Oregon Judicial Vacancies

New Open Positions

Governor Brown Announces Open Applications for
Positions on Marion and Jackson County Circuit Courts

The following candidates have submitted materials to the Governor’s Office for the Marion County vacancy. Comments on any of the candidates can be made to Deputy General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown’s Office, Dustin Buehler, (503) 378-6246, or dustin.e.buehler@oregon.gov.

The following candidates have submitted materials to the Governor’s Office for the Jackson County vacancy. Comments on any of the candidates can be made to Deputy General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown’s Office, Dustin Buehler, (503) 378-6246, or dustin.e.buehler@oregon.gov.

Recent Vacancies

Governor Brown Announces Oregon Court of Appeals Vacancy

The following candidates have submitted materials to the Governor’s Office for this vacancy. Comments on any of the candidates can be made to Deputy General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown’s Office, Dustin Buehler, (503) 378-6246, or dustin.e.buehler@oregon.gov.

Pursuant to OSB Bylaw 2.703, the Oregon State Bar Board of Governors* has approved the following list of candidates deemed “highly qualified” for appointment to the Oregon Court of Appeals:

The Board of Governors appreciates that there were many qualified candidates for the positions and that the review process presented a challenging task.

*Please note that BOG member Liani Reeves has abstained from all discussion and votes related to the review of judicial candidates.

**Judge Ramón Pagán withdrew his application for the vacancy.

Following the application deadline, the bar will conduct interviews of the candidates who apply for this position. If you have questions or comments about the Oregon State Bar's process, please contact Susan Grabe at sgrabe@osbar.org or 1-800-452-8260, ext. 380.

Governor Brown Announces Clatsop County Circuit Court Vacancy

The following candidates have submitted materials to the Governor’s Office for this vacancy. Comments on any of the candidates can be made to Deputy General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown’s Office, Dustin Buehler, (503) 378-6246, or dustin.e.buehler@oregon.gov.

Governor Brown Announces Lincoln County Circuit Court Vacancy

The following candidates have submitted materials to the Governor’s Office for this judicial vacancy. Comments on any of the candidates can be made to Deputy General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown’s Office, Dustin Buehler, (503) 378-6246, or dustin.e.buehler@oregon.gov.

Governor Brown Announces Open Applications for Positions on Circuit Courts in Linn County and Grant and Harney Counties

The following candidates have submitted materials to the Governor’s Office for this vacancy. Comments on any of the candidates can be made to Deputy General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown’s Office, Dustin Buehler, (503) 378-6246, or dustin.e.buehler@oregon.gov.

Governor Brown Announces Morrow County Justice Court Vacancy

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she is accepting applications for a judicial vacancy on the Morrow County Justice Court created by the planned retirement of Judge Annetta Spicer. The Governor thanked Judge Spicer for her dedicated judicial service, and announced that she will fill the position by appointment. Judge Spicer’s retirement takes effect December 31, 2019.

The Governor’s office will use its standard Circuit Court Interest Form for this Justice Court vacancy. Interested applicants should mail or deliver their completed application forms to: Dustin Buehler, Deputy General Counsel, Office of the Governor, 900 Court Street NE, Suite 254, Salem, OR 97301-4047. Forms must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28, 2019. Forms emailed by 5:00 p.m. on the closing date will be considered timely so long as original signed forms postmarked by the closing date are later received.

Governor Kate Brown fills judicial vacancies based on merit. She encourages applications from individuals with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. ORS 51.240 sets forth the qualifications for office. Applicants should review the statute to confirm their eligibility for appointment.

To receive answers to questions about the appointment process, or to request an interest form, contact Shevaun Gutridge at 503-378-6246 or shevaun.gutridge@oregon.gov.

The judicial interest form is also available online.

Recent Appointments

Governor Brown Appoints Judges to Circuit Courts in Baker, Deschutes, and Josephine Counties

(Salem, OR) — Governor Brown announced today that she will appoint judges to positions on circuit courts in Baker County, Deschutes County, and Josephine County. Governor Brown will appoint District Attorney Matthew B. Shirtcliff to a vacancy on the Baker County Circuit Court created by the retirement of Judge Gregory L. Baxter; Alycia N. Sykora to a vacancy on the Deschutes County Circuit Court created by the retirement of Judge A. Michael Adler; and Sarah E. McGlaughlin and Brandon S. Thueson to vacancies on the Josephine County Circuit Court created by the retirements of Judge Lindi L. Baker and Judge Thomas M. Hull, respectively.

“I am pleased to appoint this group of exceedingly talented lawyers,” Governor Brown said. “All four of these lawyers have demonstrated a commitment to public service. They will now continue their service to the public by administering Oregon’s justice system from the bench.”

Matthew B. Shirtcliff is the District Attorney of Baker County, a position he has held since 2001. During his service as District Attorney, Shirtcliff has also held positions as County Counsel and the County’s Juvenile Director. Prior to his election as District Attorney in 2001, Shirtcliff was a prosecutor in the Baker County District Attorney’s Office, where he began his career in 1994. Shirtcliff is a graduate of Gonzaga School of Law and Oregon State University. In addition to his service as District Attorney, Shirtcliff is active in the community as a member of the Saint Alphonsus Hospital Board and the Rotary Club of Baker City, and he coaches various youth athletic activities. His appointment is effective November 1, 2019.

