New Marion County Justice Court night program will make coming to court easier

People with day jobs seeking to get their driver’s license back or resolve traffic cases will soon have an easier time fitting a court appearance into their schedule.

Starting this summer, Marion County Justice Court will allow people to appear in the evening. The evening availability will be virtual only.

The court announced the new night sessions in a press release Thursday, May 7, coining the program as the county’s “Night Court” initiative.

“Most people just want to take care of their business, with as little interruption to their lives as they can,” Marion County Justice of the Peace Justin Kidd said in an interview.

Night sessions will take on the court’s ex parte docket, which includes cases of people with suspended licenses or who drove without insurance, and trials for traffic cases.

The court’s ex parte docket, which Kidd referred to as an “open mic night,” is a chance for people to petition their case to the court. Kidd said those cases are most often people trying to get their driver’s license back after a suspension.

“A lot of times it’s like somebody either was young and immature, and they’ve gained some maturity in life, and they’re in a place where they’re ready to take responsibility, or sometimes people were struggling with addiction or mental health crises, and they’re now on more solid footing, and so they’re trying to put their life back together,” Kidd said. 

Night sessions will be a convenient way for people to get back on track, he said.

The justice court, which largely oversees violations of traffic laws and county ordinances, has taken on an increasing number of cases since Kidd was appointed in 2021, according to Marion County data.

The new night sessions will be fully online, something court staff have found people, including lawyers and police officers, appreciate for the ease and accessibility. 

While the justice court building, located on Northeast Portland Road, was closed for renovation at the start of the year, court was held online for over a month, according to Kidd. During that time, court staff held two night sessions which people loved, he said.

“My plan is to do it indefinitely. I think it’s going to be really popular,” Kidd said.

He sees the program being most impactful for people who can’t afford to take time off of work for what can be a half or full day of driving and waiting at court to get their case hard.

Night sessions are expected to start in late July and be held twice per month for a couple of hours, according to Kidd. 

The new program is made possible by a funding increase expected to be approved in the county’s budget for next year, which Marion County commissioners will vote on in June. The current proposed budget increases funding for the justice court by $354,380, around a 24% increase from this year’s budget.

To help staff the Night Court program, the county is hiring a pro-tem judge. Kidd said it’s important the county hires someone who similarly values finding solutions for people in court and understanding their lived experiences while balancing enforcing the law.

Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].

SIGN UP: Independent reporting gives Salem a stronger voice and holds those in power accountable on issues ranging from homelessness to health care. Be part of that work by becoming a subscriber. Subscribe today.