With now 100 judicial appointments, Oregon's controversial Governor Kate Brown has stated that she appoints judges who she believes represent the diversity of backgrounds and life experiences of Oregon’s people and communities. However, some critics are left wondering if her motives are political.

Oregon's Governor Kate Brown has now announced that she intends to appoint attorney Jacqueline L. Alarcón to a vacancy created by the planned retirement of Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Jerry Hodson.

This marks the 100th judicial appointment that Governor Brown has made to Oregon’s courts during her time in office. Judge Hodson will retire on June 30.

The Presiding Judge of Multnomah County previously informed Governor Brown that the judge appointed to this vacancy would be assigned to the Multnomah County Circuit Court’s Family Law Department. The Governor selected Alarcón from a list. Alarcón’s appointment is effective July 1, 2022.

“Jackie Alarcón’s professional and lived experiences, paired with her commitment to lifting up the underserved in our community, make her an ideal addition to the Multnomah County family law bench,” Governor Brown said.

Alarcón was born in Los Angeles and was raised in El Salvador until high school. She earned both her bachelor’s degree and her law degree from Willamette University.

She began her legal career practicing family law with the Hohbach Law Firm, and then joined the Yates Family Law Firm, where she is currently a partner.

Alarcón was also a pro tem judge in Washington and Multnomah County Circuit Courts. Alarcón is the president of the Multnomah Bar Association and president of Oregon Women Lawyers. She is a board member of Basic Rights Oregon and Familias en Acción, and is associated with Latino Network.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The appointment of Alarcón marks Governor Brown’s 100th judicial appointment during her time in office. Under current law, the Oregon Governor is charged with appointing judges to fill judicial vacancies when they occur.

Those judges then stand for election at the next regularly scheduled general election.

Governor Brown believes that these judges should reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

Of the 100 judicial appointments Governor Brown has made to Oregon courts (judges on the state trial, appellate, and tax courts):

• 52 are women
• 25 are persons of color
• 10 judges are Black
• 7 judges are Asian/South Asian
• 7 judges are Latino/Latina/Latinx
• 1 judge is Native American
• Eight openly identify as LGBTQ

Kate Brown claims that this collectivist mentality somehow brings a "deep understanding of the needs of, and inequities that persist within, our criminal justice and legal systems."


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2022-05-24 20:08:31

Last Update: 2022-05-24 20:37:22