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77 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, September 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 22, 2004 County recommends Charter for JP job By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Medford attorney Joe Charter is the county’s preferred choice for a new judicial position, commissioners said. Charter is among three applicants bidding to be the first justice of the peace for the Southern Justice Court of Jackson County. Charter, Ashland attorney Michael Balocca and Medford attorney Damian Idiart were interviewing Friday at the office of Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who will make the appointment. The new Justice Court at 55 S. Fifth St. in Central Point is being created to process and adjudicate citations written by a team of sheriff’s deputies dedicated to traffic enforcement. The court is ready to open as soon as a justice is named, said Sue Slack, county administrator. In addition, the court likely will pick up much of the case load from the county’s existing Justice Court in Gold Hill, county officials said. Sheriff Mike Winters stopped sending noncriminal cases there after Justice Robert King was cited in June for possession of marijuana. King remains a justice but took voluntary leave of absence this month. His case will be dismissed if he complies with a court diversion program for one year. King’s elected term expires in 2008. Advertisement In a letter to the governor, commissioners recommended Charter because he "knows the community," is active in community service and is experienced in practicing law and mediation. Charter also has announced his candidacy in the November election for justice of the peace. The position must go to a vote even after the governor names his choice. Charter has twice vied for a state Circuit Court judge position, most recently losing in the 2002 general election to Bill Purdy. He applied with the governor’s office for another judgeship in 1997 but was not awarded the post. Charter earned his law degree in 1984 from the University of California at Berkeley. An Ashland resident, he has practiced in Oregon, California and Alaska. His Medford firm specializes in employment and civil rights cases. Also an Ashland resident, Balocca lost the 2002 general election for Ashland Municipal Court judge. He and Charter unsuccessfully applied for the same state Circuit Court position in 1997. Balocca received his law degree in 1982 from Willamette University College of Law in Salem. He has practiced in Oregon and New Hampshire. His Ashland law firm represents clients in civil and criminal cases and domestic relations disputes. A Central Point resident, Idiart is a criminal defense attorney and partner in the Medford firm Francis & Idiart. He received his law degree in 1999 from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif. Candidates for the Justice of the Peace position on the November ballot must be members in good standing with the Oregon State Bar Association, said County Clerk Kathy Beckett. Candidacy forms are available at the Jackson County Elections Center, 1101 W. Main St., Medford. The filing deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday. For more information, call 774-6148. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities