Salem Municipal Trial Court Rules take effect January 1, 2012.
The Court is the Judicial Branch of Municipal Government. The Municipal Court adjudicates misdemeanor, violation and parking cases arising from municipal ordinances, state statutes and miscellaneous matters as provided by ordinance.
Court Administrator: Cheryl Stone
Judges Pro Tem:
Nominated by the presiding judge and authorized by city council to serve in case of the judge's illness, temporary absence or where necessary due to number of cases pending in the court:
Noel Grefenson
Frank Gruber
Ronald Hellewell
David Hittle
Lynda Olson
Jon Weiner
Robert Williamson
Deborah Wilson
COURT ARRAIGNMENT: An arraignment is a first appearance in court with a plea being entered by the defendant.
Violations Bureau
Persons who qualify for the Violations Bureau process will be able to appear beginning ten calendar days after receiving the ticket up to the date of appearance listed on the ticket. The Bureau will operate between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information regarding delegation of authority to Violations Bureau Clerks, see the Violation Bureau Order. For information about fine reductions, see the Fine Reduction Schedule.
Violation Arraignment
Scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:30 a.m. Check-in is at 7:00 a.m. No one will be added to the docket after 8:30 a.m., when the court begins the morning session. A Spanish interpreter is available on Fridays. Persons scheduled to appear before the Municipal Judge are called in the order of check-in, on a first-come first-serve basis.
Criminal Arraignment
These are arraignments for out-of-custody defendants' making their first appearance.
Held only on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. Check-in is at 7:00 a.m. No one will be added to the docket after 8:30 a.m., when the court begins the morning session. A Spanish interpreter will be available for the Thursday criminal arraignments session.
Night Court Arraignment - Discontinued effective March 26, 2008.
Arraignment for defendants in-custody and Special arraignments
To be scheduled as needed at the courts discretion.
TRIALS:
Scheduled upon a plea of "Not Guilty," or as otherwise ordered by the court. Trials are held on matters ranging from criminal (misdemeanor) charges, to traffic violations and parking citations. Hearings are held on other matters as provided under city ordinance and as scheduled by the court.