Oregon Case Commentaries

In re Ersoff (2026): Contested Wills, “Intestate” Probate Petitions, and the Knowledge Threshold for Candor Violations

Date: Mar 14, 2026

In re Ersoff (2026): Contested Wills, “Intestate” Probate Petitions, and the Knowledge Threshold for Candor Violations 1. Introduction In re Ersoff, 375 Or 43 (2026), is an Oregon lawyer discipline...

State v. Monaco: Felony-Murder Mens Rea “Established as a Matter of Law” Does Not Create a Sandstrom Presumption; Confession Voluntariness Remains a Totality-of-the-Circumstances Inquiry

Date: Mar 14, 2026

State v. Monaco: Felony-Murder Mens Rea “Established as a Matter of Law” Does Not Create a Sandstrom Presumption; Confession Voluntariness Remains a Totality-of-the-Circumstances Inquiry 1....

Robinson v. Hendricks (374 Or 866 (2026)) Commentary

Date: Feb 15, 2026

Oregon Habeas Rule: DOC Lacks Authority Under ORS 144.350 to Re-Arrest and Re-Imprison After Credit Recalculation Absent a Valid Judgment Change Introduction Robinson v. Hendricks, 374 Or 866 (2026),...

State v. Roberts (374 Or 821 (2026)) — Bright-Line Dismissal Remedy for Post‑Arraignment Denial of Appointed Counsel

Date: Feb 7, 2026

Bright-Line Dismissal Remedy for Post‑Arraignment Denial of Appointed Counsel (60 Days Misdemeanor / 90 Days Felony) 1. Introduction State v. Roberts, 374 Or 821 (2026), arises from Oregon’s ongoing...

State v. Ribas: Prosecutorial Theory Binding on Review; “10 Days” Is Material, Exact Offense Date Is Not, for Change-of-Residence Reporting

Date: Jan 31, 2026

State v. Ribas: Prosecutorial Theory Binding on Review; “10 Days” Is Material, Exact Offense Date Is Not, for Change-of-Residence Reporting 1. Introduction State v. Ribas, 374 Or 750 (2026), required...

State v. Strain: Prosecutors May Not Argue that Defendants Had a Burden to Elicit Evidence Through Cross-Examination

Date: Jan 31, 2026

State v. Strain: Prosecutors May Not Argue that Defendants Had a Burden to Elicit Evidence Through Cross-Examination 1. Introduction In State v. Strain, 374 Or 783 (2026), the Oregon Supreme Court...

McEwen v. Thrasher: ORS 144.350 Does Not Authorize DOC Reincarceration After Release Absent a Valid Judicial Sentence Basis

Date: Jan 29, 2026

McEwen v. Thrasher: ORS 144.350 Does Not Authorize DOC Reincarceration After Release Absent a Valid Judicial Sentence Basis 1. Introduction McEwen v. Thrasher (374 Or 744 (2026)) is an original...

Article I, Section 10 Bars OTCA Workers’ Compensation Immunity from Eliminating Third‑Party Negligence Claims Against State Employees (Private Workers)

Date: Jan 23, 2026

Article I, Section 10 Bars OTCA Workers’ Compensation Immunity from Eliminating Third‑Party Negligence Claims Against State Employees (Private Workers) Case: Crandall v. State of Oregon, 374 Or 699...

State v. Williams (374 Or 648) — “Physical Force” in ORS 164.395 Requires Harm-Causing or Fear-Inducing Contact, Not Mere Snatching

Date: Jan 2, 2026

“Physical Force” in Oregon Third-Degree Robbery Requires Harm-Causing or Fear-Inducing Contact—A Fast, Nonthreatening Snatch Is Not Robbery Case: State v. Williams, 374 Or 648 (Or 2025) (DeHoog, J.)...

RPC 3.4(c) Reaches Verbal Court Orders—but Discipline Requires a Clear Order and Clear Proof of “Knowing” Disobedience

Date: Jan 1, 2026

RPC 3.4(c) Reaches Verbal Court Orders—but Discipline Requires a Clear Order and Clear Proof of “Knowing” Disobedience I. Introduction In re Clark, 374 Or 683 (2025), is an Oregon attorney-discipline...

