As most of us know, complex litigation rarely has opportunities for court and Patricia McGuire really wanted to go to court. maternal That was Matarazzo's hope when she went on the bench. The office still affidavits Litzenberger on some felony cases. "He's been more willing than others to look at alternative justice programs that some of us have been more leery of," Marquis says. Some of the complaints in the DA's memo, Matarazzo says, stemmed from her attempts to use her judicial discretion to funnel offenders into treatment instead of prison. Matarazzo wondered what Underhill wanted. In 2008, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in Boumediene v. Bush, holding that held detainees at Guantanamo had a right to file petitions for habeas corpus. Afterwards, Baggios co-counsel Iniguez told the press, Every single, minor detail he told us was corroborated. That is in adherence to the law. 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. There is no voicemail on this department's phone line. In other words, an affidavited judge is guilty until proven innocent. Alexander (SA), 26 . Judge Baggio left the FPDs office in 2013, to start a solo criminal defense practice. Its been a long, competitive run for Brown, as six lawyers originally vied for the seat in the May primary. 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. "DAs have the right to affidavit judges. In 2007, Patricia took a break from practicing law and traveled to Europe, something she had never done before. Across the country, many Republicanseven the Koch brothersare locking arms with liberal reformers to reduce incarceration. From early on, Judge McGuire was aware of the struggles of legal work. "The district attorney is saying 'we are never ever getting back together' with Judge Matarazzo.". She says she did so because she believes an offender will either successfully complete the requirements with the extension or will end up with a conviction. Their choices signal their priorities to police and the public. Behavioral "If our statistics show us that the rate of recidivism is substantially less in a court-supervised program, I'm probably pretty pragmatic and going to give them a shot," she says. Brown later joined the U.S. Air Force, which allowed her to secure a college education. Matarazzo thinks the bad publicity may have interfered with her getting the Supreme Court appointment from Gov. in was An African American man was at the family law counter trying to get a restraining order. Oden-Orr Law August 30, 2013. Rules are effective February 1 of each year unless they are adopted "out-of-cycle" by approval of the Chief Justice. Judith Matarazzo is the presiding judge of the Court, serving with 37 others. As she builds her judicial experience, Judge Moawad considers herself extremely lucky to have inherited Judge Wittmayers excellent staff, Sonja Lockhart and Joe Keenan, who she describes as a dream team. Brown has served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Oregon for 13 years, with a focus on civil rights enforcement. Personal tragedy struck her friend, and four months later the focus for Patricia changed from helping to taking over a law business. They include: Allegations that in six instances over the past eight years, Matarazzo started a court proceeding without a prosecutor in the room. Health Its interesting - I feel like I have a different perspective. True to her Oregon nature, she did not enjoy the daily 75-degree days and she returned to Portland looking for her next career. Youve got to be able to think on your feet. "They use that discretion not to charge people or to bring lower charges than they could bring. 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. Baggio, and Heidi Moawad, filled vacancies created by the retirements of Judges Marilyn E. Litzenberger and John A. Wittmayer. Kate Brown, who appointed Torres in spring as a family law judge in Multnomah County Circuit Court, called her smart, funny, fair and fearless. Our team works with states and local communities to reduce structural barriers and expand access to quality career technical education, training programs, and other workforce supports that increase employment opportunities for people with records. Amy Baggio was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, into what she describes as incredibly lucky circumstances. 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. I had never met Judge McGuire before then, but immediately I knew she was an amazing asset to the bench. and Prosecutors and defense attorneys sometimes make such requests. As a judge, its a challenge he happily faces every day. In the spring, she'd applied for one of two openings on the bench of the Oregon Supreme Court. Seeing their resolve to impact social issues inspired her to apply to law school. Multnomah Bar Association LSAT Preparation Course Scholarship - Apply Now! media Telephone and online services available. 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. Justice General information: 971.274.0500 Jury service Judges Civil Criminal Family Parking Small Claims Small Estate Traffic OJD Courts ePay, online payment system This experience convinced her that she, too, wanted to be a criminal defense lawyer and work with underserved citizens in our community. She continued to represent a wide variety of clients, and she remained committed to not only to defending her clients against criminal charges but continuing to advocate for them in such a way as to provide support should they be ready to move beyond their pasts and on to more stable lives. People are at a very emotional time in their lives. See full Courthouse closure information on their website. Its not a job where you can just go through the motions - it takes dedication, long hours, and a drive to help others. Yet people with juvenile and criminal recordsespecially Black peoplesuffer from an alarmingly high and stubborn unemployment rate. It was a regular Friday afternoon at the Multnomah County Courthouse in the spring of 2018. Matarazzo says she's come to believe that incarceration is often less effective than treatmentand she's voiced that view aggressively. St. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). 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. Family law is the most interesting law you can practice. But there are people who worry that DAs have so much discretion that they control the justice system.". The suit led to the federal settlement that required the city to meet a list of police reforms. Only share sensitive information on official, secure websites. in "Rod is reflective of the Multnomah County community.". Across the country, communities are struggling to address the high number of people with mental health needs cycling through the criminal justice system each year. Our team works with states and local communities to develop cross-system solutions that help connect people in the justice system with the permanent housing and the supportive services they need. "It's like a Taylor Swift song," says professor John Parry of Lewis & Clark Law School. A number of judges across the state have had similar blanket affidavits filed against them recently by district attorneys, according to the ACLU of Oregon. Affidavits work differently from the justice system, in which the accused is innocent until proven guilty. After this initial glimpse into politics and policymaking, Judge Moawad returned to her former role and went on to handle nearly every type of criminal case, including the prosecution of significant child sex abuse cases. Judge Nan Waller has served in the Multnomah County, Oregon, circuit court system for 30 years. One of her clients, who she represented along with Assistant Federal Public Defender Ruben L. Iniquez, was Nazar Chaman Gul, imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay Prison since 2003. 