Oregon Governor Appoints New Judges to Circuit Courts
PORTLAND, OR – Governor Tina Kotek has announced the appointment of Elisa J. Dozono to the Multnomah County Circuit Court and Cierra D. Brown to the newly established seat on the Clackamas County Circuit Court.
Elisa J. Dozono, a notable fourth-generation Portlander, steps into her role as the first Japanese American to serve on a trial court in the tri-county area. At 54, Dozono has a rich history of public service, having previously worked as a spokesperson for former Portland Mayor Vera Katz and serving as chair of the Oregon Lottery Commission. Notably, she has been a temporary judge in Washington County since 2018. Dozono’s family faced historical injustices during World War II, with several members incarcerated due to their Japanese ancestry, a background that influences her commitment to civil rights. “My family has history here. I have a lot of personal experience with civil rights that has shaped me,” she stated, highlighting her aim to improve community connections with the courts. Dozono succeeds Judge Thomas Ryan, effective immediately.
Cierra D. Brown, 40, will take office in Clackamas County on July 1. With a decade of experience as a defense attorney, Brown has worked on behavioral health and indigent defense cases and has served as a municipal judge in various cities. A former chair of the LGBT Bar Association of Oregon, she emphasizes her commitment to public service: “I hope to make the county proud and serve the state of Oregon.” Brown was selected from 15 applicants for the newly authorized 11th seat on the Clackamas County bench.
In Oregon, judges are usually elected, but mid-term retirements often lead to gubernatorial appointments, with new judges typically facing little opposition in subsequent elections. The salary for circuit judges is set at $174,000 annually.
For updates on Oregon courts, follow Zane Sparling at The Oregonian.
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