Oregon Judicial Vacancies
Recent Vacancies
Governor Kate Brown Announces Jackson County Justice 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.
Watson, Janice
Wente, Nathan
Zammetti, Jennifer
Governor Brown Announces Marion County Circuit Court Vacancy
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she is accepting applications for a judicial vacancy on the Marion County Circuit Court created by the planned retirement of Judge Mary M. James. The Governor thanked Judge James for her dedicated judicial service, and announced that she will fill the position by appointment. Judge James’ retirement takes effect November 30, 2020.
Interested applicants should mail (no in-person delivery) their completed application forms to: Dustin Buehler, General Counsel, Office of the Governor, 900 Court Street NE #254, Salem, OR 97301-4047. Forms must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2020. 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 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. SB 977, recently passed by the Legislature, creates a new requirement. It amends ORS 3.041 and requires that these vacancies must be filled by persons who are residents of or have principal offices in the judicial districts to which they are appointed or adjacent judicial districts.
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.
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 Kate Brown Appoints Judges to Circuit Courts in Klamath and Lane Counties
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she will appoint judges to positions on circuit courts in Klamath and Lane Counties. Governor Brown will appoint Alycia Edgeworth Kersey to a vacancy on the Klamath County Circuit Court created by the retirement of Judge Roxanne Osborne; she will appoint Amit Kapoor to a vacancy on the Lane County Circuit Court created by the retirement of Judge Maurice Merten.
“I am pleased to appoint these thoughtful and talented individuals to the bench,” Governor Brown said. “They have demonstrated their commitment to thinking deeply about how our justice system can better serve the most vulnerable in our communities, and I look forward to seeing them continue that important work as trial court judges.”
Alycia Kersey works as a criminal defense attorney in Klamath Falls and a significant part of her practice has been in Klamath County’s treatment courts. She was actively involved in working with community stakeholders to create the Klamath Behavioral Intervention Court, and to improve the operation of the Klamath County Drug Court. Previously, she served as a deputy district attorney in Klamath County, and as the law clerk and probate commissioner for the Klamath County Circuit Court. Ms. Kersey grew up in Indiana, and is a graduate of Indiana University and Willamette University College of Law in Salem. In addition to her legal work, Ms. Kersey serves on the boards of Friends of the Children and the Council on Aging for Klamath and Lake Counties; serves as a member of the Basin Transit Service Budget Committee; and previously served as a member of the City of Jacksonville Planning Commission. She is also a yoga instructor in Klamath Falls. Ms. Kersey’s appointment is effective immediately.
Amit Kapoor is a criminal defense attorney for Public Defense Services of Lane County, and he is also a faculty member at Lane Community College where he teaches sociology courses. He previously served as an adjunct professor at the University of Montana and at Kirkwood Community College in Iowa. Mr. Kapoor was born in India, and emigrated to England and the United States during his childhood. He earned a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree in sociology, and Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa. He has also completed coursework and comprehensive examinations towards a doctorate degree. Mr. Kapoor is a board member for the Center for Dialogue and Resolution, a Eugene nonprofit providing mediation and conflict resolution services. He has completed a mediation certification and volunteers to provide training, mediation, conflict coaching, and empathy listening at the Oregon Country Fair. Mr. Kapoor’s appointment will be effective September 1.
Governor Brown Announces Judicial Appointments in Marion, Washington, Jackson and Deschutes Counties
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she will make four appointments to circuit court positions around the state: Manuel Perez in Marion County, Brandon M. Thompson in Washington County, Charles G. Kochlacs in Jackson County, and Alison M. Emerson in Deschutes County.
“These are four of the busiest and hardest-working circuit courts in the state,” Governor Brown said. “These attorneys have shown they can rise to the challenge. Each has earned a reputation for being a hard-working and fair-minded lawyer as they have worked to serve vulnerable populations in their communities.”
Manuel Perez, a hearings referee, will fill a new judicial position in Marion County. He has worked at the Marion County Circuit Court since November 2018. He was previously a criminal defense attorney representing indigent clients, first in Ontario, Oregon, and later in Salem. Perez began his career representing farmworkers at Oregon Legal Services in Ontario. He attended the University of Oregon School of Law and Boise State University. He has served as a board member of the Oregon Law Center and the Northwest Workers Justice Project. He also mentors young lawyers and referees high school wrestling competitions. He fills a new judicial position created by the Legislative Assembly last year.
