Justice of the Peace Court Judges are responsible for handling minor offenses such as traffic offenses and misdemeanor criminal offenses, and Justice of the Peace judges are often allowed to perform marriages.
Candidate for justice of the peace must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of the state of Oregon, and must have maintained the residence for at least three years immediately prior to appointment or becoming a candidate. They must be a resident of or have a principal office in the justice of the peace district in which the justice court is located and must have maintained the residence or principal office for at least one year immediately prior to appointment or becoming a candidate. The must be a member of the Oregon State Bar, and must have completed a course on courts of special jurisdiction offered by the National Judicial College, or complete the course within 12 months after appointment or election to the office.