Oregon Judicial Vacancies
OREGON SUPREME COURT
RECENT APPOINTMENTS
On December 24, 2018, Governor Kate Brown announced today that she will appoint Chris Garrett, a judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals, to the Oregon Supreme Court. The appointment is Governor Brown's fifth judicial appointment to Oregon's Supreme Court. Details available here.
OREGON COURT OF APPEALS
RECENT VACANCIES
On January 7, 2019 Governor Kate Brown announced that she is accepting applications to fill a judicial vacancy on the Oregon Court of Appeals created by the elevation of Justice Chris Garrett to the Oregon Supreme Court. Details available here.
OREGON JUSTICE COURTS
RECENT APPOINTMENTS
On December 4, 2018, Governor Brown announced that she will appoint Jessica K. Meyer to the Linn County Justice Court. Ms. Meyer will fill the vacancy created by the impending retirement of Judge Jad Lemhouse. Her appointment is effective January 1, 2019. Details available here.
OREGON CIRCUIT COURTS
RECENT VACANCIES
On December 13, 2018, Governor Brown announced that she is accepting applications for a judicial vacancy on the Benton County Circuit Court created by the planned retirement of Judge David B. Connell. Details available here.
On February 13, 2019, Governor Brown announced that she is accepting applications for a judicial vacancy on the Jefferson County Circuit Court created by the planned retirement of Judge Daniel J. Ahern. Details available here.
On November 29, 2018, Governor Brown announced that she is accepting applications for a judicial vacancy on the Josephine County Circuit Court created by the planned retirement of Presiding Judge Lindi Baker. Details available here.
On November 13, 2018, Governor Brown announced that she is accepting applications for a judicial vacancy on the Multnomah County Circuit Court created by the planned retirement of Judge Marilyn E. Litzenberger. Judge Litzenberger's retirement takes effect January 1, 2019. Details available here.
On October 5, 2018, Governor Brown announced that she is accepting applications for a judicial vacancy on the Washington County Circuit Court created by the planned retirement of Judge Kirsten Thompson. Judge Thompson's retirement takes effect February 1, 2019. Details available here.
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 General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown’s Office, Misha Isaak, (503) 378-6246, or misha.isaak@oregon.gov.
Bloom, Benjamin
Brown, Marc
Bunch, William
Flowers, Shannon
Gaddis, Jennifer
Hoesly, Cody
Kamins, Jackie
Koch, Robert
Mayfield, Brandon
Mooney, Jodie
Norby, Susie
Quinn, Julene
Pagán, Ramón
Perry, Kenneth
Runkles-Pearson, PK
ORS 2.540 provides that a judge of the Court of Appeals must be an elector of the county of residence of the judge and must be admitted to practice in Oregon.
To receive answers to questions about the appointment process, or to request an interest form, contact Shevaun Gutridge (503-378-6246). The Appellate Judicial Interest Form is also available online.
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 Brown Announces Benton 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 General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown’s Office, Misha Isaak, (503) 378-6246, or misha.isaak@oregon.gov.
Matusko, Amie
Measho, Yema
Noonan, Andrew
Governor Brown Announces Jefferson County Circuit Court Vacancy
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she is accepting applications for a judicial vacancy on the Jefferson/Crook County Circuit Court created by the planned retirement of Judge Daniel J. Ahern. The Governor thanked Judge Ahern for his dedicated judicial service, and announced that she will fill the position by appointment.
Judge Ahern’s retirement takes effect March 31, 2019. Interested applicants should mail or deliver their completed application forms to: Misha Isaak, 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 Wednesday, March 6, 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 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.
ORS 3.041 requires that this vacancy must be filled by an applicant who is a resident of or has a principal office in Jefferson/Crook County. ORS 3.041(5) provides the required length of time for the residency requirements.
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 Josephine 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 General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown’s Office, Misha Isaak, (503) 378-6246, or misha.isaak@oregon.gov.
