The United States District Court for the District of Oregon (in case citations, D. Ore. or D. Or.) is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union. Appellate jurisdiction belongs to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit). Matthew P. Deady served as its first judge. Ann Aiken is the current (2009) chief judge, the first woman to hold that position on the court. The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon represents the United States in civil and criminal litigation in the court. The current United States Attorney is Karin J. Immergut. OrganizationThe court has four divisional offices within the state (three with staff): Portland, Eugene, Medford, and Pendleton. Portland’s division holds court at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse and handles cases from Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Hood River, Jefferson, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Wasco, Washington, and Yamhill counties. [ The Medford Division covers Curry, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake counties and meets at the James A. Redden United States Courthouse.][ The Pendleton court includes Baker, Crook, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler and holds session at John F. Kilkenny United States Post Office and Courthouse.]HistoryAfter Oregon became a state on February 14, 1859, the United States Congress created the District of Oregon encompassing the entire state on March 3, 1859.[ President James Buchanan appointed Matthew Deady as judge, and the court was to hold annual sessions in April and September at the seat of government in Salem.][Horner, John B. (1919). Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature. The J.K. Gill Co.: Portland. p. 168-169.] Deady held the first session of the court on September 12, 1859, in Salem, but was able to have the court relocated to Portland by the September session of 1860.[ Beginning in 1933, the court was housed in the United States Courthouse (now Gus J. Solomon United States Courthouse) before moving to the new Hatfield Courthouse in 1997.][ Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved on November 19 2007.]
On March 3, 1863, Congress passed a law that removed the circuit court jurisdiction and transferred appeals court jurisdiction to the Tenth Circuit, and in 1866 transferred it again to the Ninth Circuit.[ On April 18 1877, court clerk Ralph Wilcox committed suicide in his office at the court using a Deringer pistol.][Abrams, Kerry. Women's Legal History Biography Project. Stanford Law School. Retrieved on May 7 2008.] In 1909, Congress adding an additional judge position to the court, followed by another judgeship in 1949.[ On October 20 1978, Congress passed a law authorizing two more positions on the bench of the Oregon court.][ The first woman to serve on the court was Helen J. Frye, whose service began on February 20, 1980. In 1990, Congress added a sixth judgeship for the district.][ Ancer L. Haggerty, the first African American on the court, began his service on March 28, 1994.]Chief Judgesthumb|200px|The District of Oregon met in the [[Pioneer Courthouse|U.S. Custom House and Post Office of Portland until 1933.]]
Former and current Chief Judges for the court.Current judgesThe current judges of the court including senior judges.Nominations and Vacancies- As of January 30, 2009, a vacancy exists in the District of Oregon due to the decision of Judge Garr M. King to assume senior status. No replacement nomination is pending at this time.
- As of August 26, 2009, a vacancy exists in the District of Oregon due to the decision of Judge Ancer L. Haggerty to assume senior status. No replacement nomination is pending at this time.
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