Grant County Circuit Court
The official Grant and Harney County Circuit Court page identifies Grant County as part of Oregon's 24th Judicial District. Grant and Harney Counties share one elected circuit judge, Presiding Judge Robert S. Raschio. The Grant courthouse is in Canyon City, and the current building was completed in 1952. OJD lists the local court phone as 541-575-1438, fax as 541-575-2165, and staff email as Grant.Court.Staff@ojd.state.or.us.
Oregon circuit courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. In Grant County, Circuit Court handles the usual state trial court matters, but probate is the major local exception. ORS 111.075 keeps probate jurisdiction in Grant County Court. That means estate and guardianship filing intake is not the same workflow as ordinary Circuit Court civil, criminal, family, and traffic records. The Trial Court Administrator / Circuit Court Records Office handles case files, records requests, calendars, public terminals, and ADA coordination. Samantha Dowell is the Trial Court Administrator and ADA contact listed in the research.
Grant County Court Table
Grant County does not have a set of numbered district courts. The primary state trial court is the Circuit Court, while local lower-court and county functions are split among County Court, Justice Court, County Clerk, and the Circuit Court records office.
| Court or office | Role | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant County Circuit Court | General jurisdiction trial court in the 24th Judicial District | 201 S. Humbolt Street, Canyon City, OR 97820 | 541-575-1438 |
| Trial Court Administrator | Court operations, records-office coordination, ADA contact | 201 S. Humbolt Street, Canyon City, OR 97820 | 541-575-1438 |
| Grant County Court | County governing body and probate judicial responsibility | 201 S Humbolt Street, Suite 280, Canyon City, OR 97820 | 541-575-0059 |
| Grant County Justice Court | Traffic, violations, small claims, evictions, civil actions up to $10,000, non-felony matters | 201 S Humbolt, Suite 320, Canyon City, OR 97820 | 541-575-1076 |
| Grant County Clerk | County public records, recordings, marriage, probate filing intake | 201 S Humbolt, Suite 290, Canyon City, OR 97820 | 541-575-1675 |
Circuit Court vs Justice Court
The most common Grant County court-record mistake is treating every county courthouse record as a Circuit Court file. Circuit Court is the main Oregon trial court for state cases, but Justice Court and County Court hold separate local roles. The citation, filing document, or record source should identify which office holds the record.
| Point | Circuit Court | County Court probate | Justice Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main role | General trial court | Probate judicial responsibility | County-level lower court |
| Criminal jurisdiction | Felony and many misdemeanor cases | Not the general criminal court | Non-felony jurisdiction concurrent with circuit or municipal court |
| Civil jurisdiction | General civil and family matters | Estate, guardianship, conservatorship, and related probate issues | Civil actions up to $10,000, small claims, evictions |
| Traffic records | Traffic citations filed in Circuit Court | No ordinary traffic role | Traffic citations filed in Justice Court |
| Record office | Trial Court Administrator / Circuit Court Records Office | County Court and County Clerk intake | Justice Court office |
Grant County Circuit Case Types
Grant County Circuit Court case types include criminal, civil, domestic relations, traffic, juvenile, small claims, violations, abuse prevention act, protective order, mental commitment, adoption, and guardianship matters where assigned by law. Criminal files may show charges, arraignment entries, pleas, motions, orders, judgments, sentencing, probation terms, fines, fees, and warrants. Civil files may include complaints, answers, motions, orders, judgments, writs, garnishments, and financial entries. Family cases include divorce, separation, annulment, custody, support, and related filings.
Some records are restricted. Adoption records, juvenile files, mental health adjudications, and Violence Against Women Act related material may be withheld from public search. Public portal results also omit full personal identifying information. Certified copies, older non-digitized files, and audio requests use the records office process. The public search is useful for case status and events, but it is not a substitute for the official register or a certified copy.
Grant County Court Kiosk
Court records access starts with OJD's free portal for basic public case information, then moves to the courthouse terminal, OJCIN, or a records request when fuller access is needed. The research says newer criminal and civil documents can be reviewed on kiosk computers at Circuit Court on the second floor. Older non-digitized files are requested at the Circuit Court window or through the OJD Records Request Form.
- Search the free OJD portal by case number, citation number, court record number, or party name.
- Use the courthouse public terminal for the full official register on non-confidential cases and most public documents.
- Submit a records request for copies, audio, older files, or documents not available in the free portal.
- Use OJCIN Online if the requester qualifies for subscription access and needs broader register access.
- Verify court dates on the day of appearance because calendar information can change.
Grant County Lower Courts
OJD explains that municipal, county, justice, federal, and tribal courts are not part of the state-funded Oregon Judicial Department. Grant County Justice Court handles traffic citations filed there, small claims, evictions, civil actions up to $10,000, and non-felony criminal jurisdiction concurrent with circuit or municipal court. The Justice Court page is relevant to Circuit Court users because traffic citations in Grant County may be filed in either Justice Court or Circuit Court, and the citation states the correct court.
The Grant County small claims page is one lower-court example tied to Justice Court.
Small claims records show why not every courthouse dispute is a Circuit Court case.
The Grant County landlord tenant FED page shows the local eviction path in Justice Court.
Eviction records are another local lower-court category that should be checked against the court named on the filing.
Grant County Case Flow
Grant County case flow depends on the forum. A felony case is a Circuit Court matter. A small claim or eviction may begin and end in Justice Court. Probate starts through the County Clerk and County Court model. Appeals from Oregon Circuit Court judgments generally go to the Oregon Court of Appeals, with some matters routed differently by state law.
Criminal flow: Investigation and charge decision › filing in Circuit Court where appropriate › arraignment › pretrial motions › plea or trial › disposition › sentencing › appeal.
Civil flow: Complaint or petition › service and answer › motions › hearing or trial › judgment › collection or appeal.
Local probate flow: form or petition › County Clerk intake › fee based on matter or inventory › County Court probate action › letters, inventory, accounting, order, or judgment.
Grant County Federal Court Context
Federal cases from Grant County are not filed in Grant County Circuit Court. They belong to the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon, and federal appellate courts when federal jurisdiction applies. The District of Oregon lists a Pendleton courthouse location, but the research says Pendleton is not staffed and in-person filing must be done at the Portland Division. PACER is the federal case access system, while CourtListener may provide free access where records are available.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon is the federal trial court for Oregon.
Federal trial records are separate from Grant County Circuit Court records even when the parties live in Grant County.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon handles Oregon bankruptcy cases.
Bankruptcy records should be searched through federal bankruptcy channels, not the county trial court.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is the federal appellate court for Oregon federal cases.
That federal appeal path is distinct from Oregon appeals that start from Grant County Circuit Court judgments.
Note: For ordinary Grant County state court records, start with OJD, the courthouse kiosk, or the Circuit Court records office.