Oregon Case Commentaries

State v. Sarria (375 Or 516) — ORS 133.076 Requires a Peace-Officer-Issued (Not Court-Issued) Criminal Citation; Outdoor Media Limits New Procedural Affirmances in Conditional-Plea Appeals

Date: Sep 5, 2026

State v. Sarria (375 Or 516) — ORS 133.076 Requires a Peace-Officer-Issued (Not Court-Issued) Criminal Citation; Outdoor Media Limits New Procedural Affirmances in Conditional-Plea Appeals I....

Intervening Statutory Amendments in ORS 183.400 Facial Rule Challenges: Vacatur and Remand for First-Instance Reconsideration

Date: Sep 4, 2026

Intervening Statutory Amendments in ORS 183.400 Facial Rule Challenges: Vacatur and Remand for First-Instance Reconsideration Case: Lewis v. Dept. of Corrections, 375 Or 500 (2026) (En Banc) Court:...

State v. Federico: Mistrial Required When Prosecutors (1) Inject Suppressed/Extra-Record Warrant Facts and (2) Urge Jurors to Justify a Verdict to “Loved Ones”

Date: Aug 1, 2026

State v. Federico: Mistrial Required When Prosecutors (1) Inject Suppressed/Extra-Record Warrant Facts and (2) Urge Jurors to Justify a Verdict to “Loved Ones” 1) Introduction Case: State v....

“Development of Housing” Does Not Include Adjacent Public Road Improvements Under Oregon’s Clear-and-Objective Standards Rule (Roberts v. City of Cannon Beach)

Date: Jul 18, 2026

“Development of Housing” Does Not Include Adjacent Public Road Improvements Under Oregon’s Clear-and-Objective Standards Rule Case: Roberts v. City of Cannon Beach, 375 Or 396 (Or. 2026) Court:...

Omission of an Essential Element Makes an Indictment Substantively Defective and Not Amendable Under Or Const, Art VII (Amended), § 5(6)

Date: Jul 18, 2026

Omission of an Essential Element Makes an Indictment Substantively Defective and Not Amendable Under Or Const, Art VII (Amended), § 5(6) 1. Introduction State v. Heward, 375 Or 449 (2026), required...

State v. Amador-Hernandez (375 Or 418 (2026)) Commentary

Date: Jul 17, 2026

“Withholding” Under ORS 163.205 Requires Ability to Provide; “Necessary and Adequate” Food Means Enough to Prevent Severe, Chronic Malnutrition Case: State v. Amador-Hernandez, 375 Or 418 (Or 2026)...

State v. Wright (2026): SB 751 Discovery Amendments Apply by Alleged Offense Date, Not Charging Date

Date: Jul 3, 2026

State v. Wright (2026): SB 751 Discovery Amendments Apply by Alleged Offense Date, Not Charging Date 1. Introduction Case: State v. Wright, 375 Or 383 (Supreme Court of Oregon, July 2, 2026)...

Mandamus in Criminal Subpoena Disputes: “Special Loss” and Record-Preservation Assurances as a Basis to Decline Extraordinary Relief

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Mandamus in Criminal Subpoena Disputes: “Special Loss” and Record-Preservation Assurances as a Basis to Decline Extraordinary Relief 1. Introduction State v. Ayon-Urbano, 375 Or 376 (2026), is an...

OEC 601 Competency Is Witness-Wide: Courts May Not Exclude Testimony on a Specific Fact Based on Memory Quality

Date: Jun 6, 2026

OEC 601 Competency Is Witness-Wide: Courts May Not Exclude Testimony on a Specific Fact Based on Memory Quality I. Introduction State v. Benton, 375 Or 334 (Or 2026), arises from a homicide...

State v. Herring (375 Or 350 (2026)) — Gang-Rivalry Motive Evidence Is Noncharacter When It Shows Situational Hostility From Group Status, Not Violent Disposition

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Gang-Rivalry Motive Evidence Is Noncharacter When It Shows Situational Hostility From Group Status, Not Violent Disposition I. Introduction State v. Herring, 375 Or 350 (2026), is an Oregon Supreme...

