Backers urge mandatory trauma-informed judicial training in Oregon to protect survivors and children

Supporters told the House Committee on Judiciary that Senate Bill 710A would give the chief justice authority to establish judge-specific continuing education standards that include evidence-based, trauma-informed training on domestic violence, sexual assault and related matters.

The measure as presented to the committee would authorize the chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court to establish minimum continuing education requirements for judges of the circuit courts, tax court, Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, require that requirements include evidence-based, trauma-informed education on domestic violence and sexual assault, and direct the state court administrator to report to the interim legislative committees by Sept. 15, 2027; the reporting requirement would be repealed Jan. 2, 2028, in the bill…