View Clatsop County Circuit Court

Clatsop County Circuit Court

Clatsop County Circuit Court is Oregon's 18th Judicial District. Oregon circuit courts are general trial courts, so the Clatsop court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases, family law, probate, juvenile matters, violations assigned to state court, and other matters in the Oregon eCourt system. The court is managed through the Oregon Judicial Department rather than county government administration.

The court sits at the Clatsop County Courthouse in downtown Astoria. OJD lists Presiding Judge Beau Peterson, Judge Dawn McIntosh, and Judge Kirk Wintermute. Trial Court Administrator Julie Vredeveld is listed with the main court phone number. Court services windows are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and phones are open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Oregon Clatsop Court Hierarchy

Oregon's state-funded court system includes the Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, Oregon Tax Court, and county circuit courts. Circuit courts are the main trial courts. Municipal and justice courts are outside the state-funded OJD structure and have limited jurisdiction over violations, lesser crimes, and local ordinance matters.

Clatsop County Circuit Court Venues

Clatsop County has one primary Circuit Court courthouse for the 18th Judicial District. Lower local venues are municipal courts in the cities. No active Clatsop County Justice Court was located in official sources during research, although justice courts exist elsewhere in Oregon.

Clatsop County Circuit Jurisdiction

The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes, landlord-tenant cases, small claims, money awards, injunctions, family law, divorce, probate, guardianship, conservatorship, juvenile, and state violation cases assigned to OJD. Criminal cases may include charging instruments, arraignment, motions, hearings, pleas, verdicts, judgments, sentencing, probation, fines, restitution, and warrants.

Municipal courts may share limited jurisdiction for some misdemeanors or city violations. ORS 3.132 gives circuit courts concurrent criminal and quasi-criminal jurisdiction with justice courts and concurrent jurisdiction with municipal courts over city charter and ordinance violations within the judicial district. ORS 221.339 gives municipal courts concurrent jurisdiction with limits over city violations and some misdemeanors.

Clatsop County Case Flow

Case movement depends on the type of filing. A criminal case may begin with arrest, citation, police report, DA review, complaint, information, or indictment. Felony matters in Clatsop County are reviewed by the District Attorney and presented to grand jury when required. Civil and family cases begin with pleadings filed through the court. Probate cases begin with petitions, affidavits, guardianship requests, or related filings.

Criminal flow: investigation or arrest › DA review › complaint, information, or indictment › arraignment › pretrial hearings › plea or trial › disposition › sentencing › appeal.

Civil flow: complaint or petition › service › answer or response › motions and hearings › settlement or trial › judgment › collection or appeal.

Clatsop Circuit Court Records

Circuit Court records are searched through OJD systems, not through the County Clerk records app. Free OJD search may show basic case data, event entries, party names, and dispositions. OJCIN Online provides a paid subscription option for more complete access to Oregon cases and documents for qualifying users. Public documents in many cases newer than 2009 may be viewed free at the Clatsop courthouse lobby computer.

The OJD records and calendar search, OJD Smart Search, and Clatsop Circuit Court copy process form the main access path. Certified copies, exemplified copies, and hearing audio require direct request details.

Clatsop Circuit Treatment Courts

Clatsop County Circuit Court operates treatment-focused programs. Adult Drug Court is a one-year intensive program for qualifying Clatsop County residents with drug or alcohol histories. Drug Court Track II provides treatment support for justice-involved people already on probation. Family Treatment or Family Recovery Court supports parents with substance-abuse issues whose children are in DHS or Child Welfare custody.

The court also identifies Treatment Court or Mental Health Treatment Court for people with qualifying mental-health diagnoses. Expectations may include sobriety, medication compliance, treatment plans, probation or provider meetings, restitution, weekly court appearances, and work on health care, transportation, finances, employment, education, and housing.

Clatsop Courthouse Entry Rules

The official courthouse address is Commercial Street, but the public entry point is on the Duane Street parking-lot side. County notices state that beginning September 15, 2025, courthouse visitors must use the public entrance on the first floor facing Duane Street. Visitors pass through security screening, walk through a metal detector, and place belongings on an x-ray scanner.

The courthouse is in downtown Astoria near the Columbia River waterfront. Public transit is available through Sunset Empire Transportation District and NW Connector routes serving Astoria, Warrenton, Gearhart, Seaside, and Cannon Beach.

Clatsop Circuit Record Links

Some Clatsop court-adjacent searches reach beyond the courthouse. The Oregon DOC Offender Search is a state custody and supervision lookup for people who have moved beyond county jail status.

That state search is a custody fallback, not a Circuit Court case record or sentencing judgment.

The Inmate Canteen portal is tied to jail services rather than court case lookup.

Keeping jail-service portals separate from court records prevents confusion between custody tools and official court files.