Since the Underhill memo in June, Matarazzo has not been allowed to take on any criminal cases, which make up the majority of the work in the Multnomah County Courthouse. Lawyers routinely file affidavits on specific cases arguing that a judge is incapable of fairly trying that case, either because of a conflict of interest or a perceived bias. Telephone customer service available. health. "I don't think the DA's office belongs there," she says. Complaints that Matarazzo improperly granted extensions to defendants in the DUII diversion program, which allows first-time offenders to avoid a conviction on their record. It gave me a structure and a different way to live a life.". Judith Matarazzo is the presiding judge of the Court, serving with 37 others. But there are people who worry that DAs have so much discretion that they control the justice system.". Gov. Matarazzo says she did so because the proceedings were merely procedural and Underhill's office had been briefed on the expected nature of the proceedings. He says he's become a different person. These rules supplement the Uniform Trial court Rules (UTCRs). "We are seeing some shift that's happening at the Legislature," says the ACLU's Rogers. Link: MBA Judicial Screening Process Link: MBA Application for Judicial Vacancy or click here for the Word version. She says her goal is the fair administration of justice and to slow the revolving door of offenders who cycle through the courtrooms and jails. Our team works with communities across the country to provide people with the reentry supports they need. Use Case Companion to look up an offender, 2023 | Multnomah County General Information Line: 503-823-4000, Property Records (including tax statements), Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Nonetheless, Underhill's office reacted with fury, and a story appeared in The Oregonian on March 10. and "Rod has a reputation among the district attorneys in the state as being a particularly careful and thoughtful guy," says Clatsop County DA Josh Marquis. "I'm 58 years old," she says. City; Matarazzo's disagreements with prosecutors extend beyond opinions about incarceration and sentencing. They include Judge Josephine Mooney in Lane County, Judge Cameron Wogan in Klamath County, and Judge James Fun in Washington County. I realized that we needed to build up our menu of what is available for people in the community and use the right level of support, she said. He says Underhill's action sends a message to all judges. Its been a long, competitive run for Brown, as six lawyers originally vied for the seat in the May primary. Judge Baggio left the FPDs office in 2013, to start a solo criminal defense practice. The government gains no benefit from failing to abide by our constitutional guarantees; to the contrary, when the government fails to follow its own laws, it sends a message to the citizenry that they need not respect the law either. Judge Moawad was asked in 2013 if she had any interest in returning to Salem with the governors office. An hour earlier, District Attorney Rod Underhill had called to request a meeting. Matarazzo tried to suspend, break up or offer alternatives to the sentences so that someone who had racked up a third DUII could still avoid jail and get treatment. One of the things that Judge Anna Brown has said and that I have taken to heart is that you need to make sure that you take time for yourself. As a family law judge, Judge McGuire oversees some estate and probate cases, and with her personal experience taking over a firm, she reminds lawyers to plan for the possibility that we could become incapacitated and unable to practice. She is inspired by the cards and letters she receives from former clients who have found the strength and courage to overcome some of lifes most seemingly insurmountable obstacles. There is no voicemail on this department's phone line. and The problem was the deadline for the day had passed, the docket was over, and the staff told him to return on Monday. His case reinforced her belief that the rule of law including the fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution - are essential in the functioning of our justice system and in maintaining our very democracy. That court gives judges greater discretion than any other specialty court to determine which offenders are fit to enter DISP to receive treatment rather than jail time. Yet people with juvenile and criminal recordsespecially Black peoplesuffer from an alarmingly high and stubborn unemployment rate. Multnomah County Courthouse People will come into her courtroom need in an immediate danger order. and (how to identify a Oregon.gov website) "I needed a change . Judge McGuire took over the situation, explaining the rules, allowing him to express his concerns, and after going into the courtroom, getting on the record, he left feeling heard and understood, even if he did not have the restraining order hearing he was seeking. At that time Judge McGuire had been a family law judge for just around