Marion County, OR. — The Marion County Bar Association (MCBA) has named Marion County Justice of the Peace Justin E. Kidd as a recipient of the Carson Award for service to the community, recognizing his sustained dedication to public service and access to justice.
The Carson Award is presented annually to an MCBA member whose work demonstrates exceptional commitment to both the legal profession and the broader community. The honor recognizes integrity, leadership, and service that extends beyond the courtroom.
Judge Kidd was selected for his professional service, mentorship, civic engagement, and efforts to improve access to the Justice Court for diverse communities. Colleagues highlighted his commitment to serving Spanish- and Russian-speaking residents in Marion County. The Justice Court offers hearings entirely in Spanish when appropriate, and Judge Kidd performs courthouse weddings in English, French, Spanish, and Russian.
“I deeply appreciate Judge Kidd’s commitment to Marion County residents and his enthusiasm for expanding community access to the Justice Court,” said Commissioner Danielle Bethell. “He meets people where they’re at and works hard to help them navigate the legal process smoothly. I think that reflects the best service we seek to provide here at the County.”
Since Kidd’s appointment in 2021, the Marion County Justice Court has expanded significantly. The court handled approximately 16,000 cases per year at the time of his appointment. Today, it hears more than 30,000 cases annually. Many of the additional cases were previously handled by circuit court, allowing that court to focus more directly on public safety matters.
“Show up. Do the work. Open the Courthouse door,” Kidd said. “Those are the guiding principles of my work—both in the court and the community. I’m thankful to MCBA. I’m also thankful to the County Commissioners for providing the court with the resources that make my work possible.”
Beyond the bench, Kidd coaches mock trial teams for Salem-Keizer Public Schools and Willamette University. Willamette’s moot court board honored him with its 2025 Outstanding Legal Professional award, and he previously received the university’s Mentor of the Year recognition.
Kidd has also been active in foster care advocacy. A former resource parent and adoptive father of two former foster children, he has served on the boards of Marion County CASA and Kindred Matters, an organization focused on reuniting foster children separated from siblings.
The MCBA also honored Tiffany Humphrey with the Carson Award for Service to the Bar. Hunter Emerick and Ron Hellewell received the De Muniz Award for professionalism, integrity, fairness, and service to the legal system and community. The awards will be celebrated at a dinner at the Salem Convention Center on Feb. 5, 2026.
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