Court

In an unusual move, the Multnomah County Circuit Court judge found the Oregon State Hospital in contempt of a previous contempt order for failing to transport two defendants from the Multnomah County Jail who were found guilty except for insanity. The two men have been waiting for admission for months and now fines have increased to $2,500 per day, per defendant as long as they wait in jail.

The court will consider the legality of the law Nov. 1. The highly unusual court action is an indication of deep internal splits within the court.

A federal judge in Oregon gave the state’s psychiatric hospital until Dec. 3 to speed up admissions and increase capacity for people in the criminal justice system deemed too mentally ill to continue with their case.

The ruling reverses an earlier decision that barred the limits. The county elections division will implement the $500 individual cap on campaign contributions, spending limits and disclosure requirements for candidates moving forward.

Friday’s ruling means federal officers are once again barred from telling journalists and legal observers to leave political demonstrations.

An attempt to take the redrawing of congressional and legislative district lines out of the hands of the Oregon Legislature and governor has failed following an intense legal battle.

A judge in Lane County rules the Fish and Wildlife Commission's vote to deny an endangered species status for the marbled murrelet violated state law.

The Oregon Court of Appeals says the 2014 public land sale violated state law. 

Federal dam operators are asking to open the irrigation season next week in lieu of holding back water to benefit fish.

U.S. District Court Judge Anna Brown ruled the misdemeanor charges defendants face in the second Malheur Refuge trial won’t be heard by the jury, but rather in a separate trial before a judge.