six months (appointed September 13, 2017), and had been a family law practitioner for several years. Work is like a firehose; you cant manage everything. And Im hoping that as a country we begin to look at how do we create community? and good solutions for people who are struggling and vulnerable., Profile photo caption: Courtesy of Honorable Nan Waller, judge for the Multnomah County circuit court in Portland, OR, Hero image: Photo byToa HeftibaonUnsplash, After authorizing $10.6 million to help people with behavioral health issues get, START NOW is a skills-based, manual-guided group psychotherapy program that was developed, Apply to participate in a virtual learning collaborative consisting of three sessions, The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Association Foundation have partnered to highlight, With unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022, On December 29, 2022, President Joe Biden signed a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending package for Fiscal Year 2023., The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and the American Psychiatric, With unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Justice and Mental, On December 29, 2022, President Joe Biden signed a $1.7 trillion omnibus, In 2021, the Judges and Psychiatrists Leadership Initiative (JPLI) established two awards, 22 Cortlandt St 22nd FloorNew York, NY 10007. Corrections agencies are grappling with a unique combination of public safety challenges, including stubborn rates of recidivism and high costs. Portland, OR 97204. On September 16, 2019, Judge Lucero was sworn in as Multnomah County's then-newest Circuit Court Judge, and immediately began her duties for an overworked court which has seen a spate of retirements. Underhill ran unopposed in 2012 and 2016. [1] The chief prosecutor is Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt. Judge Waller has since taken her increased awareness of the challenges that people with mental health needs face in the criminal justice system and used it to help inform decisions intended to improve peoples outcomes. Her work with this committee led to the recommendation of a grant program for counties focused on people with complex health needs who frequently utilize the criminal justice and health systems. "Prosecutors have an enormous amount of discretionand usually that's a good thing," says Lewis & Clark's Parry. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. This Oregon government-related article is a stub. In 1995, voters approved Measure 11, imposing mandatory minimum sentences for certain violent crimes and thereby limiting judicial discretion. Senior Judge Jean Kerr Maurer, who administered Judge Moawads oath of office, was always impressed by Judge Moawads skills as a trial lawyer, her organizational ability, and her work ethic. One night, as he slept in a house belonging to a man rumored to be in cahoots with the Taliban, Gul was swept up by US soldiers under the cover of darkness and taken to Guantanamo via the Bagram Air Base. Fleming He had failed to meet some DISP requirements, and Matarazzo could have tossed him in jail. Multnomah Bar Association 2023. Increasingly, law enforcement officers are the first, and often the only, responders to calls involving people with behavioral health needs. He told her none of the 81 lawyers in his office would ever try a case in front her again. joining His blanket affidavit restricted Matarazzo to hearing civil casesless than 25 percent of the court's caseload. Learn more about our active projects and initiatives, See the direct services we can provide your jurisdiction, Receive our latest updates in your inbox and social feeds, By Since becoming a judge, Matarazzo has handled a wide variety of cases but has focused half her time on a specialized section of the court: the DUII Intensive Supervision Program, or DISP. In the column at the far right, contact information for the subpoena clerk in the unit handling the case is shown. Those listed include judges of the Oregon Supreme Court, the Oregon Tax Court, and the Oregon Court of Appeals at the state level. [1] Education Dahlin obtained a B.A. It immediately put him more at ease. As most of us know, complex litigation rarely has opportunities for court and Patricia McGuire really wanted to go to court. Judge Baggio graduated high school in Alabama and went on to Wake Forest University where she graduated in 1995, cum laude, with a BA in Speech Communication and a minor in French. Our team works collaboratively with jurisdictions to understand the experiences and effects of victimization, increase access to victim services, and improve systemic responses through restitution and victim compensation programs. Although Matarazzo says Underhill's affidavit caught her by surprise, she probably should have seen it coming. art Judge Alexander's unique perspective - as a criminal prosecutor, in-house counsel, and private practice civil litigator . In March, she was under consideration for a