In re Ashton (Or 2026): RPC 3.4(b) “Contingent on Content” Means Payment for Testimony (Not Silence); RPC 8.4(a)(4) Reaches Testimony-Suppressing Settlements (Including Future Proceedings)

Date: May 24, 2026

In re Ashton (Or 2026): RPC 3.4(b) “Contingent on Content” Means Payment for Testimony (Not Silence); RPC 8.4(a)(4) Reaches Testimony-Suppressing Settlements (Including Future Proceedings) 1....

Sheppard v. Progressive: “Furnished for the Regular Use” Means a Right of Use that is Steady/Uniform and Arises with Some Degree of Frequency—Typically a Fact Question

Date: May 19, 2026

Sheppard v. Progressive: “Furnished for the Regular Use” Means a Right of Use that is Steady/Uniform and Arises with Some Degree of Frequency—Typically a Fact Question 1. Introduction Case: Sheppard...

Paden / von Schlegell v. Rayfield (2026): Ballot Titles Must Disclose Removal of Pretrial Confinement Limits and Avoid Misleading “Cannot Be Prosecuted” Framing

Date: May 9, 2026

Ballot Titles Must Disclose Removal of Pretrial Confinement Limits and Avoid Misleading “Cannot Be Prosecuted” Framing in Aid-and-Assist Measures Introduction In Paden / von Schlegell v. Rayfield...

Schwartz v. Washington County: SB 587 Licensing Does Not Preempt Local Flavored-Tobacco Sales Bans Absent Impossibility or Unambiguous Exclusivity

Date: May 9, 2026

SB 587 Licensing Does Not Preempt Local Flavored-Tobacco Sales Bans Absent Impossibility or Unambiguous Exclusivity Case: Schwartz v. Washington County Citation: 375 Or 227 (2026) Court: Supreme...

Direct Appeal Remains Available for Article I, Section 16 Challenges to Sentencing-Guidelines Crime-Seriousness Rankings

Date: May 2, 2026

Direct Appeal Remains Available for Article I, Section 16 Challenges to Sentencing-Guidelines Crime-Seriousness Rankings Introduction In State v. Fernandez, 375 Or 205 (2026), the Oregon Supreme...

Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle (ORS 164.135): “Vehicle” Includes Trailers, and Criminal Code Commentary Can Be Decisive Legislative History

Date: Apr 24, 2026

Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle (ORS 164.135): “Vehicle” Includes Trailers, and Criminal Code Commentary Can Be Decisive Legislative History Case: State v. McCarthy, 375 Or 157 (Or Apr 23, 2026) Court:...

State v. Miller (2026): Hospital ER Questioning Is Not Per Se “Compelling”; Voluntariness and Blood-Draw Consent Turn on Totality

Date: Apr 24, 2026

State v. Miller (375 Or 173 (2026)): Hospital ER Questioning Is Not Per Se “Compelling”; Voluntariness and Blood-Draw Consent Turn on Totality Introduction State v. Miller arose from a DUII...

State v. Hutchings (2026): Strategic Non-Objection to Vouching Does Not Defeat “Plain Error,” but Bears on Discretionary Reversal

Date: Apr 16, 2026

State v. Hutchings (2026): Strategic Non-Objection to Vouching Does Not Defeat “Plain Error,” but Bears on Discretionary Reversal Court: Supreme Court of Oregon (En Banc) | Citation: 375 Or 132...

State v. Shine (375 Or 112 (2026)) — ORCP 59 B Requires a Complete Final Oral Jury Charge

Date: Apr 16, 2026

ORCP 59 B Requires a Complete Final Oral Jury Charge: Preliminary Instructions and Written Packets Are Not Substitutes Case: State v. Shine, 375 Or 112 (Or Apr 9, 2026) (Garrett, J.) Posture: State...

State v. De Witt Simons (375 Or 70 (2026)) — Article I, section 9 Privacy Right in Internet Browsing on Public Wi‑Fi; Terms-of-Service Do Not Waive; Coordinated ISP/Hotspot Monitoring Is State Action and a Warranted Search

Date: Mar 28, 2026

Oregon Recognizes Article I, Section 9 Privacy in Internet Browsing Even on Public Wi‑Fi—Terms-of-Service Warnings Do Not Waive; Police-Directed Hotspot Monitoring Is a Warranted “Search” Case: State...