How to Search Clackamas County Court Records
Most people start online. The Oregon Judicial Department runs a free tool called OJD Online Records Search. It covers all 36 Oregon circuit courts and the Tax Court, Clackamas included. The search is free, but it shows limited case information. OJD warns that the data is not the official register under ORS 7.020 and should not be used for background checks. The official file stays at the court where the case was filed.
The home page for the local trial court lists the courthouse address, the presiding judge, and links to records, jury duty, and payments.
The official Clackamas Circuit Court page is the safest place to begin a court records search.
That page points to the same statewide search portal used for every county, so the steps below work for any Clackamas County Court case.
Before you start, have a few details ready. A name helps. A case number helps more. Here is the basic path through the free portal:
- Open the OJD Online Records Search portal and read the disclaimer. Cookies and JavaScript must be on.
- Choose Smart Search.
- Type a record number, or a name in Last, First Middle Suffix format.
- Open Advanced Filtering Options to limit by court, case type, file date, or judicial officer.
- Open a result to view public case information, then request a copy if you need the full file.
The Smart Search screen is where the real filtering happens, and the Smart Search dashboard exposes the main search field plus advanced options.
From there you can include cases, judgments, and warrants in a single Clackamas County Court records search.
Clackamas County Court Records Search Fields
The Smart Search form looks simple, but it hides a deep set of filters. The main box takes a name or a record number. Open the advanced panel and you get court location, case type, date ranges, and more. Knowing the fields saves time.
The advanced filters live on the OJD Smart Search screen, which is the same screen used for every Clackamas County Court case.
Each row in the table below maps to a field or filter on that screen.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes / Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record Number or Name | Text | Yes for a broad search | Name in Last, First Middle Suffix format |
| Filter by Location | Dropdown | No | Limit to a court or county |
| Filter by Search Type | Dropdown | No | Party Name, Nickname, Business Name, Sounds Like |
| Include | Checkboxes | No | Cases, Judgments, Warrants |
| Filter by Case Type | Dropdown | No | Narrows by case category |
| File Date Start / End | Date | No | Limits results by filing date |
| Filter by Judicial Officer | Dropdown | No | Judge or officer assigned |
For deeper access, Oregon offers a paid subscription called OJCIN Online. It is the official site for register of actions and judgment records.
OJCIN covers civil, small claims, tax, domestic, misdemeanor, and felony cases, though confidential cases stay out of public view.
The free Smart Search filters are explained in detail on the Clackamas County court records page.
The Clackamas County Judicial System
Oregon runs a unified, state-funded court system called the Oregon Judicial Department. The main trial court is the Circuit Court. Clackamas County Circuit Court sits in the 5th Judicial District and hears most case types. Above it are two appellate courts. Below it sit local courts that the state does not fund.
Case flow: Justice or Municipal Court (local violations) › Circuit Court (general jurisdiction) › Oregon Court of Appeals › Oregon Supreme Court
The state explains these roles on its court structure page, which lays out how circuit, appellate, and tax courts fit together.
Use that map to figure out which court holds the Clackamas County Court record you want.
| Court | Jurisdiction | Case Types |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Supreme Court | Highest state court | Select appeals, death penalty review, Tax Court appeals, discipline |
| Oregon Court of Appeals | Intermediate appeals | Most civil and criminal appeals from circuit courts |
| Circuit Court (5th District) | General jurisdiction trial court | Criminal, civil, family, probate, juvenile, traffic |
| Justice Court | County court, limited | Traffic and violations, small claims to $10,000, evictions |
| Municipal Courts | City courts | City ordinance and municipal violations |
OJD's Find a Court page confirms which courts belong to the state system and which do not.
Municipal and justice courts in Clackamas County are not part of OJD, so their records live with the city or county, not the state portal. Full detail sits on the Clackamas County Circuit Court page.