vacancy on the state's top judicial panel, the Oregon Supreme Court. she Complaints that Matarazzo failed in three cases to impose the mandatory 90-day jail sentence for offenders convicted of three DUIIs in a 10-year period. Detention visitation is limited. The man started crying out of frustration and fear, but he was still angry, too. She served for seven years as a military lawyer, working as trial counsel and defending Air Force personnel. "She'd have to follow the law and allow us to participate in the hearings," says Deputy District Attorney Kirsten Snowden. The Multnomah County Circuit Court, which composes the 4th Judicial District of the Oregon Circuit Court system, is the general jurisdiction trial court of Multnomah County, Oregon. decade I wanted to be able to explain to somebody who is being sent to the hospital for restoration, for example, what thats going to look like. Judge Alexander felt called to serve because he wants to make a positive difference in the lives of people who come before the court. In 2007, Patricia took a break from practicing law and traveled to Europe, something she had never done before. Judge Baggios core belief in the importance of the rule of law and the protection of basic rights grounds her work as a judge. Multnomah Bar Association LSAT Preparation Course Scholarship - Apply Now! The DA's conclusion: "The State cannot receive a fair and impartial trial or hearing before Judge Matarazzo in any criminal or civil matter.". She was able to listen, understand, and communicate with an individual who was not trusting of our judicial system, but who needed our help regardless. (Submitted photos). Finding safe, stable housing can be one of the most immediate and dire challenges people face when they are diverted from or leave prison or jail. Underhill denies he was trying to send a message. The memo makes perhaps its best case that Matarazzo has a bias against the state when it quotes her alleged reaction to the DA's decision to appeal a case in which she tried to avoid handing down a mandatory 90-day sentence. In 2019, Governor Kate Brown appointed him to the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Across the country, many Republicanseven the Koch brothersare locking arms with liberal reformers to reduce incarceration. While in Salem, Judge Moawad also broadened her experience with public safety agencies and unexpectedly spent much of her time in that role marshalling the states responses and issuance of conflagration declarations in six consecutive summers of significant wildfires. "Our criminal justice system is set up to give outsized power to district attorneys," says Bobbin Singh, executive director of the left-leaning Oregon Justice Resource Center. For over 100 years, the Multnomah Bar Association (MBA) has provided a forum for lawyers to gather together for collegiality, to improve the justice system, to provide law-related community service and to access services and benefits that strengthen professionalism, satisfaction and success. He values professionalism and preparation from attorneys, and also listens attentively to the individuals appearing pro se. in He worked at Markowitz Herbold PC, a boutique civil litigation firm, earning partnership in 2017. For decades, prosecutors held the upper hand. Setting off on her next career, McGuire attended Lewis & Clark Law School, graduating in 1995. Of 14 Multnomah County judicial positions that were up for a vote this May or November, this is the only one that was contested. She went beyond, engaging with her clients and their families to achieve a result that allowed them the opportunity to address underlying issues that led to their involvement in the criminal justice system. While a student at Lewis & Clark Law School, Lucero demonstrated a profound commitment to creating a more diverse and equitable legal community by tutoring fellow minority law students and serving on the admissions committee . It was sold in 2018 to NBP Capital for $28 million, who said it was "considering various creative uses" that would preserve the historic building. Despite initial reluctance to leave her senior role in Multnomah County, Judge Moawad ultimately chose to return to Salem as a member of Governor Kitzhabers staff. Prior However, by the time she graduated law school, her focus had shifted: a clerkship at the Federal Public Defenders (FPDs) office in Portland allowed her to watch amazing lawyers and staff work tirelessly in their representation of indigent criminal defendants. Elizabeth Fleming. Waud says he graduated from DISP in January 2014, two years early. Multnomah Bar Association LSAT Preparation Course Scholarship - Apply Now! We work with corrections administrators in all 50 states to help develop comprehensive plans to combat those challenges. in Multnomah County Circuit Court . The pair had met only a handful of times before. On three occasions, private lawyers have filed single-case affidavits against Matarazzo, but that's a pretty standard number for any circuit