Oregon Judicial Vacancies
Recent Vacancies
Governor Kate Brown Announces Candidates for Appellate Court Vacancies and Invites Public Comment
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced the candidates who have applied for one or more of the previously announced judicial vacancies on the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon Court of Appeals. The Governor’s Office provided an update on the appointment process, and invited public comment on the applicants.
The following individuals are being considered for appointment:
Daniel Bunch*
Thomas M. Christ
Laura E. Coffin
Sally A. Curey
Caroline L. Davidson
Roger J. DeHoog
David O. Ferry
Benjamin N. Gutman
Kristina Hellman
Daniel J. Hill
Norman R. Hill
Cody B. Hoesly
Bronson D. James
Anna M. Joyce
Robert A. Koch
Julia E. Markley
Aruna A. Masih
Jennifer J. Middleton
Darleen R. Ortega
Ramón A. Pagán
Shenoa L. Payne
Julene M. Quinn
James B. Rich
P.K. Runkles-Pearson
Peenesh H. Shah
Andy Simrin
Douglas L. Tookey
* Judge Daniel Bunch withdrew his application from consideration.
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 is committed to a diverse and inclusive judiciary. The Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association (OAPABA), OGALLA, the LGBTQ Bar Association, the Oregon Chapter of the National Bar Association (OC-NBA), and the Oregon Hispanic Bar Association (OHBA) have created the Oregon Judicial Diversity Coalition (OJDC) to conduct interviews for applicants interested in receiving endorsements from those specialty bars. Applicants interested in participating in the OJDC's interview process can find information and application materials here (http://oapaba.org/judicial-endorsements). All applications to OJDC are due no later than the deadline for the application forms to the Governor.
Governor Kate Brown Announces Open Applications for Positions on Deschutes County Circuit Court
The following candidates have submitted materials to the Governor's Office for this vacancy. Comments on any of the candidates can be made to General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown's Office, Dustin Buehler, (503) 378-6246, or dustin.e.buehler@oregon.gov.
Flinn, Mike
Hansen, Kelly
Hathorn, Kari
Herriott, Alycia
McIver, Michelle
Nelson, Matthew
Turner, Brigid
Werner, Peter
Wirtz, Joel
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 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
Recent Appointments
Governor Kate Brown Appoints Cody Weston as a Judge in Clackamas County
(Portland, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she will appoint Cody Weston to the Clackamas County Circuit Court to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Douglas Van Dyk.
“Cody Weston brings an incredible depth of experience in both public service and private practice, and I am pleased to appoint him to join the Clackamas County bench” said Governor Brown.
Weston grew up in Dallas, Oregon. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College in 1991, he joined the Marines as an infantry officer and served as a platoon commander. While in the Marines, Weston obtained his law degree from the University of Oregon. As a military lawyer, he first served as a JAG prosecutor handling criminal matters, and then as a staff judge advocate, advising deployed Marines on a wide variety of civil legal issues, including family law, consumer law, wills, and trusts. He authored and co-authored a number of publications about military justice and other military legal issues. After separating from the Marines in 2004 with an honorable discharge, Weston returned home to Oregon with his family, settling in Clackamas County. He joined the law firm of Perkins Coie in Portland, rising to lead the national firm’s business litigation group. Weston’s practice at Perkins Coie has focused primarily on commercial civil litigation, but he has also earned awards for his pro-bono work representing a Guantanamo detainee.
Weston’s appointment is effective immediately.
Governor Kate Brown Appoints Kelly Kritzer as a Judge in Klamath County
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she will appoint Kelly Kritzer to the Klamath County Circuit Court to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Cameron Wogan. Kritzer currently serves as the probate commissioner and law clerk for the Klamath and Lake County Circuit Courts. Her appointment is effective immediately.
“Kelly Kritzer’s experience has given her a deep familiarity with the varied work of the Klamath County Circuit Court, and will enable her to hit the ground running immediately,” said Governor Brown. “I am pleased to appoint her to the bench.”
Kritzer grew up in Michigan and earned her bachelor’s degree in 1991 from the University of Michigan. After spending a number of years studying and working in archaeology, Kritzer went on to law school at Willamette University, spending summers as a law student intern in Klamath County. After graduating in 2003, Kritzer served as a law clerk for the Klamath County Circuit Court for three years and then as a Klamath County Deputy District Attorney. After leaving the DA’s office, Kritzer went into private practice from 2008 to 2016. In 2017, she was hired into her current role as probate commissioner and law clerk, where she provides legal research and writing support for judges in Klamath and Lake Counties; helps to develop court forms, rules, and policies; provides community legal trainings and education; handles probate matters such as trusts, wills, and estates; and serves as a mediator in landlord-tenant and small claims matters. In addition to her legal work, Kritzer, who has a master’s degree in archaeological resources management, has worked since 1998 as a seasonal archaeologist at Crater Lake National Park.
