Hood River County Circuit Court Overview
Oregon's primary trial court is the Circuit Court. The Oregon Judicial Department describes circuit courts as general-jurisdiction courts that hear criminal, civil, domestic relations, traffic, juvenile, small claims, violations, abuse prevention, probate, mental commitment, adoption, and guardianship cases. Hood River County Circuit Court is the local Circuit Court for Hood River County and is part of Oregon's 7th Judicial District with Wasco, Gilliam, Sherman, and Wheeler counties.
The court is based at the Hood River County Courthouse, 309 State Street, Hood River, Oregon 97031. The Oregon Judicial Department lists the same address as both the main and mailing address. The court phone is 541-386-3535, and Trial Court Administrator Rian Beach is listed with the same public number. Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The county security vestibule article adds useful courthouse context. The courthouse is a three-story building with two main Circuit Court courtrooms upstairs. It also houses Sheriff divisions, Parole and Probation, Emergency Management, the Prevention Department, District Attorney, and Juvenile Department. Visitors should plan for security screening before entering court areas.
Hood River County Court Table
Hood River County court records can start in three local courts depending on the charge, citation, claim, or case type. The Circuit Court is the general trial court. Hood River County Justice Court is the county-operated limited court in Cascade Locks. Hood River Municipal Court handles City of Hood River citations and complaints. Appellate review is through Oregon appellate courts.
| Court or office | Role | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hood River County Circuit Court | General-jurisdiction trial court for criminal, civil, family, probate, guardianship, juvenile, adoption, small claims, violations, protective orders, mental commitment, and traffic matters filed there. | 309 State Street, Hood River, OR 97031 | 541-386-3535 |
| Hood River County Justice Court | County traffic, boating, wildlife, and other violations; arraignments Tuesday mornings; many trials by written declaration. | 440 WaNaPa Street, P.O. Box 536, Cascade Locks, OR 97014 | 541-374-8558 |
| Hood River Municipal Court | City citations and complaints issued by Hood River Police, City Attorney, City Prosecutor, and private citizens; court session Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. | 211 2nd Street, Hood River, OR 97031 | 541-386-3942; clerk 541-387-5250 |
| Oregon Court of Appeals | Intermediate appellate review for most civil and criminal appeals from Circuit Court and many agency-review matters. | OJD appellate offices in Salem | 503-986-5555 |
| Oregon Supreme Court | Highest Oregon state court. | OJD appellate offices in Salem | 503-986-5555 |
Circuit Court vs Justice Court vs Municipal Court
Many Hood River County search errors come from using the wrong court name. A state Circuit Court case is not the same as a county Justice Court citation or a city Municipal Court matter. The distinction is especially important for traffic and violation records because the issuing agency and location can route the case to different courts.
| Point of comparison | Circuit Court | Justice Court | Municipal Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government level | State court, Oregon Judicial Department. | County-operated limited court. | City court for City of Hood River matters. |
| Main case types | Criminal, civil, family, probate, guardianship, juvenile, adoption, small claims, protective orders, mental commitment. | Traffic, boating, wildlife, and county violations. | City citations and complaints from police, city attorney, city prosecutor, or private citizens. |
| Record search | OJD free records/calendar search and OJCIN/OECI for public case information. | Contact Justice Court for local citation and violation records. | Contact Municipal Court or use city payment channels for city citations. |
| Local location | Hood River courthouse at 309 State Street. | Cascade Locks at 440 WaNaPa Street. | City of Hood River at 211 2nd Street. |
| Common mistake | Calling it District Court even though Oregon uses Circuit Court for local trial work. | Assuming Cascade Locks city staff handle Justice Court citations. The city says they do not. | Assuming city citations are Circuit Court cases. |
The Cascade Locks payment vendor page is tied to Justice Court citation payments. The source is Cascade Locks Justice Court payment vendor.
That payment channel reinforces that county Justice Court citation records are separate from Hood River County Circuit Court case records.
