Circuit Courts - Recent Vacancies

Governor Kitzhaber Announces Malheur County Circuit Court Vacancy

The following candidates have submitted materials to the Governor's Office for the Malheur County Circuit Court vacancy. Comments on any of the candidates can be made to General Counsel at Governor John Kitzhaber's Office, Attn. General Counsel's Office, jennifer.j.andrew@state.or.us, 503 378-6246. Please note the Governor's Office discourages letter writing campaigns.

David R. Carlson
Lung S. Hung
Manuel Perez
Brian Zanotelli

On April 5, 2003 the Board of Governors made changes to Board Policy 5.603(C) (now OSB Bylaw 2.702) regarding bar polls. Further changes were made on April 2, 2004 to change the notification authority from the Governor's Office to the bar. The changes made in 2003 eliminate the preference poll for appointments unless a request is made by the Governor or by a decision of the Board of Governors. Preference polls will still be conducted for election contests. A preference poll will not be held with respect to the appointment for this position.

A press release was issued by the Governor's Office on Tuesday, December 20, and contained the following information:

Governor Kitzhaber Announces Malhuer County Circuit Court Vacancy
Judge Pratt to Retire from Malheur County Circuit Court

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kitzhaber announced today that he is accepting applications for a judicial position on the Circuit Court for Malheur County to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge J. Burdette Pratt. The Governor thanked Judge Pratt for his service to Malheur County and said he will fill the position by appointment. Judge Pratt's retirement takes effect April 1, 2012.

Anyone interested in filling the position must submit an Interest Form for Judicial Appointments to the Governor's office by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 9, 2012. Please note that the interest form has been recently updated. Interested applicants should mail or deliver the forms to: Liani J. Reeves, General Counsel, Office of the Governor, 900 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301-4047.

Governor Kitzhaber fills judicial vacancies based on merit. He encourages applications from lawyers with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.

ORS 3.041 and 3.050 provide that at the time of appointment to the court, the candidate must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Oregon and a member of the Oregon State Bar. ORS 3.041 requires that this vacancy must be filled by an applicant who is a resident of or have a principal office in Malheur County. ORS 3.041(5) provides the required length of time for the residency requirements.

To receive answers to questions about the appointment process, or to request an interest form, contact Jen Andrew (503-378-6246). The Interest Form for Judicial Appointments is also available online at http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/judicial.shtml

If you have questions about the Governor's process, please contact the Governor's Office directly. If you have questions or comments about the Oregon State Bar's process, please contact Amanda Roeser at aroeser@osbar.org or 1-800-452-8260, ext. 376.

Governor Kitzhaber Announces Polk County Circuit Court Vacancy

The following candidates have submitted materials to the Governor's Office for the Polk County Circuit Court vacancy. Comments on any of the candidates can be made to General Counsel at Governor John Kitzhaber's Office, Attn. General Counsel's Office, jennifer.j.andrew@state.or.us, 503 378-6246. Please note the Governor's Office discourages letter writing campaigns.

Sally L. Avera
Aaron D. Felton
Norman R. Hill
Lori H. Lindley
Steven M. McCarthy
Timothy R. Park
Hon. Gerald R. Tipton
Max Wall

On April 5, 2003 the Board of Governors made changes to Board Policy 5.603(C) (now OSB Bylaw 2.702) regarding bar polls. Further changes were made on April 2, 2004 to change the notification authority from the Governor's Office to the bar. The changes made in 2003 eliminate the preference poll for appointments unless a request is made by the Governor or by a decision of the Board of Governors. Preference polls will still be conducted for election contests. A preference poll will not be held with respect to the appointment for this position.

A press release was issued by the Governor's Office on Friday, December 2, and contained the following information:

Governor Kitzhaber Announces Polk County Circuit Court Vacancy
Judge Avera to Retire from Polk County Circuit Court

(Salem, OR) — Governor John Kitzhaber announced today that he is accepting applications for a judicial position on the Circuit Court for Polk County to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Fred E. Avera. The Governor thanked Judge Avera for his service to Polk County and said he will fill the position by appointment. Judge Avera's retirement takes effect January 1, 2012.
 
