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