Oregon Court of Appeals

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Judges of the Oregon Court of Appeals

The Oregon Court of Appeals, established by statute in 1969, is the intermediate appellate court in Oregon. The court hears all civil and criminal appeals from the circuit courts and also has jurisdiction to review some state administrative agency actions. The court does not have jurisdiction to hear death penalty cases, which is reserved for the Oregon Supreme Court, or tax court appeals, which is reserved for the Oregon Tax Court. The 13 judges of the court are selected by voters in statewide nonpartisan elections to six-year terms. The administrative head of the court is the chief judge who is appointed by the chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.

Due to its heavy caseload, the Oregon Court of Appeals hears cases divided into four three-judge panels. At the beginning of each month, the chief judge of the court assigns cases to each panel. The chief judge is not a member of a panel, but instead, may serve as a substitute for a judge who has a conflict of interest in the case or is not available to hear it.

Appeals court decisions are subject to a petition by an aggrieved party for review by the Oregon Supreme Court. The petition must be made within 35 days of the decision, and the Oregon Supreme Court determines by vote of the justices whether to review the case.

• Published opinions of the Oregon Court of Appeals can be found here.

 

Oregon Court of Appeals
Court information
Judges:	13
Founded:	1969
Location:	Salem, Oregon
Salary:	Associates: $184,584
Judicial selection
Method:	Nonpartisan election of judges
Term:	6 years

Judges

Judge	Tenure	Appointed By
Douglas L. Tookey	October 17, 2013 - Present	John Kitzhaber
Erin C. Lagesen	October 17, 2013 - Present	John Kitzhaber
Steven Powers	2017 - Present	Kate Brown
Megan Harris-Jacquot	January 1, 2023 - Present	Kate Brown
Darleen Ortega	2003 - Present	Ted Kulongoski
Jacqueline Kamins	January 17, 2020 - Present	Kate Brown
James C. Egan	2013 - Present	Elected
Kristina Hellman	January 19, 2021 - Present	Kate Brown
Scott A. Shorr	January 1, 2016 - Present	Kate Brown
Ramón Pagán	January 19, 2022 - Present	Kate Brown
Ryan O'Connor	February 19, 2025 - Present	Tina Kotek
Anna Joyce	January 19, 2021 - Present	Kate Brown
Robyn Ridler Aoyagi	2017 - Present	Kate Brown

Judicial selection

See also: Judicial selection in Oregon

The thirteen judges on the Oregon Court of Appeals are selected through nonpartisan elections.

Judges serve six-year terms. Judges seeking to serve more than one term must stand for re-election.

Qualifications

To serve on this court, a judge must be:

• a United States citizen;
• a qualified elector of his or her county of residence;
• a state bar member; and
• under the age of 75.

Chief judge

The chief judge is appointed by the chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court to serve a two-year term.

Vacancies

If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the governor appoints a replacement. The appointee serves until the next general election occurring 61 or more days after the vacancy, at which point he or she may run for election.

Salary

In 2024, the associate judges of the court received a salary of $184,584, according to the National Center for State Courts.

Elections

2024

See also: Oregon intermediate appellate court elections, 2024

Position 2

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 2

Incumbent Megan Harris-Jacquot won election outright in the primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 2 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Megan Harris-Jacquot (Nonpartisan)	97.9	571,325
		Other/Write-in votes	2.1	12,280

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 583,605
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Position 4

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 4

Incumbent Robyn Ridler Aoyagi won election outright in the primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 4 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Robyn Ridler Aoyagi (Nonpartisan)	97.9	568,615
		Other/Write-in votes	2.1	12,404

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 581,019
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Daniel Zene Crowe (Nonpartisan)

Position 6

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 6

Incumbent James C. Egan won election outright in the primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 6 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		James C. Egan (Nonpartisan)	97.7	569,253
		Other/Write-in votes	2.3	13,241

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 582,494
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Position 7

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 7

Incumbent Steven Powers won election outright in the primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 7 on May 21, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Steven Powers (Nonpartisan)	98.0	565,143
		Other/Write-in votes	2.0	11,600

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 576,743
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2022

See also: Oregon intermediate appellate court elections, 2022

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 3

Incumbent Darleen Ortega won election outright against Vance Day in the primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 3 on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Darleen Ortega (Nonpartisan)	62.2	547,660
		Vance Day (Nonpartisan)	37.5	330,454
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	2,473