No “Escape” When the State Opens the Door: Arellano‑Sanchez v. Thrasher and Limits on Oregon DOC’s Re‑Arrest Authority

Date: Dec 27, 2025

No “Escape” When the State Opens the Door: Arellano‑Sanchez v. Thrasher and Limits on Oregon DOC’s Re‑Arrest Authority Under ORS 144.350 I. Introduction In Arellano‑Sanchez v. Thrasher, 374 Or 623...

Moore‑Reed v. Griffin: Limiting the Exoneration Requirement in Criminal‑Defense Malpractice to Conviction‑Based Harms

Date: Dec 19, 2025

Moore‑Reed v. Griffin: Limiting the Exoneration Requirement in Criminal‑Defense Malpractice to Conviction‑Based Harms Court: Supreme Court of Oregon (En Banc) Citation: 374 Or 596 (2025) Date:...

Perkins v. Fhuere and the Limits of Actual Innocence Claims Under Oregon’s Post-Conviction Hearing Act

Date: Dec 14, 2025

Perkins v. Fhuere and the Limits of Actual Innocence Claims Under Oregon’s Post‑Conviction Hearing Act I. Introduction The Oregon Supreme Court’s decision in Perkins v. Fhuere, 374 Or 575 (2025),...

Ordinary Negligence and Medical Professionals’ Liability to Nonpatients: Commentary on Stone v. Witt, 374 Or 524 (2025)

Date: Dec 14, 2025

Ordinary Negligence and Medical Professionals’ Liability to Nonpatients: Commentary on Stone v. Witt, 374 Or 524 (2025) I. Introduction In Stone v. Witt, 374 Or 524 (2025), the Oregon Supreme Court...

State v. Cortes and the Design‑Based Definition of “Weapons” in Oregon Probation Law

Date: Nov 29, 2025

State v. Cortes and the Design‑Based Definition of “Weapons” in Oregon Probation Law I. Introduction In State v. Cortes, 374 Or 461 (2025), the Oregon Supreme Court resolved a deceptively simple but...

Inventory Searches and Civil Detox Holds under Article I, Section 9: A Commentary on State v. Wilcox (374 Or 498)

Date: Nov 29, 2025

Inventory Searches and Civil Detox Holds under Article I, Section 9: A Commentary on State v. Wilcox, 374 Or 498 (2025) I. Introduction The Oregon Supreme Court’s decision in State v. Wilcox, 374 Or...

State v. Blue and the “Genuine Question” Threshold Under Oregon’s Best Evidence Rule

Date: Nov 29, 2025

State v. Blue and the “Genuine Question” Threshold Under Oregon’s Best Evidence Rule I. Introduction In State v. Blue, 374 Or 439 (2025), the Oregon Supreme Court squarely addressed, for the first...

Presentence Jail Credit for Unrelated Conduct and While Serving Another Sentence: Oregon Supreme Court Clarifies ORS 137.370(4) in State ex rel Torres-Lopez v. Fahrion

Date: Nov 16, 2025

Presentence Jail Credit for Unrelated Conduct and While Serving Another Sentence: Oregon Supreme Court Clarifies ORS 137.370(4) Case: State ex rel Torres-Lopez v. Fahrion, Supreme Court of Oregon, en...

Grand Jury’s Prerogative Over Witness Presentation: Neither Prosecutors Nor Defendants Have a Unilateral Right to Dictate In‑Person vs. Remote Testimony Before Oregon Grand Juries

Date: Oct 30, 2025

Grand Jury’s Prerogative Over Witness Presentation: Neither Prosecutors Nor Defendants Have a Unilateral Right to Dictate In‑Person vs. Remote Testimony Before Oregon Grand Juries Introduction In...

Sewage Disposal Is an Essential Service for Tenant-Owned RV Spaces; Tenant Sanitation Duties Are Independent of Landlord Habitability Compliance

Date: Oct 18, 2025

Sewage Disposal Is an Essential Service for Tenant-Owned RV Spaces; Tenant Sanitation Duties Are Independent of Landlord Habitability Compliance Introduction In Jared v. Harmon, 374 Or 381 (2025),...