Governor Kulongoski has appointed Katherine Weber to the Clackamas County Circuit Court. Details available here.
Governor Kulongoski has appointed Dan Bunch to the Klamath County Circuit Court. Details available here.
Governor Kulongoski has appointed Suzanne Chanti to the Klamath County Circuit Court. Details available here.
Governor Kulongoski has appointed Kelly Skye to the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Details available here.
Court of Appeals
Governor Announces Appointment to Oregon Court of Appeals
Governor Announces Appointment to Oregon Court of Appeals
(Salem) – Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced his appointment of Rebecca Duncan to the Oregon Court of Appeals. Ms. Duncan will fill the vacancy created by Judge Walter Edmonds’ retirement.
“Rebecca Duncan is an outstanding appellate lawyer with significant criminal and constitutional law experience, making her eminently qualified to serve on the Court of Appeals,” said Governor Kulongoski. “Her familiarity with the volume and substance of the work before this court means she can hit the ground running and make immediate and meaningful contributions to one of the hardest working courts in the country.”
Ms. Duncan received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. During law school, she worked in criminal law, in both prosecution and defense roles. She also worked at the State Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser in Washington, D.C. for the Office of Law Enforcement and Intelligence.
After law school, Ms. Duncan served as a trial attorney with the Metropolitan Public Defender in both Washington and Multnomah counties. Since 2000, she has served in the Appellate Division of the Office of Public Defense Services, where she regularly practices before the Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals.
Ms. Duncan currently holds the position of Assistant Chief Defender in the Office of Public Defense Services. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Oregon State Bar’s Criminal Law Section and frequently speaks at continuing legal education programs on the topics of appellate law and criminal law.
Circuit Courts
Recent Appointments
Governor Announces Clackamas County Circuit Court Appointment
Salem – Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced the appointment of Katherine Weber to the Clackamas County Circuit Court. Judge Weber will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Robert Selander, which was effective January 1, 2010.
Katherine Weber received her JD from Willamette University College of Law in 1994 and holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Spanish from the University of California, Berkeley. Fluently bilingual, she has practiced law in Clackamas County since 2001, as a solo practitioner and active member of the Clackamas Indigent Defense Corporation. She previously worked in the field of domestic relations law at the firm Gevurtz, Menashe, Larson & Howe in Portland.
“Katherine’s experience in criminal and family law makes her a tremendous addition to the bench,” said Governor Kulongoski. “Her reputation for fairness, problem solving and integrity among the bench and bar in Clackamas County is well deserved and will be an asset to the people of Clackamas County for many years to come.”
Governor announces appointment for Klamath County Circuit Court
(Salem) – Today Governor Kulongoski appointed Dan Bunch to the Klamath County Circuit Court to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard B. Rambo.
“Dan Bunch will bring an extensive knowledge of both civil and criminal law to the court,” Governor Kulongoski said. “I am very pleased to appoint a lawyer with his work ethic to serve as a judge. I believe his service on the bench will be an asset to the citizens of Klamath County and the State of Oregon.”
Mr. Bunch received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Hampden-Sydney College and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Virginia. During his legal career, Mr. Bunch has served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in Guam and Alaska and as a prosecutor for the Criminal Division of the Alaska Department of Law. He has also engaged in private practice with the Klamath Falls firm of Brandsness, Brandsness, Rudd & Bunch. Since 2006, Mr. Bunch has served as Klamath County Counsel.
Mr. Bunch served in the United States Navy from 1990 to 1994, and the United States Air Force from 1994 to 1998. Since 2000, he has served as a Staff Judge Advocate for the Oregon Air National Guard 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field. During 2007 he deployed to Iraq in support of General Petraeus’ Law and Order Task Force. Recently, he was selected for Colonel.
Mr. Bunch is active in the Klamath County community as a board member of Citizens for Safe Schools and an adjunct professor at the Oregon Institute of Technology.
Governor Announces Lane County Circuit Court Vacancy
(Salem) – Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced the appointment of Suzanne Chanti to the Lane County Circuit Court. Chanti will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gregory Foote which was effective January 1, 2010.
“Suzanne is an incredibly bright, engaging and energetic person who will be a tremendous asset to the Lane County bench,” said Governor Kulongoski. “Her respect for people of all backgrounds and tireless work ethic will make her an extraordinary judge.”
Chanti received her degree from the University of Oregon Law School in 1988 and holds an undergraduate degree from Southern Oregon University. Currently a shareholder and president of the Lane County firm Chanti and Middleton, PC, Chanti has practiced law in Eugene for over twenty years. Chanti comes to the bench with a diverse legal experience having represented individuals, corporations and cities in a variety of complex matters.
Chanti currently serves on the board of the Oregon State Bar’s Professional Liability Fund. She is a past member of the Oregon Disability Commission and board member of Mobility International USA, a non-profit that advocates for the rights of the disabled throughout the world.
Governor announces appointment for Multnomah County Circuit Court
(Salem) – Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced the appointment of Kelly Skye to the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Skye will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Kristena LaMar who announced her retirement effective October 31, 2009. Skye’s appointment will be effective December 1, 2009.
Kelly Skye earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon and Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Northeastern University School of Law in Boston. She has served as Governor Kulongoski’s General Counsel since 2007 prior to which she served as his Deputy General Counsel for two years.
Prior to joining the Governor’s office, Skye served as a staff attorney and Chief Attorney for Metropolitan Public Defender Services in Portland, where she practiced criminal and juvenile law and trained and supervised the new lawyers. She also served as the Legislative Representative for the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association during the 2003 and 2005 legislative sessions. Skye has been a member of the Oregon State Bar since 1993.
“Kelly has been thoughtful and thorough in her counsel to me over the years ranging from legal and policy advice to legislative advocacy and conflict resolution,” said Governor Kulongoski. “Her patience and balanced temperament, along with her knowledge of the law and justice system at every level, prepare her to continue serving the people of Oregon as a circuit court judge. I am sorry to lose her counsel but the citizens of Multnomah County are gaining an exceptional public servant.”
The Governor also thanked Kristena LaMar for her service to the people of Multnomah County.
“Judge LaMar has done an excellent job for Multnomah County and I want to thank her for her willingness to serve,” said Governor Kulongoski.