Anyone interested in filling the positions must submit an Interest Form for Judicial Appointments to the Governor's office by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 19, 2011. Applicants who previously applied should submit a new Judicial Interest Form because the form has recently been updated.Interested applicants should mail or deliver the forms to:  Liani J. Reeves, General Counsel, Office of the Governor, 900 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301-4047.
 
Governor Kitzhaber fills judicial vacancies based on merit. He encourages applications from lawyers with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.
 
ORS 3.041 and 3.050 provide that at the time of appointment to the court, the candidate must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Oregon and a member of the Oregon State Bar. ORS 3.041 requires that this vacancy must be filled by an applicant who is a resident of or have a principal office in Polk County. ORS 3.041(5) provides the required length of time for the residency requirements.
 
To receive answers to questions about the appointment process, or to request an interest form, contact Jen Andrew (503-378-6246). The Interest Form for Judicial Appointments is also available online at http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/judicial.shtml

If you have questions about the Governor's process, please contact the Governor's Office directly. If you have questions or comments about the Oregon State Bar's process, please contact Amanda Roeser at aroeser@osbar.org or 1-800-452-8260, ext. 376.

Governor Kitzhaber Announces Washington County Circuit Court Vacancy

The following candidates have submitted materials to the Governor's Office for the Washington County Circuit Court vacancy. Comments on any of the candidates can be made to General Counsel at Governor John Kitzhaber's Office, Attn. General Counsel's Office, jennifer.j.andrew@state.or.us, 503 378-6246. Please note the Governor's Office discourages letter writing campaigns.

Stacie F. Beckerman
David G. Gannett
Oscar Garcia
Michael Guzman
John S. Knowles
Brandon B. Mayfield
Ricardo J. Menchaca
Cynthia I. Mohiuddin
Brandon Thompson
Fred N. Weinhouse
Mark John Holady

On April 5, 2003 the Board of Governors made changes to Board Policy 5.603(C) (now OSB Bylaw 2.702) regarding bar polls. Further changes were made on April 2, 2004 to change the notification authority from the Governor's Office to the bar. The changes made in 2003 eliminate the preference poll for appointments unless a request is made by the Governor or by a decision of the Board of Governors. Preference polls will still be conducted for election contests. A preference poll will not be held with respect to the appointment for this position.

A press release was issued by the Governor's Office on Friday, November 11, and contained the following information:

Governor Kitzhaber Announces Washington County Circuit Court Vacancy
Judge Price to Retire from Washington County bench

(Salem, OR) — Governor John Kitzhaber announced today that he is accepting applications for a judicial position on the Washington County Circuit Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Steven L. Price. The Governor thanked Judge Price for his service to Washington County and said he will fill the position by appointment. Judge Price's retirement takes effect January 1, 2012.

Anyone interested in filling the position must submit an Interest Form for Judicial Appointments to the Governor's office. Because the form has been recently updated, all applicants must fill out a new judicial interest form. Interested applicants should mail or deliver the forms to: Liani J. Reeves, General Counsel, Office of the Governor, 900 Court Street NE, Salem, OR 97301-4047. Forms must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 2, 2011.

Governor Kitzhaber fills judicial vacancies based on merit. He encourages applications from lawyers with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.

ORS 3.041 and 3.050 provide that at the time of appointment to the court, the candidate must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of Oregon and a member of the Oregon State Bar. ORS 3.041(2) further states: "[e]ach judge of the circuit court shall be a resident of or have a principal office in the judicial district for which the judge is elected or appointed, except that in any judicial district having a population of 500,000 or more, according to the latest federal decennial census, any judge of the circuit court may reside within 10 miles of the boundary of the judicial district." Washington County has a population in excess of 500,000. ORS 3.041(5) provides the required length of time for the residency requirements.
 
