ORS 9.042: Determination of eligibility of candidate for board of governors; procedure; review by Supreme Court.

(1) Upon the written request of any licensee of the Oregon State Bar, or upon the board’s own motion, the board of governors shall determine the eligibility of a candidate for the board. A request under this section must be filed with the chief executive officer of the bar within 30 days after the final day on which statements of candidacy are required to be filed. The board shall give written notice of the request to the candidate whose eligibility will be determined. The board shall provide an opportunity to the candidate to respond on the issue of the candidate’s eligibility. (2) The board shall give written notice to the candidate, and to any licensee of the bar who has requested a determination on the eligibility of the candidate under the provisions of this section, of the board’s determination on the candidate’s eligibility. The notice must be given not later than 75 days after the final day on which statements of candidacy are required to be filed. The notice shall state the specific grounds for the board’s determination. (3) A candidate, or a licensee of the bar who has requested a determination on the eligibility of a candidate under the provisions of this section, may file a petition for review of the board’s determination with the Supreme Court. The petition for review must be filed within 15 days only after notice is given to a candidate or licensee under subsection (2) of this section. (4) Upon the timely filing of a petition for review under subsection (3) of this section, the Supreme Court has jurisdiction to resolve all issues arising under the Oregon Constitution, state statutes, rules of the court and rules of the board that are related to the eligibility of candidates for the board. (5) The board of governors shall establish procedures for the implementation of subsections (1) and (2) of this section. The procedures shall be designed to ensure that there will be a final determination on the eligibility of a candidate for the board no later than 10 days before the distribution of the ballots to licensees of the bar in the election that is affected by the determination. (6) This section provides the exclusive procedure for challenging the eligibility of a candidate for the board. No other administrative or judicial proceeding may be brought to challenge the eligibility of a candidate for the board. [1993 c.307 §3; 2011 c.303 §4; 2017 c.94 §5; 2025 c.32 §6]