§ 133.030 Who are magistrates

Oregon law says that certain judges count as "magistrates" for criminal court purposes. This includes judges on the state's top courts, like the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, as well as circuit court judges who handle most trials. It also includes county judges, justices of the peace, and municipal judges who work in local courts.

What this means is simple: any of these judges have the legal authority to act as a magistrate. This matters because certain tasks in a criminal case, like signing search warrants or setting bail, can only be done by a magistrate. Knowing who qualifies helps people understand which judges can legally perform these duties.