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 880,587
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 5

Incumbent Scott A. Shorr won election outright in the primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 5 on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Scott A. Shorr (Nonpartisan)	98.4	611,050
		Other/Write-in votes	1.6	10,105

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 621,155
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 8

Incumbent Ramón Pagán won election outright in the primary for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 8 on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Ramón Pagán (Nonpartisan)	98.3	603,936
		Other/Write-in votes	1.7	10,625

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 614,561
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 10

Incumbent Kristina Hellman won election in the general election for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 10 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Kristina Hellman (Nonpartisan)	98.0	1,093,911
		Other/Write-in votes	2.0	22,646

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,116,557
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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General election

General election for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 11

Incumbent Anna Joyce won election in the general election for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 11 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Anna Joyce (Nonpartisan)	97.9	1,042,573
		Other/Write-in votes	2.1	21,843

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,064,416
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Oregon intermediate appellate court elections, 2020

Candidates and election results

Position 1

General election candidates

The general election was canceled.

Primary candidates

• Josephine H. Mooney  (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔

Position 9 special election

General election candidates

• Jacqueline Kamins  (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔

Primary candidates

This primary was canceled and this candidate advanced:

• Jacqueline Kamins  (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔

Position 11

General election candidates

The general election was canceled.

Primary candidates

• Joel S. DeVore  (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔
• Kyle Krohn  (Nonpartisan) 

---

= candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Position 12

General election candidates

The general election was canceled.

Primary candidates

• Erin C. Lagesen  (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔

Position 13

General election candidates

The general election was canceled.

Primary candidates

• Douglas L. Tookey  (Incumbent) (Nonpartisan) ✔

2018

See also: Oregon intermediate appellate court elections, 2018

Candidates and results

Position 2

General election

General election for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 2

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bronson James (Nonpartisan)	98.2	992,125
		Other/Write-in votes	1.8	17,957

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,010,082 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Position 4

General election

General election for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 4

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Robyn Ridler Aoyagi (Nonpartisan)	98.4	1,021,221
		Other/Write-in votes	1.6	16,133

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,037,354 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Position 6

■ James C. Egan (Incumbent) (won election outright)

Position 7

General election

General election for Oregon Court of Appeals Position 7

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Steven Powers (Nonpartisan)	98.5	1,007,114
		Other/Write-in votes	1.5	15,795

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,022,909 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Position 9

■ Erika L. Hadlock (Incumbent) (won election outright)

Position 10

■ Rex Armstrong (Incumbent) (won election outright)
■ Kyle Krohn

2016

See also: Oregon judicial elections, 2016

On the Oregon Court of Appeals, three of the five seats up for election were due to routine term endings. Those seats were elected in a primary on May 17. Judges Darleen Ortega, Meagan A. Flynn, and Rebecca Duncan each ran unopposed, and each was re-elected. The remaining two seats, held by midterm vacancy appointees Judges Scott A. Shorr and Roger J. DeHoog, who were also unopposed, were elected on November 8.

November 8 candidates

Position 5

■ Scott A. Shorr (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Position 8

■ Roger J. DeHoog (Incumbent/Unopposed)

November 8 election results

Oregon Court of Appeals, Position 5, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Scott A. Shorr Incumbent (unopposed)	98.14%	1,113,271
Write-in votes	1.86%	21,131
Total Votes (100% reporting)		1,134,402
Source: Oregon Secretary of State Official Results

Oregon Court of Appeals, Position 8, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Roger J. DeHoog Incumbent (unopposed)	98.13%	1,083,621
Write-in votes	1.87%	20,663
Total Votes (100% reporting)		1,104,284
Source: Oregon Secretary of State Official Results

May 17 candidates

Position 2

■ Rebecca Duncan (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Position 3

■ Darleen Ortega (Incumbent/Unopposed)

Position 7

■ Meagan A. Flynn (Incumbent/Unopposed)

May 17 election results

Oregon Court of Appeals, Position 2, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Rebecca Duncan Incumbent (unopposed)	98.87%	645,237
Write-in votes	1.13%	7,368
Total Votes (100% reporting)		652,605
Source: Oregon Secretary of State Official Results