Brandon M. Thompson, a civil litigator, will fill a vacancy in Washington County created by the resignation of Judge Danielle J. Hunsaker, who was appointed to the federal bench. Since 2012, Thompson has worked as a trial lawyer in workers’ compensation and personal injury cases. He previously worked in private practice representing criminal defendants and civil litigants. Thompson began his career as a prosecutor in District Attorney’s Offices in Multnomah and Polk Counties. He graduated from Lewis & Clark Law School and Fort Hays State University in Kansas. He has volunteered as a judge pro tempore in Washington County, served as a board member of the Washington County Bar Association, and is an engineer for the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad.
Charles G. Kochlacs, a juvenile dependency and delinquency lawyer, will fill a new judicial position in Jackson County. Since 1997, Kochlacs has been an attorney in private practice representing indigent clients in juvenile dependency and delinquency cases. He began his career as a criminal defense attorney at Jackson County Public Defender. He graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law and the University of California Santa Barbara. Kochlacs volunteers representing seasonal workers pro bono through Northwest Seasonal Workers. He has served as a board member of the organization Resolve and as president of the Criminal Law Section of the Oregon State Bar. He has also been a pack leader for a local Cub Scouts pack. He fills a new judicial position created by the Legislative Assembly last year.
Alison M. Emerson, an attorney in private practice, will fill a vacancy in Deschutes County created by the retirement of Judge Stephen P. Forte. Since 2007, Emerson has specialized in domestic relations cases and civil litigation. She was earlier a prosecutor in the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office. She received a law degree from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree from Linfield College. Emerson has served as a board member for Friends of the Children – Central Oregon and has volunteered for Northwest Boxer Rescue and Watercup Counseling, which sponsors Miles for Mothers.
The appointments of Perez, Thompson, and Kochlacs are effective immediately. The appointment of Emerson is effective March 1.
Governor Brown Announces Judicial and District Attorney Appointments
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she will appoint Jacqueline S. Kamins to the Oregon Court of Appeals, Brendan J. Kane to the Linn County Circuit Court, Marcia L. Buckley to the Lincoln County Circuit Court, and Johnathan H. Cable to the position of District Attorney of Lincoln County. All four appointments are effective immediately.
“I am proud to elevate this group of talented attorneys to posts in courthouses around our state,” Governor Brown said. “These individuals bring experience from all corners of the legal profession: some have been prosecutors, others defense attorneys. They have litigated everything from family disputes to landlord-tenant cases, and will be well suited to administer equal justice under our laws.”
Jacqueline S. Kamins is an attorney at Markowitz Herbold PC. She fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Erika L. Hadlock. Kamins formerly practiced in the Multnomah County Attorney’s Office, served as a Senior Assistant Attorney General for the Oregon Department of Justice, and litigated civil matters as an attorney at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP in Washington, D.C. She also served as a law clerk for Ninth Circuit Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw. She is a graduate of Columbia University and the University of Virginia School of Law. In addition to her legal practice, Kamins teaches as an adjunct law professor at Lewis & Clark Law School, and volunteers for the Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families, Portland Homeless Family Solutions, and SMART (Start Making a Reader Today).
Brendan J. Kane is an attorney who represents children in juvenile delinquency court, and children and parents in juvenile dependency court in Albany. He fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge DeAnn L. Novotny. He formerly worked as a prosecutor in both Linn and Lincoln Counties. For five years, he managed his own firm representing clients in civil matters. Kane is a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law and the University of California at Berkeley. Before college, Kane served in the United States Army and received the Combat Infantryman’s Badge for service in Panama.
Marcia L. Buckley is an attorney in private practice who focuses on domestic relations cases. She fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Paulette Sanders. Buckley earlier worked in the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, where she served as the Chief Deputy District Attorney. She began her career in Portland enforcing child support judgments. Buckley completed both undergraduate studies and law school at Lewis & Clark. She is currently president of the Lincoln County Bar Association and a member of the Oregon State Bar Disciplinary Board. She has also been a board member of the Lincoln County Foundation and the Newport Rotary International Club and she has coached the mock trial team at Newport High School.
Jonathan H. Cable is a criminal defense attorney in Newport. He fills a vacancy created by the resignation of District Attorney Michelle Branam. Previously, for nine years, Cable was a prosecutor in the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office. He earlier worked as a prosecutor in Ohio, where he began his career. Cable is a graduate of the University of Toledo College of Law and Kent State University. He serves as a board member of Lincoln County Defenders and on the Uniform Criminal Jury Instruction Committee of the Oregon State Bar. In 2011, Cable received the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Recognition Award.