Introduction

To apply for admission pro hac vice, attorneys must file a Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice in the case in which they wish to appear and pay the requisite fee.

The procedure varies depending on whether the attorney has appeared pro hac vice in the District of Oregon previously and, if so, when.

IMPORTANT! If the attorney seeking pro hac vice admission has local counsel file the motion, he or she must still request e-filing privileges via PACER before the motion will be ruled upon if he or she has not previously filed in the District of Oregon.

Instructions for requesting CM/ECF E-Filing privileges via PACER

After the Court activates the attorney's CM/ECF user account, the attorney will receive a message from the Court via PACER that may be found by clicking E-File Registration/Maintenance History in the Maintenance tab under My Account. The attorney may then file the motion to appear pro hac vice. ( Form Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice.pdf )

Introduction

Admission of government attorneys to practice in the District of Oregon is governed by LR 83-4, which provides that attorneys who represent the United States, Indian treaty tribes, a state, or any agency of these sovereigns may appear in a case without having to comply with the requirements of LR 83-1(c) (fee payment) and LR 83-2 (membership in OSB). In addition, government attorneys are not required to attend an admissions ceremony or take the Oath of Admission.

PACER Request

To apply for admission as a government attorney, attorneys must complete the Attorney Admissions/E-file Request on the PACER website.

After the review of the applicant's request, the attorney will receive a determination from the Court via PACER that may be found by clicking E-File Registration/Maintenance History in the Maintenance tab under My Account. 

Attorneys Who Leave Government Service

Government attorney admission under LR 83-4 terminates when the attorney leaves government service. All government attorneys are required to notify the Clerk's Office if they leave government service.

Applicants to the bar of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon are required to pay an application fee before they may be admitted. After submitted the request for admission via PACER, applicants will receive a Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) with a link to pay the admissions fee.

On receiving the notice, applicants should click the link¹ or browse to: ecf.ord.uscourts.gov/n/baradmission/pages/barAdmission.jsf to access the Bar Admission fee utility in ECF. Applicants will be prompted to log in with PACER.

Applicants are to click the Pay Fee button and follow the steps on the next screens. A confirmation page will display with the receipt number after the transaction is finalized.

This information, as well as the applicant's bar status, may be found in the Bar Admission utility of CM/ECF by clicking Bar Admission under the Your Account heading under the Utilities menu.

¹ Also available in CM/ECF by clicking Bar Admission under the Your Account heading under the Utilities menu.

Admissions Ceremonies

The District holds monthly admissions ceremonies, typically on the second or third Monday of the month. Ceremonies begin at 9:00 a.m., and attendees must check in by 8:55 a.m.

Applications for admission must be received and the application fee paid at least 10 calendar days prior to the next scheduled admissions ceremony for the attorney to be admitted at that ceremony. Attorneys whose applications are received after that deadline will be scheduled for admission the following month. If you cannot attend your ceremony, contact the Clerk's Office to reschedule.

The admissions ceremonies listed below are held in Portland. Prospective attorneys should contact the Eugene or Medford offices for information about attorney admissions in those locations.

Out-of-state applicants may make arrangements to be admitted without attending the ceremony. See In Absentia Admission on the General Admission page.

If attendance at an in-person admissions ceremony would present a hardship, applicants may request to be admitted without attending the ceremony. Out-of-state applicants may use the same procedure if completion of the oath in absentia at a federal courthouse outside the district would present a hardship. See Good Cause Exception on the General Admission page.

Current Admissions Schedule for the Portland Division:

Ceremonies are held at 9:00 a.m. unless provided otherwise below.

Oaths

Admitted attorneys are to follow these procedures to request a Certificate of Good Standing or a duplicate Certificate of Admission for the bar of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.  Requests are to be electronically filed in CM/ECF and the fee is to be paid via Pay.gov.  (See also the Court's Schedule of Fees and Local Rules 83-1 and 83-5.)

Note: Attorneys requesting a duplicate certificate of admission must state the reason a duplicate is required and also certify that they are no longer in possession of the original.

After your request is verified and processed, a CM/ECF "Notice of Electronic Filing" informing you that the Certificate has been issued will be sent to your e-mail address and by regular mail, unless you select the option to pick up the Certificate at the Clerk's Office Intake counter.

• Welcome Letter from the Federal Bar Association
• Oregon U.S. District Court Historical Society Website and Membership Information
• Concise Guide to Courtroom Craft by Gus J. Solomon
• CM/ECF Help and Training
• District of Oregon Pro Bono Program
• Court Fee Schedules