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Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Oregon Legislature. This is a venue for political and policy coverage of the state government in Salem and its impact on the people of Oregon.

Oregon Judge Faces Two Week Inquiry Into Misconduct Allegations

M.O. Stevens
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tinyurl.com/ybnyr6ye
A panel looking into miscondeuct allegations against Marion County Circuit Court Judge Vance Day will make a recommendation of possible sanctions to the Oregon Supreme Court.

Marion County Circuit Court Judge Vance Day faces an inquiry into a wide range of misconduct allegations. Day will face the Oregon Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability starting Monday morning.

The panel will consider 13 allegations of misconduct. One of the charges alleges that Day refused to marry same-sex couples.

The judge has said repeatedly that he changed his tune and effectively decided not to marry any couples. Judges in Oregon aren't required to marry any couples. But nevertheless the allegation is there that he initially was screening applicants to weed out the same-sex couples.

Day is also accused of letting a convicted felon handle a firearm and of taking money from lawyers who appear before him in order to pay for art exhibits in the courthouse.

The hearing is set to last two weeks. The Commission will then make a recommendation of possible sanctions to the Oregon Supreme Court.