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55 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, September 20, 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 September 9, 2004 Charter, Idiart seek new court spot Following the November election, the governor will appoint the justice-elect so he can start working earlier than January By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Voters will decide who takes the bench on a new county court. Medford attorneys Joe Charter and Damian Idiart are vying to be the first justice of the peace for the Southern Justice Court of Jackson County. Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s office was poised to appoint one of the men, but favored putting the position to a vote, said Marian Hammond, spokeswoman for the governor. "It made sense for the community to make that determination," Hammond said. Following the November election, the governor will appoint the justice-elect so he can start working earlier than January, the usual start time for elected officials, Hammond said. Both Charter and Idiart have filed their candidacy, said a spokeswoman for the county’s elections division, and the deadline to file has passed. County commissioners have recommended Charter for the job. The new Justice Court will process and adjudicate citations written by a team of sheriff’s deputies dedicated to traffic enforcement. In addition, the court likely will pick up much of the caseload 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. Advertisement Winters’ decision to move citations to the state Circuit Court has cost the county a portion of the revenue from traffic fines. County officials had no information Wednesday on the amount of money lost over the past three months, but County Administrator Sue Slack said she has asked for an analysis to present to county commissioners. The county is paying for a lease on the new court space, located in a Central Point office building owned by Dennis Richardson at 55 S. Fifth St. The county considered several spots for the court, but determined that the Central Point office would be the most cost-effective over time, Slack said. The court was originally planned to have been operational by now, with the initial application deadline on May 21. The governor extended that deadline and the appointment had been in limbo until now. Winters said he was upset by the governor’s decision because he can’t hire four deputies to man the traffic team until the Justice Court opens. Winters has touted the team as essential to reducing the county’s traffic-related deaths, which — at 32 — have already exceeded last year’s number, he said. "We lose two more months," Winters said. "It’s like throwing a fly in a can of molasses." 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