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About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1992)
EIGHT - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 13, 1992 District Court Judge Dept. 2 Five attorneys are seeking the position of Umatilla/Morrow District Court Judge Department 2 in the May 19 primary election. Incumbent Peter Fels was ap pointed to the position in December to fill out the term of Judge Ralph Currin, who retired. Fels’ term expires in January of 1993. Opposing Fels for the six-year term are Jeff Wallace Morrow County District Attorney; Steven Fels, former Umatilla County assistant district attorney, Pendleton; Garry Reynolds, who has a private law practice in Her- miston; and Wallace Terry, director of the Umatilla-Morrow Public Defenders in Pendleton. The two candidates who receive the most votes will op pose each other in the November general election. However, if one candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes in the primary election he will be elected judge. r The Dept. 2 district court judge serves both Umatilla and Morrow Counties but presides over cases primarily in Hermiston and Heppner. Peter Fels Incumbent Peter Fels, 42, Pendleton, has lived in Umatilla County more than 10 years. He and his wife, Nancy Helget, have two children, eight and five years old. Fels, who was appointed district judge in January by G overnor Barbara Roberts, received a doctor of jurisprudence degree from the Univeristy of Oregon, and a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish literature from the University of California at Berkeley. Since his appointment as judge he has brought students into the courtroom and has spoken to classes at high schools and junior high schools in the area. Fels was regional director of the Oregon Legal Services Cor poration and has had two years experience as judge pro-tem of the Tribal Court of the Con federated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. He has 13 years experience in general law practice. “ The major issue in this cam paign is the credibility of the court and legal system,” said Fels. “ My goal from the outset has been to make the court work properly by maintaining proper decorum in the courtroom, work ing hard, treating all people who come before the court with courtesy and respect, listening to all the evidence, and applying the law as it is written, not according to my personal views about the person or the law. I have a track record since January which pro ved that I have done this.” “ Many of our country’s well- known leaders have become in volved in scandals; the Rodney King case has made the jury system suspect in many people’s minds; and even problems in the courthouse in Pendleton have made many people think that the legal system is not working pro perly. Young people may think, “ why should I obey the law?” When they see famous criminals and leaders getting away with breaking it.” “ While I don’t presume that I alone can change this, I do think that my active leadership in the com m unity, in addition to operating the court in strict con formance with the law, can help educate people, particularly young people and students, about the legal system, and begin to restore some of the faith and con fidence that have been lost.” “ In addition. I am the only can didate with significant judicial ex perience, and I speak Spanish.” “ I would appreciate your vote so I can continue to serve you,” Fels concluded. Garry Reynolds Jeff Wallace Jeff Wallace, 42, has lived in Morrow County for the past six years. He is a native of Umatilla county. He and his wife Ronda, live in Heppner. He has four children, 14, 10, nine and one. Wallace has been Morrow County District Attorney since 1987. He received his bachelor of science degree from the Univer sity of Oregon and a law degree from Willamette Law School. He was a deputy district attorney for Umatilla and Malheur County District Attorney’s office from 1983-87, deputy district attorney- county counsel, Umatilla Coun ty District Attorney’s office, 1977-78. He is a member of the Hepp ner Lions Club, Heppner Elks Lodge, a board member of the Oregon Together group. Cub- master, Heppner Cub Scout Pack No. 661, Morrow County Com munity Corrections Advisory Committee and sings in the Hepp ner Community Choir. Wallace is a lifelong resident of Eastern Oregon, has nine years experience as a prosecutor handl ing a wide variety of criminal cases. He has four years of pri vate law practice, and served as the county counsel for both Umatilla and Morrow Counties handling counties civil litigation. “ I have served as the Morrow County District Attorney since 1987 and have handled a wide variety of criminal cases, from drunk driving and domestic violence to child abuse and ag gravated murder,” said Wallace. “ To date, I am the only district attorney in Eastern Oregon to have successfully prosecuted a death penalty case.” “ I have taken a strong leader ship role in protecting the rights of crime victims by establishing and chairing a multi-disciplinary child abuse prosecution team in Morrow County,” he continued. “ The goal of this team is to make the court process less traumatic for the victims of child abuse.” “ I have also had four years of experience in private law prac tice, from divorce and child custody cases to real estate tran sactions and business law. In 1977, I served as the first Umatilla County counsel. I am the current Morrow County Counsel, handling the county’s civil litigation. A captain in the Judge Ad vocate G eneral's Corps of Oregon National Guard, I am a graduate of the U.S. Army Judge Advocate G en eral’s (JAG) School in C harlottesville, Virginia. I have