Hood River County Case Flow
A Hood River County Circuit Court case usually begins with a filing, citation, petition, complaint, information, indictment, or transferred matter. The court then creates or updates the official register. The Oregon eCourt Case Information system contains Register of Actions data for circuit courts and Oregon Tax Court and is identified on the OECI public access page as the official ORS 7.020 register for those courts.
Criminal flow: Arrest or citation › first appearance or arraignment › charging document › pretrial motions › plea or trial › disposition › sentencing › appeal or post-judgment action.
Civil flow: Complaint or petition › service › answer or default › motions › discovery or settlement process › trial or judgment › collection, appeal, or closure.
Probate and family flow: Petition › notices › objections or response › hearings or mediation where ordered › temporary or final orders › reports, accountings, or judgment › closure or later modification.
Hood River County Judicial District
Hood River County belongs to Oregon's 7th Judicial District. The OJD judges page states that judges share responsibility for all Seventh District Circuit Courts, including Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler counties. Judge John A. Olson and Judge Karen Ostrye have primary offices in Hood River County. Judge Marion Weatherford and Judge John Wolf have primary offices in Wasco County, and Judge John Wolf is listed as presiding judge for the district.
District-level specialty programs matter because not every case follows an ordinary trial path. The Hood River County District Attorney page says the office supports Treatment Court, Mental Health Court, Family Dependency Court, Restorative Justice, and Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion or Deflection. Eligibility depends on case type, history, clinical assessment, program capacity, and court or prosecutor approval. Specialty court participation is not a public lookup database.
Hood River County Appeals and Federal Courts
Most state appeals from Hood River County Circuit Court go first to the Oregon Court of Appeals, with possible further review by the Oregon Supreme Court. Federal trial cases are different. Hood River County is in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, and federal civil, criminal, and bankruptcy cases are searched through federal systems, not OJCIN.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon is the federal trial court source for Oregon federal cases.
Use that federal court source when the case is federal rather than a Hood River County Circuit Court matter.
Bankruptcy records are handled by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon.
Bankruptcy filings do not appear as ordinary Hood River County Circuit Court probate or civil case files.
Federal appeals from Oregon generally go to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
That appellate path is separate from Oregon Court of Appeals review of Hood River County Circuit Court decisions.
Visit Hood River County Circuit Court
The courthouse is downtown at 309 State Street. From Interstate 84, use the downtown Hood River exits and follow local streets toward State Street. From OR-35, drive north toward downtown Hood River. The official research did not identify a dedicated courthouse parking garage or route list, so visitors should check posted downtown parking limits and confirm transit routes before travel.
Hood River County added a courthouse security vestibule to screen entrants and reduce weapons risk. The article says the building includes two main Circuit Court courtrooms upstairs and multiple county or state departments. Judges quoted by the county framed the entrance as a public-safety improvement because court hearings can involve high stress for litigants, witnesses, jurors, and staff.
The county article on the courthouse security vestibule gives the local building and safety context.
Plan extra time for screening before hearings, filings, jury duty, or copy requests at Hood River County Circuit Court.
Hood River County Court History
Hood River County was officially created on June 23, 1908, and the county seat, Hood River, was platted in 1881. The Oregon Judicial Department local page notes the county was named for Hood River and Mount Hood and highlights Hood River Valley's orchard economy, including apples, cherries, peaches, pears, and the local claim that more pears are grown in Hood River County than any other county in the United States.
The Secretary of State records inventory notes that records from Wasco County document the Hood River County area before 1908. That is especially relevant for historic probate and court research. Hood River County joined OJIN in 1989, and modern records access now relies on OJD records and calendar search, OJCIN/OECI, ACMS, county recorded-document tools, online marriage application, payment systems, DMV2U, NORCOR, and other official portals.
Note: For modern trial court records, use Circuit Court terminology even when older references or filenames say district court.