Overview
The Multnomah County Circuit Court processes more eviction cases than any other court in Oregon. While the eviction process is largely structured by state law, the way these laws are implemented by the court matter. This is because the court’s handling of eviction cases—including the onsite services available to tenants—directly affects the housing stability and legal records of hundreds of tenants every month.
To examine how court processes at the Multnomah County Circuit Court impact tenants, our team conducted a series of court observations at the downtown courthouse between October and December 2023. Drawing on court record data and our court observations, we examined how the court handled the increasing size of eviction dockets during this period, the availability of legal assistance and other onsite services for tenants, the court’s implementation of new rules from Oregon House Bill 2001 (HB 2001), and any changes HB 2001 had on eviction case outcomes in Multnomah County
Key Findings
Court processes are efficient for landlords and their attorneys, but cumbersome for tenants. When tenants do not know how much time they will spend at eviction court, it is difficult for them to determine how long to take off work, how to plan transportation to and from the court, and whether to bring children to the courthouse. While each case is dispatched very quickly, tenants were left waiting–in some cases for multiple hours–for their turn to speak with the judge or their landlord’s attorney. The contrast between hurried procedures and long, uncertain wait times can be burdensome for tenants who already face difficulties navigating the legal process.
Few tenants are represented by an attorney despite legal assistance programs. According to court records, only 6% of tenants had an attorney in Multnomah County eviction court in 2023, while 80% of landlords had either an attorney or agent. Because the vast majority of tenants were unrepresented, they faced difficulties navigating the court process, submitting court documents, negotiating stipulated agreements, and defending themselves at trial.
Tenants have access to some non-legal services at the courthouse. While no mediation services were offered at the courthouse, interpretation services, free childcare, and limited legal assistance were available to tenants onsite.
Despite rising nonpayment cases, the new rules of HB 2001 benefit tenants in eviction court. While the number of eviction filings continued to rise after HB 2001 was implemented, the percentage of tenants who had their eviction case dismissed—rather than receiving a judgment of eviction—increased. In addition, after HB 2001 was implemented, the percentage of tenants who received a default judgment of eviction for failing to appear in court decreased.
General Information
Researchers: Dr. Alex Farrington, Colleen Carroll, Dr. Lisa K. Bates, Dr. Minji Cho, Azad Amir-Ghassemi, Dr. Yi Wang, Natalie J. Cholula, and Andrew Lindstrom
Funding: Evicted in Oregon’s research is supported by Oregon Housing and Community Services Department, Portland Housing Bureau, and the technical assistance of Oregon Law Center. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of funders or technical assistance partners.
Citation Details: Farrington, Alex; Bates, Lisa K.; Carroll, Colleen; Wang, Yi; Amir-Ghassemi, Azad; Cho, Minji; Cholula, Natalie J.; Lindstrom, Andrew (2025). "Eviction Court in Multnomah County: Improved Legal Outcomes for Tenants Amidst Rising Eviction Filings." https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43141