served as a military judge, prosecutor and defense counsel in military courts-martial proceedings. “ A lifelong Eastern Oregon resident who was raised on a fam ily farm near Milton- Freewater, I was active in 4-H and FFA. and served as a state FFA officer following graduation from high school. My work in law enforcement, background in agriculture and wide range of legal experience as a prosecutor and in private practice have prepared me to be your next district court judge.” Garry L. Reynolds, 44, Her miston, has lived in Umatilla County for 16 years. He and his wife, Sheila have five children, 18, 17, 14, 11 and 10. Reynolds has been an attorney since 1975 and has a private law practice in Reynolds & Bendix- sen, P.C. He received his doctor of jurisprudence degree at Nor thwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark C ollege. Reynolds received a majority, 31 out of 62 votes in a recent at torneys poll concerning the judicial race. Reynolds is a member of the board of trustees at Good Shepherd Community Hospital and a member of the library board for the city of Hermiston Library. He has been an adult boy scout leader for the past 10 years and has coached youth sports. Reynolds is a former municipal court judge pro tern for the city of The Dalles. “ The court system is entering a very difficult time with the im plementation of Proposition 5 ,” says Reynolds. “ The Department of Parole and Probation is advis ing that they do not have the funds nor resources to formally supervise misdemeanor defen dants. It is projected that jail space will be reduced. The court system will be faced with the challenge of having to handle a caseload that increases yearly with less funds.” “ The challenge to accomplish more with less funding will re quire a judge of experience, in telligence and imagination,” he added. “ The system will require a judge who is experienced in the law and who can give prompt decisions so that litigants receive the justice they are seeking.” “ As I have lived in Umatilla County and served the people of Umatilla and Morrow Counties. I have observed the needs of the judicial system and the needs of the community with respect to that system. The Court needs to be respected, and the people need to feel that they can and will ob tain justice from the court.” “ With my temperament and experience, I am best qualified to meet those needs. The judges and attorneys in Umatilla and Mor row Counties agree. In October 1991 and again in April of 1992 the Oregon State Bar asked the at torneys and judges who they thought should be the next district court judge. In both polls, these professionals, who know the needs of the Court and the qualifications of all the can didates, overwhelmingly chose me. In the latest poll, I received almost three times as many votes as the next closest candidate.” and his wife Linda, have four children 19, 18, 15 and eight. Terry has been an attorney for 20 years. He is employed at the U m atilla/M orrow Public Defender Service Inc.He receiv ed his doctor of jurisprudence degree at the Willamette Univer sity College of Law. Terry is involved in the United Way of Umatilla County and is a trustee at the First Baptist Church. Terry has been a business law instructor at Chemeketa Community College, Salem, and a constitutional law instructor at Blue Mountain Com munity College. He has both civil and criminal law experience. "A major issue facing the court is the funding problems created by Measure 5 ,” said Terry. “ Many of the fiscal problems faced by the court systems of Umatilla and Morrow County can be alleviated by the greater use of the court at Hermiston for district and circuit, criminal and civil matters. The court could handle many matters in both district and circuit court involving persons from the Umatilla/Hermiston area which now are being heard in Pendleton, thus reducing the costly volume of cases there, and increasing convenience to the parties involved. Service to Mor row County could be extended to 1 V4 to two days a week with the district court sitting for one-half to one day in Irrigon, reducing expense to many agencies.” “ Another major issue the court faces is lack of credibility,” add ed Terry. “ A way of rebuilding the public trust is for the judge to be more accessible to the public. This could be accomplished by a more “ open door” policy, which encourages citizens to come to the court and offer their input.” “ Of all the candidates for this position, I have the greatest amount of experience. I have been involved in the practice of law since 1971 and have handl ed all types of cases in courts from municipal to the U.S. Court of Appeals.” “ I also have a very good work ing relationship and the support of many of the persons and agen cies involved in the judicial system. I strongly encourage voters to contact persons involv ed in the system and inquire of them who should be elected to the position of District Court Judge. ’ ’ former police officer for the cities of Reno, Nevada and Oregon Ci ty. He has been a deputy medical examiner since 1984. “ During my 8% years as the U m atilla County A ssistant District Attorney, I was frustrated with a justice system which lack ed genuine concern for public safety and victim’s rights,” com mented Fogelson. “ Repeat of fenders would receive the same sentence whether it was their fourth or first conviction. Drug offenders tradionally receive the same sentence as first time drunk drivers, which rarely included jail time. Sentences would get lighter the more often offenders commit ted crimes.” “ Our courts have not shown a willingness to try new approaches to dealing with repeat offenders,” he added. “ In other areas of the