Oregon Court of Appeals, Position 3, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Darleen Ortega Incumbent (unopposed)	98.89%	657,261
Write-in votes	1.11%	7,375
Total Votes (100% reporting)		664,636
Source: Oregon Secretary of State Official Results

Oregon Court of Appeals, Position 7, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Meagan A. Flynn Incumbent (unopposed)	98.96%	653,981
Write-in votes	1.04%	6,842
Total Votes (100% reporting)		660,823
Source: Oregon Secretary of State Official Results

2014

See also: Oregon judicial elections, 2014

Unopposed	Judge Chris Garrett (Position 1)

Unopposed	Judge Timothy Sercombe (Position 4)

Unopposed	Judge Joel S. DeVore (Position 11)

Unopposed	Judge Erin C. Lagesen (Position 12)

Unopposed	Judge Douglas L. Tookey (Position 13)

2012

See also: Oregon judicial elections, 2012

Candidate	Incumbency	Position	Primary Vote	Election Vote
ArlowAllan J. Arlow	No	Position 6	20.87%
HadlockErika L. Hadlock   A	Yes	Position 9	99.31%A	A
EganJames C. Egan   A	No	Position 6	46.15%A	58.05%   A
NakamotoLynn Nakamoto   A	Yes		99.30%A	A
ArmstrongRex Armstrong   A	Yes	Position 10	99.28%A	A
HaseltonRick Haselton   A	Yes	Position 5	99.27%A	A
VolpertTim Volpert	No	Position 6	32.56%A	41.20%   A

Ethics

The Oregon Supreme Court building (also home to the Oregon Court of Appeals) in Salem, Oregon

The Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct sets forth ethical guidelines and principles for the conduct of judges and judicial candidates in Oregon. It is composed of six rules:

• Rule 1: Sets forth the "Scope and Application of this Code; Definitions; Fundamental Principles"
• Rule 2: Titled: "Maintaining the Integrity of the Judicial System," describes the role of judges in "Promoting Confidence in the Judiciary," "Avoiding Misuse of the Prestige of Office," and how they may go about "Testifying as a Character Witness."
• Rule 3: Titled: "Impartial and Diligent Performance of Judicial Duties," outlines the responsibilities of judges, including their duty to exhibit "Impartiality and Fairness" to preside with "Decorum, Demeanor and Communication with Jurors," and when judges must disqualify themselves from presiding over a case.
• Rule 4: Describes how a judge may "Minimiz[e] the Risk of Conflict Between a Judge's Activities and the Obligations of Judicial Office"
• Rule 5: Provides instruction on how judges and judicial candidates should "Engag[e] in Political Activity and Judicial Campaign Activity"
• Rule 6: Describes the "Procedure for Advisory Opinions and Consideration of Good Faith Compliance"

The full text of the Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct can be found here.

Removal of judges

Judges in Oregon may be removed in one of two ways:

• By a recommendation of the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability to the Oregon Supreme Court, which may then discipline, retire or remove a judge.
• By a recall election.

Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability

The Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability reviews charges or complaints against judges whose actions are in alleged violation of Article VIII of the Oregon Constitution or the Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct. If the commission files formal charges against the judge, a public hearing is held, after which, the commission submits its findings and recommendation of disciplinary action to the Oregon Supreme Court. The Oregon Supreme Court is the only court in the state which may discipline judges via suspension censure, or removal of the offending judge.

• See also: The complaint process of the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability and the rules of procedure for the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability.

State profile

Demographic data for Oregon
	Oregon	U.S.
Total population:	4,024,634	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	95,988	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	85.1%	73.6%
Black/African American:	1.8%	12.6%
Asian:	4%	5.1%
Native American:	1.2%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0.4%	0.2%
Two or more:	4.1%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	12.3%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	89.8%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	30.8%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$51,243	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	18.4%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Oregon. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Oregon

Oregon voted for the Democratic candidate in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, two are located in Oregon, accounting for 0.97 percent of the total pivot counties.

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Oregon had two Retained Pivot Counties, 1.10 of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Oregon coverage on Ballotpedia

• Elections in Oregon
• United States congressional delegations from Oregon
• Public policy in Oregon
• Endorsers in Oregon
• Oregon fact checks
• More...

See also

External links

• Oregon Judicial Department, "Oregon Court of Appeals"

Footnotes