About Us

Oregon’s 6th Judicial District includes Umatilla and Morrow Counties. Circuit Court services are provided in 3 locations — Pendleton, Hermiston and Heppner.

Appearing in Court

If you have been cited to appear in court, your citation, summons, or notice to appear will list the date and time of your hearing. Sometimes your case may not be the only case scheduled for a specific time and courtroom. Please be seated in the public area of the courtroom and wait until your name is called.

To request a change in your appearance date, please make your request in writing. If you are represented by an attorney, your attorney must request the change. Your request may, or may not, be granted. You may not change your appearance date on the day of the hearing. You may not change your appearance date by leaving a message or voice mail. If you fail to appear as scheduled, a warrant may be issued for your arrest, and other sanctions may be imposed. If the charge is a violation or the case is a civil matter, the court may decide the case in your absence.

Proper Dress in Umatilla and Morrow County Circuit Courts for Non-Lawyers

Please remember that your choice of clothing reflects an attitute when appearing before the Court. The following attire is suggested for all non-lawyers appearing in court:

• MALE - long or short sleeve shirts with collars; slacks or denim trousers;
• FEMALE - Dresses, skirts, or slacks and blouse;
• Shirts and shoes are required;
• Caps and hats must be removed before entering the courtroom.

Prohibited Items

• Food and drinks are not allowed in the courtroom;
• Weapons are not allowed in any area of the courthouse;
• PDAs, cell phones, and all other electronic devices which may disrupt the proceedings must be turned OFF (not only vibrate), as these items cause interference on audio recordings of proceedings;
• Cameras and audio recording equipment are not permitted unless specifically authorized in advance by the Trial Court Administrator.

Courtroom Conduct

All persons are required to act with dignity and respect toward all other parties in the courtroom. Misconduct in the presence of the Court that interferes with a court proceeding, with the administration of justice, or that impairs the respect due the Court may be punishable as Contempt of Court. Examples include use of profanity, violation of a court order, or flagrant disregard for instructions given by the judge.

Parties other than attorneys and court staff must stay behind the Bar (the barrier between the public gallery and the counsel tables) unless they are called forward or are accompanied by legal counsel.

Please keep your hands out of your pockets while you are at the counsel table.

Courtroom proceedings are recorded using a digital recording system, which may be on at all times. This techology creates a verbatim record without the use of a court reporter. The following tips are intended to help ensure the recording is clear, which is vital to the parties and judges if there are subsequent proceedings.

• Upon speaking for the first time, identify yourself for the record. This is important even if other people in the courtroom know who you are. The person transcribing the record may not be familiar with particular attorneys or parties.
• Speak clearly and audibly.
Remain within arm's reach of a microphone at all times when speaking.
• Avoid "uh huh" and gestures. The recording system can only pick up verbally spoken words.
• Only one person should speak at a time.
• Avoid making noises when people are talking - coin jingling and paper riffling can be picked up by the microphones and will cover up voices.
• Be sure that your PDA or cell phone is OFF (not on vibrate), as these items create distortion on the audio recording.
• Avoid talking when there is noise; wait until the courtroom is quiet to begin or continue speaking.
• When reading from a document, read slowly and clearly.
• Avoid making any statements you do not want recorded.
• Avoid tapping on or striking the table or microphone.
• Give the clerk the correct spellings of unusual or technical names and vocabulary or words used by you or your witnesses that are frequently misunderstood.