state, restitution centers, public notices of convictions, bigger community service obligations, and signs on offender’s property have been used to make offenders take responsibility and help the public protect themselves.” “ Our courts have been willing to schedule trials and hearings at the convenience of defendants and defense attorneys. But when victims or witnesses need con sideration because of prepaid vacations or inconvenience the courts have refused to listen.” “ We pay police officers up to four hours of overtime to attend hearings on days off or when off duty. By opening a night court and working with the police in scheduling we can save thousands while making the courts more ac cessible to the public.” “ There is a need to change the way our courts do business. We need to elect a judge who shows a concern for all persons, not just defendants and defendant’s at torneys. It’s time for new ideas and attitudes. It’s time for a judge like Steve Fogelson.” District Court Judge Dept. 1 In the race for the District Court Judge Department 1, the winner will be selected in the May 19 primary election because only two candidates are vying for the position. District Court Judges are elected on a non-partisan ballot for a term of six years. Incum bent Richard Courson’s present term will expire in January of 1993. He is opposed by Pendleton city attorney Rudy Murgo. The Dept. 1 district court judge serves both Umatilla and Morrow Counties but presides over cases primarily in Pendleton. reduction of state funds to the local counties for Juvenile Ser vices,” he said. Courson lists experience, pa- tienc, and even-judicial tempera ment, loyalty to the community and the results of the bar, poll as reasons to vote for him. “ This is not the time for on the job train ing,” said Courson, who added that he “ always” takes the time to listen to both sides of the con troversy.” s f Rudy Murgo Richard Courson Steven Fogelson Steven Fogelson, 35, Pendleton, has lived in Umatilla County 8 xh years. He has two children, eight and five. Fogelson has been an attorney for nine years. He was assistant district attorney for Umatilla County for 8 Vi years. Fogelson received both his bachelor of science and doctor of jurisprudence degrees from the University of Oregon. Fogelson resigned as Umatilla County assistant district attorney after two circuit court judges bar red him from their courtrooms for making what they considered disparaging remarks. Fogelson has been a member of the Lion’s Club since 1985 and has served as the club's tailtwister and first vice president. He received the Lion's club Cap C asperson-O utstanding new member award and has also been a Main Street Cowboy since 1991. He taught law at BMCC, taught Reserve Police Wallace D. Terry Wallace D. Terry, 47, Her Academy from 1984 to 1992 and miston, has lived in Umatilla has been an instructor for Satur County for around 14 years. He day Academy. Fogelson is a Incumbent Richard J. Courson, 68, Pendleton, has lived in Umatilla County for the past 36 years. He and his wife Coralee, have three grown children. Courson has been the district judge for the past 24 years. He received his doctor of jurisprudence degree at Nor thwestern College. He was elected Umatilla County District Attorney in 1958 and was re elected in 1962 and 1966. He was appointed district court judge by Governor Tom McCall in 1967. Courson received the most votes, 38 out of 64, in a recent attorney’s poll. Courson is a former instructor of criminal law-police science at Blue Mountain Community Col lege, a current board member of the Pendleton Round-Up Hall of Fame, past director of the Pendleton Round-Up Associa tion, past president of the Main Street Cowboys and past presi dent of the state of Oregon High School Rodeo Association. He is also a member of the Oregon State Bar, past president of the Oregon State District Attorney Association, past member of the National D istrict Attorney Association, a member of the 5th Marine Division Association and a member of the ‘Association of Survivors’. “ A vital concemm is the im pact of Measure 5 and what it will mean to the administration of justice,” said Courson. “ As presiding Judge, I have been intimately involved in plan ning the coming 6th Judicial budget. Of great concern is the Rudy Murgo, 42, Pendleton, has lived in Eastern Oregon since 1976. He and his wife, Linda have three children. Murgo has been a lawyer for 17 years and the Pendleton city attorney for the past 12 years. Prior to that he was the Umatilla County Assistant district attorney and before that, Marion County assistant DA. He received his law degree from the Willamette University College of Law in 1975. Murgo was appointed this year by the Oregon Supreme Court as regional chairman for the Oregon State Bar Disciplinary Board, which investigates lawyer misconduct and ethical com plaints. He has served on the Umatilla County Juvenile Ser vices Commission and was ap pointed by the two governors to serve on a statewide juvenile commission. He taught criminal justice classes at Blue Mountain Com munity College. He has appeared in state courts of all levels, municipal, district, circuit, the Land Use Board of Appeals, the Oregon Supreme Court, tribal court, military courts, boards and tribunals and federal courts. He is also a captain in the Oregon National Guard. Murgo is involved in Boy Scouts, Rotary, the chamber of commerce and the Blue Mountain Criminal Justice Advisory Board. Murgo was instrumental in ob taining a ruling from the attorney general for the secretary of state to allow M orrow County residents to vote for both district court judges for Morrow and Umatilla counties. Continued page 7
