09/23/2025
NEW MEDIATION SERVICES - Welcome Senior Judge Jenefer Grant
Judge Grant retired in 2020, after 13-½ years on the Circuit Court bench in Columbia County, Oregon, including seven years as Presiding Judge of the judicial district. As Circuit Judge, she
handled all types of cases, including criminal, domestic relations, juvenile dependency and delinquency, drug court, probate, and civil cases. She believed strongly in resolving disputes
before trial to avoid stress and expense to the parties whenever possible, and facilitated countless settlements, through multiple meetings when needed.
As a Senior Judge, she regularly does remote settlement conferences for Benton County,handling criminal, domestic relations, probate, and other civil cases. Although each of these
settlement conferences is scheduled for less than two hours, she is an attentive and efficient mediator and has been able to assist the parties and their attorneys to settle the majority of the
cases presented to her within the time allotted.
Judge Grant was born in Oregon and has lived most of her life here, including nearly three decades in Columbia County, where she was an attorney in private practice both before and after serving on the Circuit bench. She has warmth and curiosity, and a range of personal and professional experience which allows her to relate well to litigants. She has worked in various fields including hospital pharmacy and teaching at Portland State University, been married for 33 years, raised a daughter, owned many pets, started and managed a restaurant, lived in
urban and small town settings as well as abroad, spent lots of time in the natural environment, and is respectful of the choices people make in their own lives.
Judge Grant is available for remote mediation, where at least one party is represented by an attorney. During remote mediation, each party is placed -with his or her attorney- in a virtual "breakout room" where Judge Grant can speak privately with each side. This process has worked well for dozens of successful mediations conducted by Judge Grant.
Judge Grant requests that prior to mediation each party submit a brief, confidential summary of the case from their point of view, including that party's position for purposes of settlement
negotiations. She will also review any supplementary materials, upon request. This allows her to go into a session with the parties with enough background to conduct an efficient mediation, saving everyone time and expense.
Judge Grant has some availability to conduct mediation sessions on evenings and weekends, with no additional fees for after-hours services.
To request mediation with Judge Grant, please email her at [email protected].
