Gov. Brown accepting applicants for Deschutes, other judgeships

Gov. Kate Brown announced Tuesday that she is accepting applications to fill judicial vacancies on the circuit courts in Deschutes, Josephine, and Lake counties created by the retirements of Judges A. Michael Adler (effective June 30, 2019), Thomas M. Hull (effective June 30, 2019), and Robert F. Nichols, Jr. (effective May 31, 2019), respectively.

The governor thanked Judges Adler, Hull, and Nichols for their dedicated judicial service, and announced that she will fill the positions by appointment.

For the Josephine County Circuit Court, applicants will be considered for the vacancies created by the retirements of Judges Hull and Baker (announced previously). Applicants who already submitted interest forms to fill Judge Baker’s position will be considered and need not apply again.

Interested applicants should mail or deliver completed interest 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 p.m. on Monday, July 1. Forms emailed by 5 p.m. on the closing date will be considered timely if 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.