Frequently Asked Questions

If an individual fails to appear for a traffic violation, they have fourteen days from the original court appearance date on the citation to contact the court to reschedule or to enter a plea. On the fourteenth day the Court will impose a judgment of guilty by default and doubled fine will be imposed and a failure to appear suspension request will be sent to the DMV. If the fine goes unpaid, the Court will send the case to Collections adding additional fees. If the case goes to Collection, the balance must be paid at the collection agency in order to have the suspension lifted.

Cases are only discussed with the judge in open court. Cases are not discussed by the Judge in private or over the telephone.

If you have been charged with a crime, you have the right to a Court-Appointed Attorney if you are indigent and cannot afford to hire an attorney.  

You will have to complete the application process during your arraignment to determine if you qualify for a Court-Appointed Attorney under state guidelines.  Applications will be reviewed by the Judge on the bench.

If you do not qualify, you may hire an attorney to represent you.  If you need assistance in locating an attorney, please contact the Oregon State Bar Referral Service at 504-684-3763 or 1-800-452-7636.  

Please note that Court Staff by law cannot give legal advice or refer you to an attorney. 

You may ask the Judge for a payment plan.  This request has to be done during a court session or in writing.  There is a fee of $15.00 for a payment plan.