The Oregon Judicial Department’s Office of the Ombudsman launches to hear court users’ feedback on judicial performance

Oregonians with a concern about their experience in state court now have a designated office within the judicial branch they can go to with their feedback.

The Oregon Judicial Department (OJD)’s Office of the Ombudsman officially opened to the public on Nov. 2.

The creation of the Office of the Ombudsman was authorized by House Bill 2712 (2025). Its mission is to provide a confidential and neutral resource for the public to share comments and concerns about their experiences in court. In June, OJD announced that Debra Vogt

would serve as the first Ombudsman after serving almost 20 years on the bench of the Lane County Circuit Court.

The goal of the Ombudsman is to promote trust and confidence in the judicial branch by improving communication about court processes and providing judges with confidential feedback, coaching, and education to enhance judicial performance.

“Most judges want to know how they can improve on the bench, but there isn’t always an effective way for court users to provide that feedback,” said Ombudsman Vogt. “By providing an avenue for judges to receive feedback — and the right tools and guidance to help them act on it — OJD can help judges maintain the high standards to which they are held, improving public trust in state courts and ensuring Oregonians’ access to justice.”

It’s this focus on education that distinguishes the office from the Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability, which acts primarily as a disciplinary body when judges violate the Code of Judicial Conduct.

“The Ombudsman’s Office focuses on understanding what happened and supporting improvement rather than on determining discipline,” said Ombudsman Vogt. “We are developing a rigorous education program designed to strengthen and support judicial performance.”

Any court user who wants to submit a concern to the Office of the Ombudsman may use the form available on the office’s website: courts.oregon.gov/ombudsman. All submissions will be kept confidential under the rules of the office.

“Our purpose, first and foremost, is to support both court users and judges,” said Ombudsman Vogt. “We look forward to serving Oregonians and supporting judges as this new program grows.”

For more information, including frequently asked questions on how the Ombudsman operates, visit the office website at courts.oregon.gov/ombudsman. The Ombudsman cannot provide legal advice, intervene in a case or overturn a judge’s decision, or address concerns about individuals who are not judges or outside of OJD.