Clackamas County Courthouses
The Circuit Court moved in 2025. The new Clackamas County Courthouse opened to the public on May 19, 2025, on the Red Soils Campus in Oregon City. It replaced the 1936 downtown building. The county describes the new courthouse as a 257,000-square-foot home for 16 courtrooms, jury and grand-jury space, the District Attorney, the Civil Sheriff Division, Victim Services, and the law library. Traffic tickets and small claims, though, run through a separate Justice Court in Happy Valley.
The county's courthouse project page covers the building features and the move.
For records purposes, the addresses below are the ones to use.
Clackamas County Courthouse
1000 Courthouse Road
Oregon City, OR 97045
503-655-8447
Circuit Court Records Center
1000 Courthouse Rd., Room 1060
Oregon City, OR 97045
503-655-8447, option 7
Clackamas County Justice Court
11750 SE 82nd Ave., Suite D
Happy Valley, OR 97086
503-794-3800
Types of Court Records Available in Clackamas County
The Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction. That means it hears a wide range of case types, and each one creates its own kind of record. The Justice Court adds traffic, small claims, and eviction files. Together they produce most of the court records people look for in Clackamas County.
Here are the main record types and where each one comes from:
- Criminal records - felony and misdemeanor cases filed in Circuit Court; covered on the arrest records page.
- Civil records - lawsuits, contracts, and money claims in Circuit Court, plus small claims to $10,000 in Justice Court.
- Family and divorce records - divorce, custody, support, and protective orders; see marriage and divorce records.
- Probate records - estates, guardianships, and trusts; see probate records.
- Traffic records - tickets and violations handled mostly by the Justice Court.
What Clackamas County Court Records Show
A court record is more than a verdict. It is a running log of everything filed in a case. You will see who is involved, what was claimed, what the judge ordered, and what money changed hands. The exact fields depend on case type, but most Clackamas County Court records share a common set.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Case Number | The court's unique ID for the case |
| Filing Date | When the case or a document was filed |
| Parties | Plaintiff, defendant, petitioner, or respondent |
| Charges / Cause | The crime charged or the civil claim raised |
| Disposition | How a charge or case ended |
| Sentence / Judgment | The final order, money award, or penalty |
The full register of actions lists every motion, hearing, and order in date order. To read more about each field, see the Clackamas County court dockets page.
Public Access Laws for Clackamas County Court Records
Oregon leans toward open government records. The main public records law is ORS Chapter 192. Court files, though, have their own rules under ORS Chapter 7 and court procedure. So a record can be a public record in theory yet still be limited by a confidentiality statute or a court order. The strongest way to think about it: Oregon favors access to nonexempt records, but many case types are restricted.
Key Statutes:
ORS § 192.314 - gives the public a general right to inspect nonexempt public records held by Oregon bodies.
ORS § 7.020 - defines the official court register, which is the authoritative record the free portal is not.
ORS § 137.225 - lets eligible criminal records be set aside and sealed from routine public searches.
Fees can apply for copies, staff time, and redaction. More on requests sits on the public records page.
Records That Are Restricted or Confidential
Not every file is open. Oregon law shields several categories. Juvenile records are limited under ORS 419A.255. Child abuse records are confidential under ORS 419B.035. Adoption files follow ORS Chapter 109. Mental health commitments, sealed criminal records, grand jury material, and protected addresses are also off limits to the general public.
To view a sealed record, you usually need to be a party, an attorney, or someone the law names. In some cases you can petition the court for access. Court staff cannot give legal advice, so many people consult a lawyer first.
Specialty Courts in Clackamas County
Clackamas County runs several problem-solving courts. The District Attorney describes them as programs that pair close supervision with treatment to cut repeat crime tied to addiction or mental health. A trained deputy district attorney is assigned to each one for continuity.
The named programs include Drug Court, Mental Health Court, Community Court, DUII Court, LEAD, and a Domestic Violence Deferred Sentencing Program. These run with the Circuit Court, probation, and county social-service agencies. Eligibility and length vary by program, so the court or the DA's office is the place to confirm current rules.
Note: Specialty court files are still Circuit Court cases, so they appear in a normal Clackamas County Court records search unless a statute makes them confidential.