In the 25 years she has lived in Klamath County, Kritzer has been active in the community. She has been a member of the Klamath County Bar Association since 2003, and has served on both the Klamath County Family Law Advisory Committee and the Klamath County Circuit Court’s Parenting Time Planning Committee. She served as president of the board of the Sage Community School from 2012 to 2015, as a juvenile delinquency court representative from 2006 to 2007, and the board president of the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Klamath County from 2006 to 2012.
Governor Kate Brown Appoints Erin Fennerty to Lane County Circuit Court
(Portland, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced that she will appoint Erin A. Fennerty to the Lane County Circuit Court. Fennerty fills the vacancy created by Judge Suzanne Chanti’s recent retirement. Her appointment is effective immediately.
“For years, Erin Fennerty has maintained a high-volume civil litigation practice while passionately serving her community,” said Governor Brown. “Erin’s work ethic and practice experience will serve her well as a trial court judge in Lane County.”
Fennerty grew up in Astoria, Oregon. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah, she earned a law degree from George Mason University School of Law. Since then, Fennerty has practiced family law, education law, municipal law, and general civil litigation at the Luvaas Cobb law firm in Eugene. She also serves as a pro tem judge for the Lane County Circuit Court.
In addition to her legal practice, Fennerty is involved in her community and the bar. Among other things, she is the immediate past-president of the Lane County Bar Association, a member of the Lane County Family Advisory Committee, and serves on the Oregon State Bar’s Professional Responsibility Board and Family Law Section Executive Committee. Fennerty also previously served on the WomenSpace Board of Directors (now known as the Hope & Safety Alliance), and taught as an adjunct professor at Northwest Christian University
Governor Kate Brown Appoints Stephen Morgan to Lane County Circuit Court
Salem, OR—Governor Kate Brown announced today that she will appoint Stephen Morgan to the Lane County Circuit Court. Morgan will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Ilisa Rooke-Ley, who is retiring at the end of this month. The appointment is effective January 1, 2021.
“Stephen Morgan brings a tremendous amount of experience and compassion to the bench,” said Governor Brown. “He has spent his career prosecuting the most egregious cases of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. Through this work, he has served the community’s most vulnerable through a trauma-informed lens and has given victims a voice in our criminal justice system.”
Morgan is a deputy district attorney in the Lane County District Attorney’s Office, where he leads the domestic violence trial team that he helped create in 2008. He joined the District Attorney's Office in 2002 and has prosecuted a spectrum of cases from homicide and robbery to child abuse and domestic violence. An active member of the community, he mentors law students, served on the board of the Eugene Timbers Futbol Club, and is a member of the Lane County Domestic Violence Council.
Morgan was raised by his mother in Madras, Oregon, and joined the Marine Reserves after graduating high school. He obtained his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Oregon. In between earning these degrees, he taught English in Taiwan for two years and traveled extensively before settling in Eugene—the community he has called home for nearly two decades.
Governor Brown Appoints Judges to the Circuit Court in Marion County
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she will appoint two judges to positions on the Marion County Circuit Court. Governor Brown will appoint James 'Jim' Edmonds to a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mary James, and will appoint Jodie Bureta to a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Claudia Burton.
“The Marion County Circuit Court manages a diverse and complex caseload, and I am pleased to appoint two experienced litigators who will hit the ground running,” Governor Brown said. “Like other courts around the state, Marion County will face a backlog of trials, particularly civil trials, as we emerge from the pandemic. Having Edmonds’ and Bureta’s expertise on the bench will help the court work through those cases fairly and efficiently.”
Edmonds is a lawyer in private practice, who has worked as a civil litigator for nearly 35 years. He was born and raised in Marion County, and has spent his entire legal career in the area. Edmonds earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in 1982, and graduated with his law degree from George Washington University Law School in 1986. After graduating from law school, he entered private practice as a civil litigation attorney with Clark, Marsh, Lindauer and McClinton, rising to be a managing partner with that firm. Since 2008, he has been a partner and managing partner at Fetherston Edmonds LLP. He teaches as an adjunct professor at Willamette University School of Law, and serves as a part-time judge pro tem. Edmonds is active in his community, volunteering with the Marion County Association of Defenders, the United Way Mid-Willamette Valley, and the Salem Multicultural Institute World Beat Festival. Edmonds’ appointment is effective immediately.
