--- title: "David J Orr | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-j-orr-judge-jackson-county-circuit-court-50-or" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # David J Orr Jackson County Circuit Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Jackson County Circuit Court - State: Oregon - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - 2024 Rescission Debate — In April 2024, presiding Judge Benjamin Bloom rescinded the 2021 disqualification order, citing changes in law (SB 807) - 2021 Disqualification Order — In July 2021, then-presiding Judge Lorenzo Mejia ordered Orr disqualified from all cases where the Jackson County District Attorney’s office was a party, after a finding of impartiality concerns - David J. Orr is a judge of the 1st Judicial District Circuit Court of Oregon, elected in 2018, with a background in public prosecution, public defense, and private legal practice - Deputy District Attorney for Jackson County from 2003, with assignments on the Jackson County Sexual Assault Response Teamthe biographical record - Deputy District Attorney for Linn County for two years the biographical record ### Education - University of Kansasthe biographical record — B.A. - Washburn University School of Lawthe biographical record — J.D. ### Additional information - He is currently scheduled to serve until the end of 2030 - He has also been at the center of political debate over judicial recusal rules, particularly in 2024 when the presiding judge rescinded a prior order disqualifying him from criminal cases - In his 2024 campaign for re‐election, Orr emphasized - Orr has been involved in high‐profile legal disputes, among them a 2022 challenge by a law firm seeking recusal from 14 family law cases over alleged “disparate treatment” in his courtroom - November 6, 2018 - Deputy Public Defender in Kansas after law school the biographical record. - Private practice as an associate handling civil litigation the biographical record. - His jurisdiction covers Jackson County, Oregon, and he has presided over a wide range of cases, among them family law and dissolution matters - Jackson County Circuit Court - Bathtub Gin Serenaders - transparency, impartiality, and keeping the courts free from political influence - He has stated that his record of decisions reflects a commitment to fairness regardless of the parties’ status - Oregon Judicial Department - profiles ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### electronic devices recording Scope: statewide Oregon OJD guidance under UTCR 3.180 requires advance permission from the judge or court designee before electronic notes, courtroom recording, or electronic transmission from the courtroom. Evidence excerpt: you need advance permission from the judge or court designee before you [Oregon Judicial Department: Media Coverage at the Courts](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/news/pages/covering-courts.aspx) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording limits Scope: statewide Oregon OJD guidance lists proceedings and materials where recording is not allowed, including juvenile cases, many family-law cases, voir dire, private conversations, jurors, and recesses. Evidence excerpt: Recording is never allowed for [Oregon Judicial Department: Media Coverage at the Courts](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/news/pages/covering-courts.aspx) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote hearing platform Scope: statewide Oregon OJD states that remote hearings use Webex and that the court provides case participants with the link to join the hearing. Evidence excerpt: The court uses Webex to host these remote hearings and will provide case participants with the link to join the hearing. [Oregon Judicial Department: Remote Hearings](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/services/online/Pages/RemoteHearings.aspx) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote public access Scope: statewide Oregon OJD explains that eligible remote hearings may be live-streamed for public viewing through Webex Events, subject to limitations and court access instructions. Evidence excerpt: If the remote hearing is eligible for public viewing, it will be live-streamed through Webex Events [Oregon Judicial Department: Remote Hearings](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/services/online/Pages/RemoteHearings.aspx) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### livestream access Scope: statewide Oregon OJD publishes live stream access instructions and states that live streaming begins shortly before scheduled proceedings. Evidence excerpt: Live streaming of proceedings begins approximately five minutes before the scheduled proceeding time. [Oregon Judicial Department: Live Stream Proceedings](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/services/online/Pages/live-stream.aspx) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/Pages/judges.aspx) - [Official roster](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/Pages/judges.aspx) - [Oregon Judicial Department official judicial roster](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/Pages/judges.aspx) - [Oregon Judicial Department: Media Coverage at the Courts](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/news/pages/covering-courts.aspx) - [Oregon Judicial Department: Remote Hearings](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/services/online/Pages/RemoteHearings.aspx) - [Oregon Judicial Department: Live Stream Proceedings](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/services/online/Pages/live-stream.aspx) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-j-orr-judge-jackson-county-circuit-court-50-or", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-j-orr-judge-jackson-county-circuit-court-50-or", "name": "David J Orr | KnowJudges", "description": "David J Orr, Jackson County Circuit Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-j-orr-judge-jackson-county-circuit-court-50-or#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-j-orr-judge-jackson-county-circuit-court-50-or#judge", "name": "David J Orr", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-j-orr-judge-jackson-county-circuit-court-50-or", "jobTitle": "Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Jackson County Circuit Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courts.oregon.gov/courts/Pages/judges.aspx" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Oregon", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/oregon" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David J Orr", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/david-j-orr-judge-jackson-county-circuit-court-50-or" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Oregon Judicial Department: Media Coverage at the Courts](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-ff5e00a9af0f76923062d353) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.courts.oregon.gov/news/pages/covering-courts.aspx). Collected 2026-07-26.