Clackamas County Sheriff and Jail
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and keeps many law enforcement records. Sheriff Angela Brandenburg leads the office. The jail sits at 2206 Kaen Road in Oregon City. The Sheriff's Records Unit handles police reports, citations, warrants, and protection orders, and it works around the clock.
For names in custody, use the Clackamas County inmate records page. To check for an active warrant, see the warrant records page. To confirm someone is out, the released inmates page walks through the options. Jail population data sits on the inmate population page.
Marriage, Divorce, and Probate Records
Two different offices handle family records. The County Clerk Recording Division issues marriage licenses and records the signed license. The Circuit Court handles divorce, custody, and support. Probate, which deals with estates and protective cases, is a department of the Circuit Court, not a separate court.
For licenses and certified marriage copies, see the Clackamas County Clerk page. For divorce files, use marriage and divorce records. Estate matters are covered under probate records. A few probate terms come up often:
- Testator
- The person who made a will.
- Executor
- The person named in a will to manage the estate; Oregon also calls this a personal representative.
- Intestate
- Dying without a valid will.
- Conservator
- A person the court appoints to manage another person's money.
Clackamas County Court Records Fees
Copies are not free, but the rates are set and modest. The Circuit Court Records Center charges by the page, with extra fees to certify or exemplify a copy. Staff time can be billed for large or complex requests. Payment is due when the copy work is done.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Regular copy per page | $0.25 |
| Certified copy | $5.00 plus per-page charge |
| Exemplified copy | $10.00 plus per-page charge |
| Records search / staff time | Actual cost may apply |
The court takes credit or debit cards, personal checks, cashier's checks, money orders, and cash in person. Two-party checks are not taken, and you should never mail cash. The Clerk of Court page lists the full copy process.
How to Interpret Clackamas County Court Records
Court files use shorthand. A docket reads as a list of short codes and dates. A charge is not the same as a conviction. A charge is only an accusation. A conviction is a finding or plea of guilt. A disposition tells you how a charge ended, such as dismissed, convicted, or acquitted. "Dismissed with prejudice" usually bars refiling. "Without prejudice" may allow it.
If a code or term is unclear, the court clerk can point you to the right resource, though staff cannot interpret a record for you or give legal advice.
Accuracy and Record Limitations
Online data lags real life. Court staff update case information daily, but a gap can sit between when a document arrives and when it is entered. OJD also says the free portal is not the official register. For anything that matters, confirm against the court file.
Note: Confirm any name, charge, or outcome with the Circuit Court Records Center before you rely on a result from a free online search.
History of Clackamas County Courts
Clackamas County is one of Oregon's original counties, and Oregon City is the county seat. The old downtown courthouse opened in 1936. It was built for a county of fewer than 50,000 people and was remodeled over the years to hold 11 courtrooms. The county now passes 430,000 residents. In 2015 the court joined the Oregon eCourt system, which is why files from December 4, 2015 forward are easy to view at public stations while older files sit off site.
OJD's new courthouse page marks the May 2025 move as the biggest recent change for court access.
The move to Red Soils put the courthouse next to social services, behavioral health, and victim services on one campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search Clackamas County court records online?
Use the free OJD Online Records Search portal. Pick Smart Search and enter a record number or a name in Last, First Middle Suffix format. Open Advanced Filtering Options to narrow by court, case type, file date, or judge. The free data is limited and is not the official ORS 7.020 register, so it should not be used for background checks.
Where is the Clackamas County Courthouse now?
The Circuit Court is at 1000 Courthouse Road, Oregon City, OR 97045, on the Red Soils Campus. It opened to the public on May 19, 2025. The building is open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, though service counters keep shorter hours.
How do I get copies of a court record?
Visit the Records Center in Room 1060, mail a request to 1000 Courthouse Rd., Room 1060, Oregon City, OR 97045, or use the statewide OJD records request form. Copies run $0.25 per page. Certification adds $5.00, and exemplification adds $10.00.
More answers sit on the Clackamas County Court Records FAQ page.