Can I find out what happened to the man who caused my friend's demise?
August 25, 2013 1:40 PM Subscribe
My friend was killed in an accident two years ago. He was a passenger on the back of a motorcycle. The driver had minor injuries and he was later charged with DUI and first degree manslaughter. It happened in Amity, Or. When I google it I find the original story...but nothing else. Maybe he hasn't been tried yet? Or maybe (who knows) the charges got dropped (I sort of doubt that, but these days it seems like anything can happen).
Can you tell me specifically if I (a non-relative) have any rights to information about where things stand? My friend didn't have much family that I know of. Who would I contact? The DA? Would they talk to me? Is there any type of procedure to follow?
Thank you!
Yeah, start by calling the court clerk or the records department (call the courthouse main number, and ask them to transfer you to the right person). They'll likely either be able to help you, or they'll be able to point you in the right direction. Court records are public records, so there will be some way to find this information, and I've found that court clerks, if you're friendly and nice, are normally very helpful and kind. They sort of remind me of librarians that way...
posted by decathecting at 1:59 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by decathecting at 1:59 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You may look at the Oregon Circuit Court Calendars here.. Choose Yamhill District. If you know the name of the defendant, you may look it up by name. Otherwise, you may have to search by 90-day intervals in the intervening time period.
Cases are listed by the case number and whether it's a misdemeanor or a felony, but it does not identify the type of felony, so the defendant's name would be most helpful to you. Uncheck listings for civil cases, family cases and probate cases so that only criminal cases show up in your search.
If the trial has already occurred, there should be disposition information in the listing.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 2:58 PM on August 25, 2013
Cases are listed by the case number and whether it's a misdemeanor or a felony, but it does not identify the type of felony, so the defendant's name would be most helpful to you. Uncheck listings for civil cases, family cases and probate cases so that only criminal cases show up in your search.
If the trial has already occurred, there should be disposition information in the listing.
posted by halfbuckaroo at 2:58 PM on August 25, 2013
Response by poster: Thank you everyone! I appreciate your help.
posted by naplesyellow at 4:30 PM on August 25, 2013
posted by naplesyellow at 4:30 PM on August 25, 2013
To the extent that these things are a matter of public record, anyone who knows the information to request should be entitled to take a look at them.
For what it's worth, if he was charged with anything, odds are very, very good that he's already been charged and tried. It's a very rare criminal case that takes longer than six months or so. Depending on the charge, he could actually have completed most of his sentence by now.
posted by valkyryn at 7:35 AM on August 26, 2013
For what it's worth, if he was charged with anything, odds are very, very good that he's already been charged and tried. It's a very rare criminal case that takes longer than six months or so. Depending on the charge, he could actually have completed most of his sentence by now.
posted by valkyryn at 7:35 AM on August 26, 2013
You may look at the Oregon Circuit Court Calendars here.
I think this only searches the future calendar, so it likely won't do much good.
posted by smackfu at 7:55 AM on August 26, 2013
I think this only searches the future calendar, so it likely won't do much good.
posted by smackfu at 7:55 AM on August 26, 2013
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posted by Ideefixe at 1:53 PM on August 25, 2013 [1 favorite]