Oregon legislation · 2025 Legislative Measures
Oregon HJR19: Proposing an amendment to the Oregon Constitution relating to the impeachment of judges.
Status: Chaptered, April 6, 2026
Digest: The Act proposes a change to the Constitution to let some judges be taken out of office. The Act refers the change to the people at the next regular general election. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.8). Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to vest the power of impeachment of certain judges in the House of Representatives and the power to try impeachments in the Senate. Requires a two-thirds majority vote of the House of Representatives to deliver an impeachment resolution to the Senate and a two-thirds majority vote of the Senate for conviction. Limits the judgment to removal from office and disqualification from holding other public office in this state. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
What the bill says
A resolution of impeachment to the Senate only upon the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all Representatives. (2) The Senate shall have the power to try any impeachment received from the House of Representatives. When sitting for the purpose of trying an impeachment, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside and Senators shall swear or affirm to do justice according to law and evidence. A judge may not be convicted under this section without the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all Senators. (3) Judgment shall extend only to removal from office and disqualification from ho.
From the introduced text, February 17, 2025:
a resolution of impeachment to the Senate only upon the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all Representatives. (2) The Senate shall have the power to try any impeachment received from the House of Representatives. When sitting for the purpose of trying an impeachment, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside and Senators shall swear or affirm to do justice according to law and evidence. A judge may not be convicted under this section without the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all Senators. (3) Judgment shall extend only to removal from office and disqualification from holding any other public office in this state. Any judge convicted or acquitted under this section remains subject to any criminal prosecution or civil liability according to law. (4) Section 10a of this Article may be invoked for the purpose of exercising the power of impeachment under this section. Sec. 8. (1) In the manner provided by law, and notwithstanding section 1 of this Article, a judge of any court may be removed or suspended from his judicial office by the Supreme Court, or censured by the Supreme Court, for: (a) Conviction in a court of this or any other state, or of the United States, of a crime matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted. New sections are …