Multnomah Supp. L. R. 8.014

As amended through June 11, 2024

Rule 8.014 - CASE ASSIGNMENT

Case Assignment for Family Law from the Trial Assignment Docket

(1) In all cases set on the Trial Assignment Docket, the parties must report remotely at 9:00 AM at (503) 388-9555, Meeting Number 146 792 6901###. Trial Assignment occurs one judicial day prior to the date of the set hearing or trial. At Trial Assignment, the parties shall report either that the parties have reached a settlement, or in the alternative, how much time is needed for the scheduled hearing or trial. A party may report information for another party only with the agreement of both parties.

(2) Upon determining that a case will require one (1) or more days of judicial time, i.e., six (6) or more hours of court time, a party shall file a motion for special set for assignment of the case to an individual judge. The motion shall be submitted as early as possible. If a special set is granted, the court will cancel all currently scheduled hearings or trials and all further matters shall be scheduled directly by the parties with the assigned judge, who shall be the retained judge of the case thereafter.

(3) Upon determining that a case will require a UCCJEA conference, a party shall file a motion and order assigning to a judge a UCCJEA conference. The motion shall be submitted as early as possible. If granted, the assigned judge's staff will coordinate with the court where the UCCJEA issues are present to set the UCCJEA conference. The assigned judge shall become the retained judge, and all future matters shall be scheduled directly by the parties with the retained judge.

(4) Any party appearing before the Chief Family Law Judge or designee for purposes of assignment must advise that Judge that a particular judge has previously ruled on some contested aspect of the case.

(5) Once a case is assigned to a Family Law Judge and the matter is heard for one hour duration or more, that Judge becomes the Retained Judge. All future hearings will be specially set with that Judge's staff. Once a Response is filed, the setting of trials in dissolution cases, etc. will be effected by the parties through the Retained Judge's Judicial Assistant.

(6) No attorney, party, or other person may directly or indirectly attempt to influence the Chief Family Law Judge or designee or court staff to assign a case to any particular judge, or to avoid assignment of a case to any particular judge.

(7) When assignment to a specific judicial officer is made at the time of Trial Assignment, and a party intends to file a motion for a change of the judge assigned, the intention to file the motion must be announced at the time of assignment. A Motion to Change Judge, declaration and proposed order shall be submitted conventionally (in paper) to the Chief Family Law Judge (or in that Judge's absence, to that Judge's designee) by the close of business on the judicial day following notice of the assignment. The moving party shall include with that submission a certificate of service documenting that service of the motion, affidavit, and proposed order has been effected on the other parties and a copy of those documents delivered to the Judge who is the subject of the motion. A new judge will not be designated/assigned until the Chief Family Law Judge has approved and signed the proposed order.

(8) When assignment to a specific judicial officer is made at any time other than Trial Assignment, and a party intends to file a motion for a change of the judge assigned, a Motion to Change Judge, supporting Declaration and proposed Order shall be submitted to the Chief Family Law Judge (or in that Judge's absence, to that Judge's designee) by the close of business on the judicial day following notice of the assignment. The moving party shall include with that submission a certificate of service documenting that service of the motion, affidavit, and proposed order has been effected on the other parties and a copy of those documents delivered to the Judge who is the subject of the motion. A new judge will not be designated/assigned until the Chief Family Law Judge has approved and signed the proposed order.

Multnomah Supp. L. R. 8.014

Amended effective 2/1/2024.