To receive answers to questions about the appointment process, or to request an interest form, contact Jen Andrew (503-378-6246). The Interest Form for Judicial Appointments is also available online at http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/judicial.shtml

If you have questions about the Governor's process, please contact the Governor's Office directly. If you have questions or comments about the Oregon State Bar's process, please contact Amanda Roeser at aroeser@osbar.org or 1-800-452-8260, ext. 376.

Recent Appointments

Governor Kitzhaber Appoints Roger J. DeHoog to Deschutes County Circuit Court

(Salem, OR) —  Governor Kitzhaber today announced the appointment of Roger J. DeHoog to fill the vacancy on the Deschutes County Circuit Court created by the retirement of Judge Stephen H. Tiktin.
 
“Roger DeHoog brings substantial experience in civil, criminal, domestic and juvenile law,” Governor Kitzhaber said. “With a diverse background that includes serving as a juvenile court referee and as a pro tem circuit court judge in Deschutes County, and having litigated some of the State’s most significant civil issues in state and federal courts, I am confident that he will make valuable contributions to the court and serve the citizens of Deschutes County and the State of Oregon with distinction.”
 
Mr. DeHoog received an economics degree from Dartmouth College and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Oregon School of Law. Prior to his current role as a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Oregon Department of Justice’s Special Litigation Unit, which handles major state litigation including environmental, constitutional and consumer protection laws, Mr. DeHoog was in private practice in Bend handling criminal defense and domestic relations cases. Mr. DeHoog also has served as a juvenile court referee for Deschutes County Circuit Court where he gained experience hearing juvenile delinquency cases and later served as a pro tem circuit court judge hearing a variety of traffic, landlord-tenant, and small claims cases, and presiding over settlement conferences, arraignments, and several adult and juvenile trials. Mr. DeHoog is a former member of the Oregon State Bar ethics committee, and currently serves in a similar role at the Oregon Department of Justice.

Governor Announces the Appointments of Jodie Mooney, Valeri Love & Robert C. Conover to Lane County Circuit Court

(SALEM, Ore.) —  Governor Kitzhaber today announced the appointments of Jodie H. Mooney, Valeri L. Love and Robert “Curt” Conover to fill the vacancies on the Lane County Circuit Court created by the retirements of Judges Douglas Mitchell, Jack Billings and Ted Carp.  
 
Ms. Mooney received a Bachelor of Arts from University of Wisconsin and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from University of Oregon.  Ms. Mooney previously worked in private practice handling civil litigation.  She is currently the Regional Director of Risk Management and Organizational Integrity for PeaceHealth Oregon where she oversees litigation, sentinel event/root cause analysis processes, and patient grievances.  Ms. Mooney is active in the community including public speaking on various topics, mentoring law students, and serving as a member of the Rainbow Youth Group.
 
Ms. Love received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Linfield College, a Master of Management degree from the Atkinson Graduate School of Management at Willamette University, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Willamette University College of Law.  She started her legal career as a law clerk with the Lane County Circuit Court and then served as a deputy district attorney with the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.  She currently works as a civil litigator with the firm of Gleaves Swearingen Potter & Scott LLP.  Ms. Love is involved in numerous community activities including the Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association and Oregon Women Lawyers. 
 
Mr. Conover received a Bachelor of Science degree from California Polytechnic State University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Lewis & Clark Law School.  Mr. Conover has prior experience as a deputy district attorney in Lane and Marion Counties and currently serves as a litigation attorney for Liberty Mutual (Safeco) Insurance Company.  He has also served as a judge pro tem in Florence and Cottage Grove Municipal Courts.
 
“With three vacancies on the Lane County Circuit Court, we really had a great opportunity to bring new energy and diversity to the Court,” said Governor Kitzhaber.  “With the appointment of these candidates, the court is gaining dozens of years of both civil and criminal experience as well as three remarkable lawyers with longstanding commitment to community and public service.  I am confident that they will continue to serve the people of Lane County well.”

