Keri J Smith at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Oregon · State
- Judicial service
- Active
- Term and retention
- Current term ends January 6, 2031
Keri J Smith
Judge · Benton County Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Partner at Barnhisel, Barlow, Stephens & Smith P.C., and previously at Ringo, Stuber, Ensor, Hadlock & Smith, P.C
- Official communications to Judge Smith must be sent through her judicial assistant at BEN.KJS.Scheduling@, and any correspondence must be copied to all other litigants or their attorneys to comply with court rules
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Crime and Justice Studies and Political Science (2001) and a law degree (2004) from the University of Idaho
Additional information
- Before her judicial appointment, Judge Smith practiced law for approximately 20 years, primarily focusing on family law, as well as handling adult guardianships, conservatorships, and criminal matters.
- Outside the courtroom, Judge Smith enjoys traveling, golfing, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.
- Judge Smith serves on the Benton County Family Law Advisory Committee and the Oregon State Bar Family Law Executive Committee.
- She is a member of the Oregon State Bar and the Linn-Benton Bar Association
- She has also been involved with the Linn County Arbitration Committee and the Oregon Women Lawyers (Linn/Benton Chapter).
- Her legal career also included leadership roles such as past president of the Linn-Benton Bar Association, Secretary of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and Chair of the Oregon State Bar Family Law Section Executive Board
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Recording and broadcasting
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.
you need advance permission from the judge or court designee before youOregon Judicial Department: Media Coverage at the Courts ↗
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.
Recording is never allowed forOregon Judicial Department: Media Coverage at the Courts ↗
Remote appearances
Statewide
Oregon OJD states that remote hearings use Webex and that the court provides case participants with the link to join the hearing.
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 ↗
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.
If the remote hearing is eligible for public viewing, it will be live-streamed through Webex EventsOregon Judicial Department: Remote Hearings ↗
Livestream Access
Statewide
Oregon OJD publishes live stream access instructions and states that live streaming begins shortly before scheduled proceedings.
Live streaming of proceedings begins approximately five minutes before the scheduled proceeding time.Oregon Judicial Department: Live Stream Proceedings ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Oregon Judicial Department: Media Coverage at the Courts
Benton County Circuit Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
Oregon Judicial Department official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Oregon Judicial Department official judicial roster ↗Oregon Judicial Department: Media Coverage at the Courts
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Oregon Judicial Department: Media Coverage at the Courts ↗Oregon Judicial Department: Remote Hearings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Oregon Judicial Department: Remote Hearings ↗Oregon Judicial Department: Live Stream Proceedings
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Oregon Judicial Department: Live Stream Proceedings ↗