Judicial Vacancies Overview

Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Court of Appeals - Recent Appointments

Governor Brown Announces Appointments to the Oregon Supreme Court and Court of Appeals

Historic appointments include first Asian Pacific American on Supreme Court, second Asian Pacific American on Court of Appeals

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced she will appoint Lynn R. Nakamoto to the Oregon Supreme Court, as well as Roger J. DeHoog and Scott A. Shorr to the Oregon Court of Appeals. Nakamoto is a judge on the Court of Appeals and will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Virginia L. Linder. DeHoog is a judge on the Deschutes County Circuit Court and will fill the vacancy created by Nakamoto’s elevation to the Supreme Court. Shorr is currently managing shareholder at the Portland law firm Stoll Berne and will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Judge Rick Haselton. All three appointments will be effective January 1, 2016.

Nakamoto, who was appointed to the Court of Appeals in January 2011 by Governor Kulongoski, will be the first Asian Pacific American ever to serve on the Oregon Supreme Court. Before her appointment to the Court of Appeals, Nakamoto was managing shareholder of the Portland law firm Markowitz Herbold, where she worked from 1989 to 2011. While there, she had a business and employment litigation practice. Nakamoto began her career representing indigent clients. She was a staff attorney for Marion-Polk Legal Aid Service in Salem from 1987 to 1989, and, before that, for Bronx Legal Services in New York City from 1985 to 1987. She received her bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and her J.D. from New York University School of Law.

DeHoog is a respected judge on the Deschutes County Circuit Court, appointed by Governor Kitzhaber in 2012. Before his appointment to the trial court bench, DeHoog was 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. Prior to joining the Oregon Department of Justice in 2008, DeHoog was in private practice in Bend handling criminal defense and domestic relations cases. DeHoog began his career at the Deschutes County Public Defenders' Office, where he worked from 1993 to 2000. DeHoog received his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and his J.D. from the University of Oregon Law School. He will be the second Asian Pacific American ever to serve on the Oregon Court of Appeals. DeHoog will also be the only judge on either of Oregon’s appellate courts from outside the Willamette Valley.

Shorr, managing shareholder at the law firm Stoll Berne, is regarded as one of the state’s top appellate lawyers. Shorr has argued numerous appeals before Oregon’s appellate courts, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has practiced law at Stoll Berne since 1996, specializing in complex commercial litigation including class actions and securities fraud cases. He began his career as a law clerk for Oregon Supreme Court Justice Richard L. Unis. Shorr received his bachelor’s degree from Vassar College and his J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law.

"Each of these highly-qualified individuals brings a skills set and perspective informed by years of legal experience,” Governor Brown said. “I am grateful to them for stepping up to serve our state in administering justice on behalf of the people of Oregon."

Circuit Courts — Recent Appointments

Governor Brown Appoints Erin Landis to Malheur County Circuit Court

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced she will appoint Erin K. Landis to the Malheur County Circuit Court, effective July 1, 2016. Mr. Landis will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Patricia Sullivan.
 
“Erin Landis is a distinguished public servant who has dedicated his career to serving the people of Malheur County and bringing justice to all Oregonians,” Governor Brown said. “I am grateful for his willingness to continue his public service as a circuit court judge.” 

For the past 13 years, Mr. Landis served as a prosecutor for the Malheur County District Attorney’s Office. He began as a Deputy District Attorney and currently serves as the Chief Deputy District Attorney. Mr. Landis received a law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in 2002, and an undergraduate degree from Oregon State University in 1997.

Governor Brown Appoints Ramón Pagán, Eric Dahlin to Washington, Multnomah County Benches

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced the appointment of Ramón A. Pagán to the Washington County Circuit Court and Eric L. Dahlin to the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Mr. Pagán will fill the vacancy of retiring Judge Rick Knapp, and Mr. Dahlin will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jean K. Maurer.

“Ramón Pagán and Eric Dahlin are widely respected as thoughtful jurists and vigorous advocates for justice and accountability,” Governor Brown said. “I am confident their impressive depth and breadth of experience will enrich Washington and Multnomah County Circuit Courts.”

Mr. Pagán is a criminal defense attorney in private practice, before which he was an associate attorney at Janet Hoffman & Associates LLC. Mr. Pagán began his career as a law clerk for Sonia Sotomayor, then a judge of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and currently an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He then worked at various firms in New York prior to settling in Oregon. Active in his community, Mr. Pagán has taught trial advocacy at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland and the Fordham University School of Law in New York. He is a graduate of Arizona State University and the Fordham University School of Law.

Mr. Dahlin is a civil litigation attorney at the firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, where he has represented clients in business disputes since 1997. He began his career as a law clerk for Judge Procter Hug Jr., Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Since 2007, he has also been a pro tem judge for the Multnomah County Circuit Court, and since 1998 has run the game clock, shot clock, and scoreboard on game nights for the Portland Trail Blazers. He attended Grinnell College and the University of Oregon School of Law.