Governor Kitzhaber Announces Appointments of Lindsay Partridge and David Leith to the Marion County Circuit Court

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kitzhaber today announced the appointments of Lindsay R. Partridge and David E. Leith to fill the vacancies on the Marion County Circuit Court created by the retirements of Judges John B. Wilson and Joseph C. Guimond.
 
“Mr. Partridge brings a long history of serving juveniles and representing indigent clients, which will be a valuable addition to the bench,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “He will also bring compassion, empathy and an understanding of the circumstances that bring our state’s citizens into contact with our courts.”
 
Mr. Partridge received a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Willamette University, both with Honors. He has most recently practiced as a solo practitioner with an emphasis in juvenile law, including delinquency, dependency, termination of parental rights, and juvenile, guardianship and adoption cases. He also has a background in indigent criminal defense. He has been serving as a pro tem judge in Marion County and served as a municipal judge for the City of Salem from 1998-2005. Mr. Partridge is the past president of the Marion County Bar Association and past chairperson of the Criminal Law Section of the Oregon State Bar. He has strong ties to the community, including serving as Team Leader on the Willamette Valley American Inns of Court, as a member of the Marion County Commission for Children and Families, and as a member of the Marion County Juvenile Advocacy Consortium.
 
“Mr. Leith is one of the State's most valued lawyers,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “His long service to the Department of Justice and as a public sector attorney will be a great loss to the Department but a great asset for the Marion County Circuit Court and the people of Marion County. He will be a fair and patient judge with a diligent commitment to the rule of law.”
 
Mr. Leith received a Bachelor of Arts from Whitman College and a Doctor of Jurisprudence, Order of the Coif, from the University of Oregon School of Law. After law school, he clerked at the Oregon Court of Appeals for the Honorable John H. Buttler and for the Honorable Susan M. Leeson. Since 1994, he has been with the Oregon Department of Justice and has served in several different roles including Attorney-in-Charge of the Special Litigation Unit (SLU) and most recently as the Associate Attorney General. As a member of SLU, Mr. Leith handled some of the State’s most important and complex litigation including constitutional challenges to state statutes and programs. As Associate Attorney General, he serves as part of the Attorney General’s Executive Team and as Chief Counsel of the General Counsel Division. He works on a diverse range of issues that impact Oregonians every day. Mr. Leith is a member of the Marion County Bar Association and has served on various law improvement committees, including the Oregon Administrative Hearings Oversight Committee, the Administrative Rules Advisory Committee, and as past chair of the Constitutional Law Section of the Oregon State Bar.  

Governor Kitzhaber appoints Erika Hadlock to Court of Appeals

(SALEM, Ore.) —   Governor Kitzhaber today announced the appointment of Erika L. Hadlock to fill the vacancy on the Court of Appeals created by the retirement of the Honorable Ellen Rosenblum. 
 
“Erika Hadlock will bring extensive knowledge and experience in civil, administrative, and criminal law,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “I am very pleased to appoint a lawyer with her work ethic and diverse experience,and I am confident that her service on the bench will be an asset to all Oregonians as she joins one of the hardest working appellate courts in the nation.”
 
Ms. Hadlock received her Juris Doctorate from Cornell University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from Reed College. Shehas served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Appellate Division of the Oregon Department of Justice and has had other assignments in the Department,including serving in the Trial Division and as Deputy Solicitor General. At the Department, Ms. Hadlockhas handled hundreds of civil, administrative, and criminal cases before the Oregon Court of Appeals and the Oregon Supreme Court,and she brings to the court experience as a litigation associate in a private law firm, as an administrative law judge for the Bureau of Labor and Industries, and as a law clerk to Honorable Anna J. Brown. A longtime member of the Oregon State Bar, Oregon Women Lawyers, and the Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Association, Ms. Hadlock also is a member of the International Visitors Committee of the World Affairs Council of Oregon. 

Governor Kitzhaber Appoints DeAnn Novotny to Linn County Circuit Court

(SALEM, Ore.) —  Governor Kitzhaber today announced the appointment of DeAnn L. Novotny to fill the vacancy on the Linn County Circuit Court created by the retirement of Judge John A. McCormick.
 
