Hermiston Municipal Court to handle serious misdemeanors once more
Published 11:00 pm Thursday, December 14, 2023
- Muncipal Court Judge Cameron Bendixsen addresses the issue of bringing the most serious misdemeanor cases back to the Hermiston Municipal Court on Dec. 11, 2023, at the Hermiston City Council meeting.
HERMISTON — For the first time in nearly a decade, Class A misdemeanor cases will be prosecuted in Hermiston Municipal Court.
The Hermiston City Council voted unanimously Dec. 11 to bring back A misdemeanors to municipal court. Misdemeanors in Oregon are put into three categories, A, B and C, with A misdemeanors being the most serious misdemeanor offenses. Those include second-degree theft, criminal mischief and driving under the influence of intoxicants. The penalty for conviction of a Class A misdemeanor can be up to 364 days in county jail and $6,250 in fines.
In April 2014, the council voted to have Umatilla County Circuit Court prosecute A misdemeanors. City Manager Byron Smith said the decision, initially, was for a 20-month period.
The city eventually decided to leave A misdemeanors with the circuit court.
Smith said the city has been able to increase the efficiency of the municipal court during the past nine-plus years by implementing a new case management system and other process improvement efforts. Those increased efficiencies will now allow A misdemeanors to return to Hermiston Municipal Court.
Smith and Municipal Court Judge Cameron Bendixsen said the municipal court now can adjudicate cases much quicker than circuit court.
Bendixsen said there were times when he was a defense attorney when he saw DUII cases fall through the cracks and never be prosecuted.
“Not to place blame at all, but the district attorney’s office can be overworked, and their caseload is very heavy,” Bendixsen told the council.
Councilor Jackie Linton asked if the addition of A misdemeanors will mean more hours for the municipal court judge and the city’s public defender.
Bendixsen said it would increase their hours but could not speculate by how much. He noted, however, that DUIIs are typically the most commonly prosecuted cases nationwide and the court likely would see more jury trials.
Smith said there is money in the budget to cover any additional expenses that may arise by bringing back A misdemeanors to municipal court.
