Criminal cases move to sentencing. Civil judgments may be enforced or appealed. Appeals go to the Oregon Court of Appeals.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Clackamas
The Clackamas County Circuit Court is administered by the Presiding Judge and the Office of the Trial Court Administrator. For administrative questions, contact the Trial Court Administrator's office.
Local rules: Supplementary Local Rules for the Clackamas County Circuit Court are published on the Oregon Judicial Department website. These rules govern local filing procedures, motion practice, and courtroom protocols.
Public access: Under Oregon's public records laws and the Oregon Uniform Trial Court Rules, most court records are open to the public. Exceptions include juvenile records, sealed records, adoption files, and certain mental health proceedings. The Clackamas County Circuit Court provides free access to view court records maintained in the Oregon eCourt Information system at the courthouse. Certain records may be restricted by federal or state law.
Attending hearings: Hearings at the Clackamas County Circuit Court are generally open to the public. Some proceedings may be available via remote access; check with the court clerk or the court's website for current remote hearing procedures.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Clackamas
- Court case search: The OJCIN OnLine system provides access to Oregon eCourt Case Information (OECI) for detailed case records. Basic case information is also available through the OJD Records and Calendar Search at no charge.
- Court records requests: You can request copies of court records in person at the Clackamas County Circuit Court clerk's office or by submitting a written public records request form. The court accepts credit/debit cards, personal checks, cashier's checks, and money orders.
- Court calendar: Search upcoming hearings and court schedules through the Oregon Judicial Department's case and calendar search tool.
- Warrant search: The Clackamas County Sheriff's warrant search tool allows you to look up active warrants by name, or call 503-785-5210.
- Adults in custody: The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office jail roster lists individuals currently booked into the Clackamas County Jail.
- Sheriff's Office records: The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Records Unit is staffed 24 hours and handles requests for police reports, incident reports, and related law enforcement records.
- Criminal history checks: Oregon State Police Criminal History Record Checks allow individuals to obtain their own Oregon criminal history report or verify that no record exists.
- Sex offender registry: The Oregon State Police maintains the Sex Offender Public Safety System for searching registered sex offenders statewide.
- Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are managed by the Oregon Health Authority's Center for Health Statistics. Historic vital records are available through the Oregon State Archives.
- Historical county records: The Clackamas County Records Inventory at the Oregon State Archives includes historical court records, property records, and other county documents.
- Property and tax records: Use Clackamas County's CMap GIS tool to search tax assessment and property information, or visit the Oregon Department of Revenue county assessor contact page for Clackamas County assessor details.