judge. For example, in 2018, she joined the behavioral health steering committee for The Council of State Governments Justice Centers Justice Reinvestment Initiative in Oregon. Matarazzo says she's come to believe that incarceration is often less effective than treatmentand she's voiced that view aggressively. On that one Friday in the Spring of 2018, I experienced first-hand how Judge Patricia McGuire uses her unique perspective in service to the community as a Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge. Stephen Bushong, a judge on the Multnomah County Circuit Court since 2008, will fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the planned retirement of Justice Thomas Balmer. "This imbalance gives DAs and prosecutors enormous control.". There, she began to develop her particular style and approach to criminal law practice. She was a finalist, but didn't get chosen by Gov. It helps them with the rulings of the court. With her appointment, Judge Moawad returned to the same courthouse where she worked for the first decade-plus of her career as a Multnomah County prosecutor. Brown raised roughly $226,000 and Ghandour approximately $175,000, according to the most recent campaign finance records available. to If a judge wants to knock down an affidavit, she must prove the lawyer who filed it acted in bad faith. McGuire practiced family law with Andrew Bobzien at Bobzien McGuire from 2007 until 2013 and partnered with Loren Thompson at McGuire Thompson from 2013 until she was appointed to the bench in 2017. 1200 SW 1st Ave. Suite 3400, Portland OR 97204. Additionally, she hopes to play a role in improving how the court system works with other system partners to provide the best outcomes to our community. that aims to dramatically improve reentry success for people exiting prison and those under supervision. video, If this happens and decisions are reached even if not in their favor, they feel it was a fair decision. Dahlin won re-election for the Position 24 judge of the Oregon 4th Judicial District Circuit Court outright in the primary on May 17, 2022, after the general election was canceled. Former Supreme Court Justice Robert "Skip" Durham says Matarazzo would have made a strong addition to the court. Telephone customer service available. Affidavits work differently from the justice system, in which the accused is innocent until proven guilty. Im so hopeful that we are in a moment in time where people are beginning to recognize the importance of mental health initiatives, she said. While legal cases almost always result in one side prevailing over the other, Judge Baggio believes it of the utmost importance for the litigants appearing before her to leave the courthouse feeling that she listened carefully to them and that while they may not agree with her decision, they understand why she ruled the way that she did. When she turned 18, she aged out of the foster care system and prepared her own adoption papers to formally have her foster parents adopt her. 2023 The Council of State Governments. The previous building, a century-old courthouse, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Each Oregon circuit court adopts Supplemental Local Rules (SLRs). People are often scared, understandably, and if they dont have an idea of what to expect, I think its harder for them, she said. In his civil litigation practice, Judge Alexander handled everything from complex business litigation to plaintiff-side personal injury cases. But when she became the presiding judge of the mental health court and competency dockets in 2018, she quickly realized the need to expand her understanding of the mental health care opportunities and challenges for people in the criminal justice system. ", "Once they've done this to one judge, any judge could be in the cross hairs," he says. Improving responses to people with mental illnesses who are involved in the criminal justice system. Thursday, March 12, 2020. Prosecutors and defense attorneys sometimes make such requests. If a case has been postponed (set-over) and the new date is known, that date will be displayed in the "Additional Information" column. for Mr. Gul filed a pro se petition for habeas review of his detention at the US military base in Cuba. Elections for the Multnomah County Circuit Court (Oregons fourth judicial district) were unusually dynamic. We'll send you a newsletter with what you need to know every week. The story, which Matarazzo describes as "sensationalism," could have been written at nearly any time, she says, because DISP judges routinely take the risk of accepting offenders with three or more DUIIs into the program. holds Seeing their resolve to impact social issues inspired her to apply to law school. I was so completely absorbed. Judith Matarazzo is the presiding judge of the Court, serving with 37 others. Kate Brown. served Oregon's recent criminal justice reform efforts have focused on reducing incarceration and limiting DAs' power. 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