A Marion County judge, who had been involved in a recent tirade at a social event, kept a loaded and unsecured semi-automatic rifle under his desk in his chambers, according to public records. The gun was discovered on April 30, three days after Circuit Judge Channing Bennett’s explosive outburst at an Oregon Circuit Court Judges Association Conference.

Incident Details

The incident occurred during a social hour hosted by Judge Sean Armstrong at the Sunriver Resort on April 27. Bennett used multiple obscenities and was intoxicated during the event, according to reports from other judges. The judges who witnessed the outburst expressed concerns about their safety around Bennett, who is known to carry a gun.

The Marion County trial court administrator notified the Oregon Judicial Department Marshal’s Office about the unsecured firearm on April 30. Circuit Judge Tom Hart retrieved the gun and rendered it safe. The gun was then stored in the marshal’s safe, and Bennett picked it up on May 4.

Policy and Procedure

Oregon law generally prohibits guns in public buildings, but allows presiding judges in each county to issue orders that carve out exceptions. In Marion County, the order states that judges may carry or possess a gun while acting within the scope of employment. However, the policy requires judges who carry guns in the courthouse to have a license for a concealed handgun and to notify the presiding judge of their intent to carry a dangerous weapon.

The policy also states that all guns in the courthouse must be kept under lock and key or personally carried on the person while on court premises. Bennett’s lawyer did not respond to requests for comment, and Marion County Presiding Judge James Edmonds did not respond to questions about whether Bennett had informed him about the gun or provided his concealed handgun license.

Original reporting: Salem Reporter — read the source article.