Bureta currently serves as a full-time hearings referee in Marion County, and her more than 17 years of legal experience span both criminal and civil law. Bureta attended Gonzaga University, and earned her law degree from Willamette University College of Law in 2003. Following her graduation, Bureta worked for over a decade as a Deputy District Attorney for the Marion County District Attorney’s Office, rising to become a trial team lead, and handling homicide and sexual assault cases, among others. During that time, she worked on the Oregon Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Task Force, and served on the faculty at the Sexual Assault Training Institute. In 2014, she transitioned to a job in the Civil Enforcement Division of the Oregon Department of Justice, spending six years investigating and prosecuting elder abuse and Medicaid fraud. In March 2020, Bureta became a full-time judge pro tem and hearings referee for the Marion County Circuit Court. Bureta volunteered for a number of years with Baden-Powell Service Association, a scouting program for youth and adults of all genders, and with Northwest Children’s Outreach. She has also volunteered to help develop and present trainings on topics related to sexual assault, serves on state and local bar committees, and mentors law students. Bureta’s appointment is effective March 11, 2021.
Governor Kate Brown Appoints Judges to the Multnomah County Circuit Court
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she will appoint two judges to positions on the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Governor Brown will appoint Jenna Plank to a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Leslie Roberts and will appoint Chanpone Sinlapasai to a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Angel Lopez. Both appointments are effective immediately.
“Judges on the Multnomah County Circuit Court handle a wide variety of cases, many of them complex, and serve an increasingly diverse population,” said Governor Brown. “Jenna Plank and Chanpone Sinlapasai have the experience, work ethic, and compassion to hit the ground running, and to help the court work through its caseload fairly and efficiently."
Jenna Plank earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Portland in 2001 and obtained her law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School in 2005. After graduating from law school, Plank started serving as a prosecutor in the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office, where she has served her entire legal career. She currently supervises the misdemeanor unit, which gives her the opportunity to train and mentor law clerks and junior attorneys in the office. In addition to her legal work, Plank served on the Oregon State Bar Uniform Criminal Jury Instructions Committee, is the Region 5 Representative for the Bar’s House of Delegates, and volunteers with mock trial instruction and moot court competitions.
Chanpone Sinlapasai emigrated from Laos to the United States as a refugee at the age of four. She is the first person in her family to go to college, graduating from Santa Clara University in 1998 with bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and English, and then obtaining her law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School in 2002. After law school, she worked at the Immigrant Refugee Community Organization and then as an anti-trafficking and domestic violence attorney at Catholic Charities. She later became a partner at Marandas Sinlapasai Garcia, and currently practices federal immigration law. Sinlapasai has served on several anti-trafficking task forces, the Mexican Consulate Protection Team, the Immigrant Refugee Community Organization Advisory Board, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Citizens Academy. She also is the past chairwoman of the Oregon Commission on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs.
Governor Kate Brown Appoints Michele Rini as a Judge in Washington County
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she will appoint Michele Rini to the Washington County Circuit Court to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jim Fun. Rini’s appointment is effective October 1, 2021.
“Michele Rini has deep roots in Washington County, and has long served her community as a juvenile hearings referee on this court,” Governor Brown said. “Her experience, compassion, and work ethic will enable her to hit the ground running.”
Rini grew up in Washington County and attended Beaverton High School. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University and a law degree from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College. From there, Rini entered private practice, focusing on juvenile, criminal, and family law cases. In 2005, Rini began serving as a part-time Pro Tem judge in Washington County, and in 2006, she was hired by the Washington County Court as a full time Juvenile Hearings Referee, where she has served ever since. In that role, she has presided over a juvenile docket, including juvenile dependency and delinquency hearings, termination of parental rights cases, and emancipation. She has also presided over other matters as needed, including support enforcement cases, small claims motions, and landlord tenant first appearances.
Rini is active in her community. She has served for ten years as a participant in Washington County’s model court team, served on the Oregon Judicial Department’s implementation workgroup for SB 1008, a juvenile justice reform bill, and has been active in state and local bar association activities. Rini is a past president of the Washington County Bar Association and a former member of the juvenile law section committee of the Oregon State Bar.