“DeAnn Novotny brings a record of public service and breadth of experience that will serve the people of Linn County and the State of Oregon well,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “I am pleased to make this appointment and believe she will make a great addition to the court.”
 
Ms. Novotny received her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University and received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Oregon School of Law. A registered nurse before attending law school and later a small-business owner, Ms. Novotny has been a Senior Deputy District Attorney with the Linn County District Attorney’s Office and brings a wide variety of trial court experience in criminal prosecution, including juvenile matters and treatment courts. Ms. Novotny is a member of the Linn-Benton Bar Association and has been on the Board of Directors for the ABC House, a child advocacy center.

Governor Kitzhaber Appoints John A. Olson to the Seventh Judicial District

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kitzhaber today announced the appointment of John A. Olson to fill the vacancy on the Circuit Court for the Seventh Judicial District created by the retirement of Judge Donald W. Hull.

"I was extremely impressed with Mr. Olson's experience representing clients from all walks of life," said Governor Kitzhaber. "Mr. Olson's significant trial experience in all five counties within the district makes him well suited to serve the court and the community."

Mr. Olson received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Colorado and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Lewis & Clark Law School. Mr. Olson has been practicing law for more than twenty years, with the last eleven years spent representing clients in the Seventh Judicial District. He brings a wide variety of trial court experience in criminal prosecution, ranging from minor thefts to homicides. Mr. Olson is a member of the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and has been a Faculty Member for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.

Governor Kitzhaber Appoints Brian C. Dretke to the Tenth Judicial District

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kitzhaber today announced the appointment of Brian C. Dretke to fill the vacancy on the Circuit Court for the 10th Judicial District created by the retirement of Judge Phillip A. Mendiguren. The 10th Judicial District encompasses Union and Wallowa Counties.

"Mr. Dretke is a skilled lawyer who will bring extensive experience in both civil and criminal law," Governor Kitzhaber said. "His entire career has been devoted to public service—as a member of the military, as a law enforcement officer, as a prosecutor and as a private attorney representing Oregon's most vulnerable populations. It is not surprising that he would wish to continue his service to the people of Union and Wallowa Counties as a circuit court judge."

While in the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Dretke received his Bachelor's Degree from Louisiana State University and he later became a law enforcement officer in Oklahoma. Rising through the law enforcement ranks, he attended night school at the University of Tulsa School of Law and ultimately received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1992. He began his legal career as a deputy district attorney and worked from 1993-1997 in both Union and Lane counties. In 1997, he went into private practice in La Grande, and in 2000 became a partner at Hallman & Dretke in Pendleton. Mr. Dretke is an active member of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and was selected as its president for 2012, as well as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Certified Civil Trial Specialist through the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He also handles prisoner rights cases pro bono in federal court and has been involved in youth law programs including Teen Court and the Classroom Law Project.

Governor Kitzhaber Appoints Janelle Wipper to Washington County Circuit Court

(SALEM, Ore.) —  Governor Kitzhaber today announced the appointment of Janelle Factora Wipper to fill the vacancy on the Washington County Circuit Court created by the appointment of Judge Marco Hernandez to the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.  She will start her new position on the court August 1, 2011.
 
“Janelle Wipper’s diverse background, which includes both criminal and civil law, will make her an asset to the trial court,” said Governor Kitzhaber.  “Her personal and professional experiences, along with her commitment to public service, will benefit the citizens of Washington County and the State of Oregon.”
 
Ms. Wipper received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Willamette University College of Law and her Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University.  Ms. Wipper has been serving as Associate Chief Counsel for the Civil Enforcement Division of the Oregon Department of Justice and previously served as a Deputy District Attorney in Washington County for 11 years.  Currently serving as President of the Washington County Bar Association, Ms. Wipper is also a member of the Oregon Women Lawyers, Oregon Minority Lawyers Association, and the Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association.