Alycia N. Sykora is an attorney in private practice in Bend, as well as a judge pro tempore on the Deschutes County Circuit Court. She has worked in Bend litigating complex civil disputes since 2002. Sykora was previously an associate attorney at Oregon Health and Science University and, earlier, an honors attorney at the Oregon Department of Justice. She began her legal career as a law clerk on the Oregon Supreme Court. Sykora is a graduate of University of Oregon School of Law and University of Michigan. In 2015, Sykora was awarded the Edwin J. Peterson Award for Professionalism from the Oregon State Bar. She authored The Oregon Constitution and Cases and is an editor of the Oregon Constitutional Law Manual. She has served on boards and committees for the Deschutes County Bar Association, the Oregon Chapter of the American Constitution Society, the Oregon State Bar’s Constitutional Law and Appellate Practice Sections, and University of Oregon Law School Alumni Association. Her appointment is effective immediately.

Sarah E. McGlaughlin is a prosecutor in the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office. She previously worked at the Oregon Commission for the Blind. She has also held volunteer law student positions at the Boston Immigration Court, the Boston College Innocence Project Clinic, the New Hampshire Public Defender, and the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders Legal InfoLine. Before pursuing a career in law, McGlaughlin was a paralegal at a firm in New York and a teacher in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. She is a graduate of Boston College Law School and Dartmouth College. Active in the community, McGlaughlin is a board member of the Rogue Valley Transportation District and the Oregon State Bar’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. Her appointment is effective immediately.

Brandon S. Thueson is a child advocacy lawyer at the Oregon Department of Justice, representing the State in juvenile dependency cases in Klamath and Lake Counties. He was previously a prosecutor in the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office. Thueson is also a member of the City Council of Central Point and earlier served as a member of the school board of Logos Public Charter School. He is a graduate of Willamette University College of Law and Brigham Young University – Idaho. Thueson has coached a high school mock trial team and youth soccer and basketball teams. His appointment is effective immediately.

Governor Brown Announces Appointment to Lake County Circuit Court

Governor Brown appointed David M. Vandenberg to the Lake County Circuit Court. Vandenberg is an attorney in private practice in Lakeview, where he has represented clients in criminal and civil cases since 1994. He earlier worked at small private firms in Beaverton. Vandenberg is a graduate of Willamette University College of Law and Southern Oregon State College.

Vandenberg is well-known in the Lakeview community, having grown up there. He has been president of the Lake County Bar Association, a middle school basketball coach, and has served on the boards of various local nonprofit organizations.

“David M. Vandenberg has dedicated his career to providing access to justice for members of the Lakeview community,” Governor Brown said. “He will continue this professional commitment as Lake County’s only judge, ensuring that everyone who enters his courtroom gets a fair shake.”

Governor Brown Announces Appointment to Multnomah County Circuit Court

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced that she will appoint Angela Franco Lucero to the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Ms. Lucero fills the vacancy created by Judge Kenneth R. Walker's recent retirement. Her appointment is effective immediately.

"For years, Angela Lucero has passionately served her community, while also maintaining a high-volume civil litigation practice," Governor Brown said. "Angela's extensive practice experience, tireless work ethic, and empathy for those who appear before her will serve her well as a trial court judge."

Ms. Lucero grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico. After graduating with a bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University, she earned a law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School. Since law school, Ms. Lucero has represented individuals, insurance companies, and public bodies in a wide range of civil litigation matters. She is currently an attorney at Kranovich & Lucero, LCC, and also serves as a pro tem judge in Clackamas County.

In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Lucero is heavily involved in her community and the bar. Among other things, she has served as president of the Oregon Women Lawyers, and currently is on the boards of the Oregon Hispanic Bar Association and the Oregon State Bar Board of Bar Examiners. Ms. Lucero also has volunteered to help with Refugee Adjustment Day, DACA Renewal Day, and other access-to-justice efforts in her community. She received the Oregon Hispanic Bar Association's highest award, the Paul J. De Muniz Professionalism Award, earlier this year.

Governor Brown Appoints Judges to Multnomah County Circuit Court

(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced that she will appoint Morgan Wren Long and F.G. “Jamie” Troy II to the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Long, a juvenile court referee and judge pro tem, will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maureen McKnight. Troy, a juvenile law attorney, will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Katherine Tennyson. Both positions will be assigned to the court’s Family Department. The appointments are effective immediately.

“Jamie Troy and Morgan Long have stellar reputations as bright, hard-working individuals who are committed to their community,” Governor Brown said. “As judges on Multnomah County’s family bench, they will approach cases involving children with empathy, patience, and compassion.”

Long has served as a juvenile court referee and judge pro tem for the Multnomah County Circuit Court since 2017. Previously, she litigated juvenile dependency, juvenile delinquency, family law, and criminal defense matters at firms including Bertoni & Associates, Ridehalgh & Associates, Dore Long, LLC, and Morgan Long Law, PC. Long graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and earned her law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School. She serves on a variety of committees and workgroups, including the Oregon State Bar’s Juvenile Law Section Executive Committee, the Multnomah County Child Welfare Council, and the Indian Child Welfare Act Compliance Committee for the State of Oregon.

Troy is a juvenile law attorney at Troy & Rosenberg, PC, where he has litigated juvenile delinquency, juvenile dependency, and termination of parental rights cases since 2008. He previously practiced at David W. Owens P.C. & Associates, Tennyson & Winemiller, and Kliewer & Associates. Troy earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary, and received his law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School. Among other civic and community activities, he is a member of the Department of Human Services Child Welfare Advisory Committee, has served on the City of Portland’s Citizen Review Committee, is a past president of the Gus J. Solomon Inn of Court, and sings tenor with the Oregon Repertory Singers.