---
title: "Justin W. Nelson | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/justin-w-nelson-or"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Justin W. Nelson

Umatilla County Circuit Court · Judge

## Profile

- Court: Umatilla County Circuit Court
- State: Oregon
- Role: Judge
- Service status: expected
- Appointment: Appointed on September 22, 2026. [Umatilla County Circuit Court](https://knowjudges.com/kyj/court/or/umatilla-county-circuit-court)
- Appointment: Appointed on September 22, 2026. [Morrow County Circuit Court](https://knowjudges.com/kyj/court/or/morrow-county-circuit-court)

## Summary

Justin W. Nelson — Umatilla County Circuit Court

## Biography

### Professional career

- Governor Tina Kotek appointed Justin W. Nelson on September 22, 2026 to serve as a judge for Oregon’s 6th Judicial District, which includes Umatilla and Morrow Counties
- Previously worked for the Umatilla County District Attorney’s Office

### Education

- Willamette University and was serving as Morrow County District Attorney and county counsel at the time of appointment — J.D.

### Additional information

- His appointment fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert W. Collins, Jr., and will take effect January 1, 2027
- Appointed on September 22, 2026, to the 6th Judicial District, with service effective January 1, 2027.
- Nelson’s appointment continues this tradition, bringing a seasoned prosecutor with deep roots in the region to the bench
- He will commute from Morrow County to his new courtroom in Pendleton

## Sources

- [Governor Kotek Appoints Judge to the 6th Judicial District](https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/GOV/Posts/Post/governor-kotek-appoints-judge-to-the-6th-judicial-district)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/justin-w-nelson-or",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/justin-w-nelson-or",
      "name": "Justin W. Nelson | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Justin W. Nelson, Umatilla 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/justin-w-nelson-or#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/justin-w-nelson-or#judge",
      "name": "Justin W. Nelson",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/justin-w-nelson-or",
      "jobTitle": "Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Umatilla County Circuit Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [],
      "alumniOf": [
        {
          "@type": "EducationalOrganization",
          "name": "Willamette University"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "@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": "Justin W. Nelson",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/justin-w-nelson-or"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```


## Upcoming changes

Justin W. Nelson: scheduled service start at Umatilla County Circuit Court.

scheduled service start: 2027-01-01

Status: announced

[Source 1](https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/GOV/Posts/Post/governor-kotek-appoints-judge-to-the-6th-judicial-district)

Justin W. Nelson: scheduled service start at Morrow County Circuit Court.

scheduled service start: 2027-01-01

Status: announced

[Source 1](https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/GOV/Posts/Post/governor-kotek-appoints-judge-to-the-6th-judicial-district)