Initial Posting Date:
10/02/2025
Application Deadline:
10/15/2025
Agency:
Judicial Department
Salary Range:
$9,666 - $14,996
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Hearings Referee (Hearings Judge)
Job Description:
Interviews: will be scheduled within two weeks after the application deadline.
Who We Are
Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) serves the public, and the people we serve may be facing challenging life circumstances, high levels of stress, or confusion about their next steps. The work you will do in this role affects members of our community who come to the court to have their cases resolved. We need people who want to impact their communities, value OJD’s efforts to remove barriers to access justice services, and welcome interacting with the public.
We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We consider relevant work, lived experience, and education, plus any transferable skills and abilities that may meet our qualifications or the skills and attributes we need for this position. We welcome all candidates who are inspired by our work and mission.
Benefits To You
We pay 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums for full-time employees, including mental health coverage.
10 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, 3 personal business days, separate sick and vacation paid leaves (prorated for part-time employees), and other employee benefits such as optional insurances and flexible spending plans.
OJD will pay you a 5% allowance for bilingual skills (includes ASL) if you can pass a skills test and are assigned to use those skills on the job.
Salary offers are made with consideration of the candidate’s education and experience.
Position Highlights
The Linn County Circuit Court in Albany, Oregon, is hiring a Hearings Judge (Hearings Referee).
In this role, you will:
Serve as Pro Tem Judge at the direction of our Presiding Judge.
Conduct hearings for civil, domestic relations, landlord/tenant, small claims, civil commitment, and juvenile matters.
Investigate the facts of the case by hearing testimony and examining evidence.
Rule on ex parte matters.
Respond to complex legal questions, address party concerns, and handle difficult cases, customers, and problems.
Assist judges as required.
Provide information and assistance to attorneys, litigants, agencies, court staff, and the public related to processing and scheduling probate, mental health, guardianship, and conservatorship matters.
Explain and interpret policies and procedures.
Instruct parties on legal rights and procedure as required by law.
Make findings of fact, apply the applicable law to those facts, and issue judicial orders and judgments.
Research probate cases and provide recommendations to the Probate Judge.
Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs.
Instructions for REQUIRED Cover Letter and Work History/Resume
Your cover letter and work history/resume should demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications, the Special Qualifications, and the Requested Skills and Attributes, which are listed below.
Cover Letter (REQUIRED)
Attach your cover letter (not to exceed two pages) in the Resume/Cover Letter section of the application. Your cover letter and filename should include your name.
In the body of your cover letter, please include responses to all Requested Skills and Attributes listed below.
Address the cover letter “To the Hiring Manager.”
Do not use a generic cover letter; please personalize your cover letter for this position. We read every letter.
Prepare your cover letter before starting your Workday application.
Work History/Resume (REQUIRED)
Attach your updated resume in the Resume/Cover Letter section of the application. Your resume and filename should include your name.
OR
Complete the Job History/Work Experience portion of your Workday profile if you are not using an updated resume.
Failure to follow these instructions may result in rejection of your application. All application materials will be evaluated for consistency of information, and your letter will be evaluated for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language use in addition to demonstrated experience.
The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on the date listed above.
Minimum Qualifications
(These must be evident in your resume or work history.)
The qualified candidate must have a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
AND
Five (5) years of experience as a trial attorney in criminal, civil, or family litigation.
AND
The qualified candidate must currently be approved by the Oregon Supreme Court to sit as a Circuit Court Judge pro tempore.
OR
If not currently approved, the qualified candidate must be approved and complete the process to sit as an Oregon Circuit Court Judge pro tempore within 60 calendar days of the date of hire (additional days to complete the process may be granted to address circumstances beyond the control of the candidate).
Click here to view the eligibility requirements.
The OJD Pro Tem Application is available here.
Special Qualifications
(These must be verifiable.)
Active membership in the Oregon State Bar.
Requested Skills and Attributes
(These must be addressed in your cover letter.)
Current Oregon resident.
Experience serving as a judge pro tempore for a circuit court.
Experience conducting judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative hearings.
Knowledge of statutes, case law, and procedure applicable to the types of hearings being conducted.
Experience and skill communicating effectively, orally and in writing, to a variety of audiences.
Working Conditions
This is a full-time position, and the work schedule is currently 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This position is FLSA-exempt and ineligible for overtime compensation for hours worked in excess of 40 per workweek.
Occasional work before and after regular courthouse hours may be required.
Hybrid work may be available for this position. All hybrid work assignments begin, end, or change only with administrative authority approval.
Frequent contact with people from diverse backgrounds.
Frequent contact with people who may be facing challenging life circumstances, highly stressful situations, or trauma, including litigants who may be angry, upset, or confused.
Frequent contact with attorneys and law enforcement during hearings for criminal cases, juvenile and child welfare cases, and traffic cases.
Daily contact with the probate department and with unrepresented litigants in landlord/tenant and small claims cases.
Weekly contact with persons alleged to have mental illness in civil commitment hearings.
Daily prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer, both on the bench in courtrooms and in chambers.
Regular use of the following office equipment: telephone, OJD-assigned computer with multiple monitors, copy machine, fax machine, and scanner.
Must maintain membership in good standing in the Oregon State Bar.
Must obtain and maintain a pro tempore appointment to sit as a circuit court judge.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Criminal Background Check
You will be subject to a criminal background check if you are a finalist. Adverse results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may result in disqualification if the circumstances are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position.
Reference Checks
By submitting your application to OJD, you consent to reference checks about your qualifications, your workplace performance, and your work product.
United States Employment Eligibility
OJD does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. OJD will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.
Future Vacancies
Apply now if you are interested in this or future vacancies. This job announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in this class of work.
Veterans’ Preference
Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given preference in the recruitment process. To receive preference, veterans must attach the appropriate documentation after they receive an email in their Workday inbox requesting the information to verify eligibility. The action item, asking veterans to attach their documentation, will arrive after they have submitted their initial application materials. Visit the Oregon job opportunities Veterans web page for additional details, information, and resources.
Conduct Expectations
Because of OJD's role in providing justice and upholding the rule of law, employees of the department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and also to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the department. As an employee, you will be expected to preserve the confidentiality of information received in the course of OJD employment.
Pay Equity
As an employer, OJD complies with Oregon’s pay equity law. Salary offers are made with consideration of the candidate’s education and experience. For more information on pay equity, click here.
Employee Benefits
Click here to access information specific to OJD employee benefits.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
OJD is an eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. To learn more about this program, and how to qualify, please click here.
Questions and Support
If you require an alternate format to complete the application process, call 503-986-5930, or TTY: Oregon Relay Service 711 for the hearing impaired. Be prepared to describe the alternate format needed.
Workday related information and resources are available here.
For questions about a specific OJD job posting, call 503-986-5930 or email [email protected].
The Oregon Judicial Department embraces equal opportunity and affirmative action. We are committed to building a diverse team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
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