Thorpe, Amanda
Walker, Victory
Governor Brown Announces Multnomah 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 General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown’s Office, Misha Isaak, (503) 378-6246, or misha.isaak@oregon.gov.
Alexander, Steffan
Baggio, Amy
Barrett, James
Brown, Adrian
Carson, Harry
Dickison, Lynne
Englesman, Stephanie
Ghandour, Rima
Howes, Celia
Kamins, Jackie
Kilberg, Jamie
Lucero, Angela
McCormack, Chris
Ming, Chin
Montalbano, Sonia
Neese, Paul
O'Glasser, Ben
Patton, Thomas
Plank, Jenna
Reddy, Vamshi
Shull, Christopher
Stuart, Kimberly
Warren, Ernest
Governor Brown Announces Washington 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 General Counsel at Governor Kate Brown’s Office, Misha Isaak, (503) 378-6246, or misha.isaak@oregon.gov.
Bureta, Jodie
Burke, Steven
Guptill, Rebecca
Jensen, James
Kroll, Edward
Lemarr, Kelly
Summer, Miranda
Thompson, Brandon
Underwood, James
Wall, Max
Governor Brown Announces Linn County Justice Court Vacancy
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown today announced that she will appoint Jessica K. Meyer to the Linn County Justice Court. Ms. Meyer will fill the vacancy created by the impending retirement of Judge Jad Lemhouse. Her appointment is effective January 1, 2019.
“Jessica Meyer’s experience and temperament will serve her well in her new role on the Justice Court,” Governor Brown said. “I am so pleased that she is willing to serve the people of Linn County.”
Ms. Meyer is an attorney in private practice, and appears regularly in state and municipal courts. She also serves as a judge pro tempore on both the Linn County Justice Court and the Albany Municipal Court, and formerly served as a judge on the Lebanon Youth Peer Court. Ms. Meyer earned her bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, and her law degree from Willamette University College of Law. She currently serves as a trustee for the Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital Foundation, and as assistant district commissioner for the Boy Scouts of America, Calapooia District.
Recent Appointments
Governor Brown Announces Oregon Supreme Court Appointment
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown announced today that she will appoint Chris Garrett, a judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals, to the Oregon Supreme Court. The appointment is Governor Brown's fifth judicial appointment to Oregon's Supreme Court.
“Judge Garrett is a talented, thoughtful, and even-keeled jurist who is passionate about Oregon’s courts and the rule of law,” Governor Brown said. “He brings to our high court the experience of a respected civil litigator, an effective state legislator, and a productive appellate judge. His brilliant mind and collegial style will be tremendous assets to the court and the people of Oregon.”
Judge Garrett will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Rives Kistler. The appointment is effective January 1, 2019.
Judge Garrett was appointed to the Oregon Court of Appeals by Governor Kitzhaber in 2014, after serving as a state representative from Lake Oswego and southwest Portland from 2009 to 2013. From 2002 through 2013, Judge Garrett was a civil litigator at Perkins Coie LLP in Portland. He began his career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York from 2000 to 2001, and then clerked for Judge Dennis Jacobs of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Judge Garrett graduated from Reed College and the University of Chicago Law School.
As a member of the Court of Appeals, Judge Garrett authored the court’s opinion in Klein v. Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, which upheld the enforcement of Oregon’s law that protects LGBTQ individuals from discrimination against bakery-owners who refused to provide a wedding cake to a same-sex couple. As a member of the Legislature, then-Representative Garrett brokered a bipartisan redistricting plan and championed the Justice Reinvestment Act (HB 3194), which funds criminal justice alternatives to incarceration.
In addition to his law practice and judicial service, Judge Garrett has served his community and the legal profession as well. He teaches as an adjunct professor at Willamette University College of Law, and assists the Classroom Law Project as a volunteer judge. Judge Garrett was a member of the board of directors of Oregon Lawyers Against Hunger, served on the Governor’s Public Safety Commission, and recently co-chaired the Oregon State Bar’s Legal Futures Task Force.