The Oregon Court of Appeals is Oregon's intermediate appellate court. The Court of Appeals was created by statute in 1969, and its jurisdiction is established by the legislature. With the exception of a limited number of appeals that go directly to the Oregon Supreme Court--most notably death penalty cases, ballot title cases, lawyer discipline matters, and tax court cases--the Court of Appeals receives every appeal or judicial review taken from Oregon's trial courts and administrative agencies. Litigants in Oregon have a general right to appeal decisions from those bodies to our court, and our doors are open to them. The Oregon Court of Appeals consistently ranks as one of the busiest appellate courts in the nation. Over the past 10 years, the range of new appeals filed per year in our court has been between 3,200 and 4,100.

The ten judges of the Oregon Court of Appeals are elected statewide. Like all Oregon state court judges, our judges must be United States citizens, Oregon residents for at least three years, and lawyers admitted to practice in Oregon. Our judges come from many different backgrounds. Some of us were trial judges, some were government lawyers, and others came from private practice. We each regularly participate in all of the varied types of cases that fall within the court's jurisdiction.

My colleagues and I are grateful for the opportunity to maintain open and frank communications with all justice system stakeholders as we work in partnership to improve the delivery of public justice services in Oregon. Our function--providing first-line appellate justice in reviewing trial court and agency decisions--is a relatively small part of that system, but a critical one that affects the lives of Oregonians throughout the state. In order to gain, and maintain, public trust and confidence, we must perform our work productively and efficiently within our dedicated resource base and, above all, we must adhere to the rule of law in doing so.

If you have any questions or suggestions about our work, please do not hesitate to contact me.

David V. Brewer
Chief Judge, Oregon Court of Appeals
david.v.brewer@ojd.state.or.us
1163 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301-2563

Betty Roberts - Pioneering Jurist

Betty Roberts
Betty Roberts, the first woman to serve on the Oregon appellate bench, died June 25, 2011 at age 88.  She left an unprecedented legacy through her personal achievements in Oregon government and by inspiring and encouraging other women to be full participants in civic life. 

View additional information about her life, career, impact upon the Oregon legal system, and comments from Oregon judges about Roberts as a pioneering jurist.