There are 173 Circuit Court Judges in Oregon, grouped into 27 judicial districts. The Circuit Courts are the state trial courts of general jurisdiction. In most counties they have jurisdiction in juvenile cases, though only for termination of parental rights cases in Gilliam, Morrow, Sherman, and Wheeler counties, where the County Court is responsible for other juvenile cases. The Circuit Courts also exercise jurisdiction in probate, adoptions, guardianship, and conservatorship cases in all counties except Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Sherman, and Wheeler. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, registered voters, and residents of Oregon for at least 3 years before filing for candidacy; for at least 1 year they must have resided or had a principal residence in the judicial district or an adjacent one; and they must be members of the Oregon state bar at time of election. They may not be older than 75 years.Term: 6 years. This position is nonpartisan. Salary: $163, 476.
Contact Phone
5419415604
Your Experience/Qualifications
More than 25 years' legal experience including five years as a judge. As an attorney, a large portion of my experience was in the area of litigation involving abused and neglected children. As a judge, the majority of my cases are in the area of family law.
County
Jackson
Term
2025
Term Expires
2031
1. Impartiality: I do not accept campaign donations from attorneys or anyone else, and I do not seek or accept endorsements from other public officials. This allows me to make decisions solely on the basis of my true evaluation of the case, without outside influence.
2. Patience: Regardless of how crowded the docket is, I always take the time to fully hear each person appearing before me, so that my decisions are fair and fully reasoned.
3. Experience: With more than 25 years of legal experience covering a broad scope of cases, as well as five years as a judge, I am able to render decisions uphold the law while maintaining an awareness of the actual, real-life impact these decisions have on people appearing before me.
Each case is unique, but generally: protection of the public -- especially when children are involved; protection of those who are most vulnerable; the impact of the sentence on the victim of the crime; whether the defendant has a criminal history and if so, the nature of that history; how the sentence may affect the defendant's prospects for rehabilitation; and the mental state of the defendant at the time of the commission of the crime as well as at the time of sentencing.
1. I believe dockets should be re-arranged to allow more time for sentencing hearings so as to allow the parties more time to be heard and be fully advised and informed. The current scheduling allows, on most days, roughly two minutes for a plea and sentencing.
2. Juror summons should only be sent out when it is know for certain that a case is proceeding to trial.
Town Where You Live
Central Point
Your Experience/Qualifications
Senior Assistant County Counsel; Deputy District Attorney
County
OR
It has been my goal throughout my legal career to be recognized for my impartiality, approachability, and reliability. This can be distilled down to reflect a true respect for the parties, the process, and the rule of law.
My experience as a prosecutor and with the County Counsel’s office reflects a dedication to justice in our community, making tough decisions while collaborating effectively with opposing counsel. I have navigated complex criminal and civil litigation in both state and federal Courts, providing me a multitude of experiences in understanding diverse perspectives and accomplishing agreeable outcomes. I am actively involved in community service, promoting organizations for access to justice, legal education, and mentorship.
Legal justice demands that a judge be empathetic, listen openly to all sides, and approach the law with neutrality. I will show each party or litigant respect, giving them not only their day in court but the opportunity to know they have been heard. However, the most important thing I will do is uphold the laws of the State of Oregon.
Jackson County has been a sterling example of a Circuit Court system that has strong relationships with community partners. I would like to build upon this foundation and expand the mental health court and drug court programs to include partnership or involvement with the Veterans Association.
