Oregon’s Top Court Officials Visit Benton County, Tour New Courthouse Site

Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Meagan Flynn and State Court Administrator Nancy Cozine visited Benton County this week to learn about the unique needs of the local courts.

The visitors met with Benton County leaders, local lawyers, court staff and community members at the historic courthouse. They also toured the construction site of the County’s long-awaited new courthouse.

The trip is part of Chief Justice Flynn’s effort to visit every county in the state. Flynn said she started making those trips about three and a half years ago, when she became chief justice.

“There’s really no other way for me to understand what the needs are of the different courts,” Flynn said. “Being able to go to the actual location and see the work environment makes a real difference.”

For Cozine, the tour of the new courthouse was a long time coming.

“I’ve been coming to this courthouse for over a decade, and every visit included talk about the need for a new building,” she said. “The fact that this visit includes a tour of the construction site is incredibly exciting.”

Benton County District Attorney Ryan Joslin said the visit was a sign that state leaders understand the courts serve real people with real needs.

“Having the chief justice come here in person means a lot to our community,” Joslin said. We’re grateful for the state’s support and attention.”

Joslin also highlighted Chief Justice Flynn’s announcement that that she is including a fourth Benton County Circuit Court judge in her annual budget.

“The timing of this potential addition to our local judiciary lines up very nicely with the anticipated completion of our new courthouse with its four courtrooms,” Joslin said. “This will go a long way toward increasing the efficiency of our local judicial system.”

With three judges, Benton County has reached the point where judicial capacity is affecting public safety, case outcomes and access to justice. In addition to shortening the time that cases are pending and reducing delays, the fourth judge will allow the County to expand treatment court options. This will improve outcomes for individuals struggling with substance use disorders and behavioral health challenges.

Local lawyers said the visit itself sent a message. Joshua Hunking, a Corvallis attorney who has practiced law for 13 years, said the chief justice coming to the County is very meaningful.

“For them to come out here, we should show the same level of care back,” Hunking said. “We care that they’re here, and they’re showing they care about us.”

Shallon Martin, an attorney and president of the Linn-Benton Bar Association, said the officials wanted to hear what the courts need. Topics included how to run court operations more smoothly and how to plan for the move into the new building. The new courthouse will open in spring 2027.

Local lawyers at the event said  people who get involved make Benton County stand out. Community members show up to civic events, ask good questions and take part in local processes more than in many other communities. Attorneys said that kind of civic engagement makes the legal system feel more connected to the people it serves.

Chief Justice Flynn praised the way the community has come together around the new courthouse.

“It sounds like there’s a lot of support,” she said.

She added that when the state and county work as partners, it leads to better court facilities for everyone.

Cozine said the visit was about listening.

“It’s very hard to see how things are going from far away,” she said. “We want to hear what’s working, what could be better, and collect ideas.”