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. One power district attorneys retain, however, is the blanket affidavit. Veteran prosecutors say she's neither. "We've seen a number of DA offices look to wholesale disqualification of a specific judge based on a perceived bias," said the ACLU's Rogers. In four days, more than 100 people would fill her house for the celebration. For decades, prosecutors held the upper hand. Last year, county and court officials finished planning a new, $300 million building to replace the crumbling, century-old county courthouse. holds A fireplug with a big smile and cropped auburn hair, Matarazzo likes to cook Italian foodespecially cannolisand aspired to be a folk singer before she started her legal career. sociology 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. the 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. Judge Alexanders unique perspective - as a criminal prosecutor, in-house counsel, and private practice civil litigator - affords him the opportunity to make a daily impact on those who appear in his courtroom. Because I am African American and partly because I am a native of Oregon, I can bring all these different perspectives to the bench. And, as mentioned above, Judge Baggio carried into her private practice principles she embraced from her experience representing Nazar Gul. 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. Judge Alexander started his legal career at the State Attorneys Office in the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Gainesville, Florida prosecuting misdemeanor and felony crimes. Former Supreme Court Justice Robert "Skip" Durham says Matarazzo would have made a strong addition to the court. 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 ", "Once they've done this to one judge, any judge could be in the cross hairs," he says. 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. "She made me feel like I was a personand not just a case number, a person in the system, a criminal, an addict and an alcoholic.". "She's very insightful and very bright," says her former law partner Mike Gutzler. Telephone customer service available. "It strikes at who you are. But also, that this change requires a cross-systems approach that involves housing services, community organizations, and others. In the column at the far right, contact information for the subpoena clerk in the unit handling the case is shown. Justice Adrienne Nelson Appointed to the US District Court of Oregon. Judge Wallers participation in these broader efforts has reinforced her belief that changes can be made to improve outcomes for people with mental health needs in the criminal justice system. Judge Alexander felt called to serve because he wants to make a positive difference in the lives of people who come before the court. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 1200 SW 1st Ave. Suite 3400, Portland OR 97204. research, Iniguez and Baggio and their team investigated the governments allegations against Gul and learned the details of his life and the circumstances under which he was in Gardez and captured. Matarazzo's disagreements with prosecutors extend beyond opinions about incarceration and sentencing. Waud says DISP saved his life and allowed him to rebuild a relationship with his daughter. 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. Judge Baggios core belief in the importance of the rule of law and the protection of basic rights grounds her work as a judge. Family Court Services | 503-988-3189. plate ` `o28asd ` `10/07/2022 . Each Oregon circuit court adopts Supplemental Local Rules (SLRs). health. They got nowhere. Matarazzo pushed for the DA's office, now located in the courthouse, to be excluded, noting that it and the court represent two independent branches of government that should be separated. She worked the federal class-action civil rights suit that uncovered the Portland Police Bureaus pattern of using excessive and unconstitutional force against people with mental illness. In 1995, voters approved Measure 11, imposing mandatory minimum sentences for certain violent crimes and thereby limiting judicial discretion. Waud, 37, who today says he is clean and sober, works at his family's funeral home. She currently serves on the board of Lincoln Youth Football. The new Multnomah County Courthouse on SW 1st Ave opened October 2020. The previous building, a century-old courthouse, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In the DISP court, Matarazzo regularly clashed with prosecutors over the 90-day mandatory minimum prison sentences that state law requires for defendants convicted of three DUIIs in 10 years. At that time, a very good friend asked Patricia to join their family law practice, to help out. Multnomah County Courthouse | 971-274-0500. In 2019, Governor Kate Brown appointed him to the Multnomah County Circuit Court. McGuire graduated from Grant High School, and then graduated from Oregon State University, majoring in graphic design, which provided her with an early career. Judge Edward Jones, Multnomah County's chief criminal judge, says he's seen such a blanket affidavit filed only a handful of times in his 40-year legal career. Multnomah Bar Association 2023. Learn how, An official website of the State of Oregon, An official website of the State of Oregon , Sign-up For Text Message Hearing Notifications, Apply To Become a Pro Tem and/or Reference Judge, Southern Oregon Facilitation Initiative (SOFI), Behavioral Health/Justice System Leadership, Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability, Court Calendars and Live Stream Proceedings, Misdemeanor Procedures from Arraignment to Trial, Transfer of Misdemeanor Cases Between Central Courthouse and East County Courthouse (ECC). 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. [4], Courts.Oregon.gov Multnomah County Circuit Court, 4th Judicial District. "Prosecutors have an enormous amount of discretionand usually that's a good thing," says Lewis & Clark's Parry. Shortly after 4 pm on June 6, Circuit Judge Judith Matarazzo received an unusual visitor at her office in the Multnomah County Courthouse. served Limited liability companies ("LLC") can be managed by members or appointed managers. Elizabeth Fleming. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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