Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Commission on Judicial Fitness asks for full-time director as complaints surge
Summary
At a Feb. 10 public hearing on House Bill 5013, the Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability asked the House Public Safety Subcommittee to fund an increase from 0.5 to 1.0 FTE for its executive director and to maintain funding for unpredictable investigation costs amid rising complaint volumes.
The Oregon House Public Safety Subcommittee opened a public hearing Feb. 10 on House Bill 5013, the budget request for the Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability, and heard testimony that the agency needs a full-time executive director to handle a marked increase in complaints.
The commission, which investigates allegations of judicial misconduct and can recommend sanctions to the Oregon Supreme Court, said its executive director currently works 0.5 FTE and handles most complaint intake, initial screening, case review and management of outside investigators and prosecuting attorneys. "This increase to 1 full time position is vitally important for the commission to be able to continue functioning and fulfilling its constitutionally mandated mission," Executive Director Rachel Mortimer told the subcommittee.
The request comes as complaint volumes have risen in recent years, the commission said. Mortimer reported annual complaints of 240 in 2021 and 2022, 275 in 2023 and…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
