Misdemeanor Defense in Multnomah County
What to Expect If You've Been Charged with a Misdemeanor in Multnomah County
Being charged with a misdemeanor in Multnomah County can feel overwhelming — especially if it's your first time navigating the criminal justice system. The courthouse, the dockets, the legal jargon — it's a lot. This post breaks down what the process looks like, step by step, so you know what's coming and what's expected of you.
Step 1: Arraignment
Your first court appearance is called an arraignment. This typically happens at the Multnomah County Justice Center in Downtown Portland. At arraignment, you'll be formally informed of the charges against you, and the court will set your future court dates.
A few important things happen at arraignment:
You'll get an attorney. If you can't afford to hire an attorney, you'll need to visit the Indigent Defense Verification window (or call verification staff if you're appearing remotely) to apply for a court-appointed attorney. If you want to hire your own lawyer, the court will set a follow-up date to confirm that.
The DA's office is expected to provide early discovery and a plea offer — but only if you have no other open or pending cases — within 3 business days of arraignment.
You'll receive two future court dates: a Pretrial Conference and a Final Resolution Conference. These are the two main milestones before trial.
The DA may decline to file charges. Sometimes the District Attorney's office will review the case at arraignment and decide not to file charges — this is called a "no complaint." If that happens, the case is dismissed and you are free to go. However, a no complaint is not the same as the charges disappearing permanently. The DA's office typically retains the ability to refile charges later, as long as the statute of limitations hasn't expired. If you were no complained, it's still worth speaking with an attorney about what that means for your specific situation and whether refiling is a realistic possibility.
Step 2: The Pretrial Conference (PTC)
Your Pretrial Conference is scheduled two weeks after arraignment and is held on a Friday morning at the Multnomah Circuit Court.
What is the purpose? The PTC is an early check-in. The court wants to confirm that your attorney has been in contact with you, that the prosecution has shared evidence (called "discovery"), and that a plea offer has been made. It's also a chance for your attorney and the prosecutor to begin negotiations.
Do you have to appear? Not necessarily in person. If your attorney has been in contact with you and you sign a Consent to Appear Through Counsel form, your attorney can appear on your behalf at the PTC without you being there. However, if you want to enter a plea that morning, you must appear in person.
Can the PTC be cancelled? Yes. If your attorney and the prosecutor have already conferred, exchanged discovery, and received a plea offer, and they file a Joint Status Report by 9 a.m. the day before and contact the court by 10:30 a.m. the prior day, the Pretrial Conference can be cancelled entirely.
What if you don't show up and haven't filed the consent form? The court may issue a warrant for your arrest. Don't skip this date without making the proper arrangements with your attorney.
Step 3: The Final Resolution Conference (FRC)
The Final Resolution Conference is your second and more critical court date. It is scheduled:
4 weeks after arraignment if you are in custody
7 weeks after arraignment if you are out of custody
Like the PTC, it is held on a Friday morning.
What is the purpose? This is the deadline hearing. The court's goal is to either resolve your case through a plea agreement or set it for trial — all within 90 days of your arraignment date. Multnomah County is required to meet Oregon's statewide time-to-disposition standards, which means 90% of misdemeanor cases must be resolved within 90 days. Multnomah County takes this time to disposition standard seriously.
Do you have to appear? Yes. Your personal appearance is required at the FRC. There is no option to appear through counsel or remotely at this hearing except in exceptional circumstances. You are expected to be at the courthouse by 8:05 a.m.
What happens at the FRC? Your attorney and the prosecutor will confer from 8–9 a.m. Then the judge will call the docket at 9 a.m. At that point, one of two things will happen:
You enter a plea and your case is resolved, or
A trial date is set — which must be within 90 days of your arraignment
If you are setting trial dates and you need a date beyond 90 days, your attorney will need to get special approval from the CPC judge that same morning. This timeline poses unique circumstances relative to other counties and requires swift action and important decision making early on.
Step 4: Call and Trial (If Your Case Doesn't Resolve)
If your case isn't resolved at the FRC, it moves toward trial. Here's how that works:
Call Date: This is a court appearance before trial where you confirm you're ready to proceed. Call dates are held Monday through Thursday at 9 a.m. You can appear remotely for Call. Your attorney will report the expected length of trial, any pretrial motions, and confirm that witnesses are available.
Trial Date: Trial dates are assigned based on how long the trial is expected to take:
4-day trials start on Mondays (Call is 11 days prior, on a Thursday)
3-day trials start on Tuesdays (Call is 8 days prior)
2-day trials start on Wednesdays (Call is 8 days prior)
1-day trials start on Thursdays (Call is 8 days prior)
Pretrial Motions: If your attorney needs to file motions to suppress evidence or other pretrial motions, they must be filed in writing at least 21 days before trial. Missing this deadline can result in the motion not being heard.
Special Cases: DUII, Driving While Suspended and Domestic Violence (DV) Cases
Not every misdemeanor follows the standard track. A few common charge types have their own separate dockets:
DUII (Driving Under the Influence): If you're eligible for DUII Diversion — a program that can result in dismissal of charges if you complete treatment and requirements — that entry hearing is held on Friday afternoons.
Driving While Suspended (DWS): These cases may be assigned to an Early Resolution (XPlea) docket on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday mornings for a faster resolution path.
Domestic Violence (DV): Some misdemeanor DV cases may be eligible for the Differed Sentencing Program. A program that allows first time offenders an opportunity to get their Domestic Violence Charged dismissed. Entry into this program may occur on either the PTC, FRC or on a specialized DV docket on Thursday afternoon.
The Big Picture: How Long Does a Multnomah County Misdemeanor Take?
Here's a rough timeline for a typical out-of-custody misdemeanor case:
Milestone Timing
Arraignment Day 0
Pretrial Conference ~2 weeks after arraignment
Final Resolution Conference. ~7 weeks after arraignment
Trial (if needed) Within 90 days of arraignment
The court is actively working to resolve 90% of all misdemeanor cases within 90 days — so things move relatively quickly compared to many other jurisdictions. This makes it important for you to work closely with your attorney early in the case.
What You Can Do to Help Your Case
A few practical takeaways:
Stay in contact with your attorney. The entire PTC process depends on your attorney being able to confirm contact with you. If your lawyer can't reach you, it creates problems at every stage.
Know your court dates. You are responsible for knowing when and where to appear. When in doubt, call the court's case processing line at 971-274-0545, option 5.
Appear when required. Missing a required appearance — especially the FRC — can result in a warrant being issued for your arrest.
Don't wait to hire a lawyer. The earlier you have representation, the more time your attorney has to review discovery, negotiate a plea, or prepare a defense before your first deadline.
If you've been charged with a misdemeanor in Multnomah County, Oregon, and have questions about your case, Scissors Law offers free consultations. Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney by clicking HERE, or Call us at 503-446-3971.
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