Race for 10th Circuit Court Positions Taking Shape
By Joe Hathaway on Wednesday, October 11th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE — The competition for Position 2 on the 10th Judicial Circuit Court is underway.
Incumbent Judge Wes Williams has filed for reelection. He was elected to serve the position in 2018. You can read his press release announcing his reelection below.
Jared Boyd, a defense attorney from La Grande, announced last month he is also seeking the seat. You can read his press release announcing his campaign here.
For Position 1, Judge Thomas Powers has filed for reelection. Powers has served since 2017.
Judges in the 10th Judicial Circuit Court covers both Union and Wallowa counties.
The election is next May.
Below is Judge Wes Williams announcement for his reelection campaign:
Judge Williams is very grateful to the citizens of Union and Wallowa Counties for electing him circuit court judge in 2018. He has proudly served Union and Wallowa Counties for 27 years, first as a lawyer, then as an elected full-time judge. He and his wife Jennifer raised their family here and are devoted to their community.
Judge Williams grew up on a small farm in Oregon. He was the first member of his family to attend college. He paid for college by working in construction and as a farmhand. After earning his Bachelor’s degree, he taught high school in rural Oregon for several years while saving money for law school. He worked his way through law school as a law clerk for the Department of Justice and for the law firm of Rassmussen, Tyler, and Mundorff. He graduated from the University of Oregon Law School in 1996.
After law school, Judge Williams and his wife moved to La Grande, Oregon in 1996 to open a law practice. Judge Williams ran a successful law practice for twenty-two years, representing community members, including working people, small businesses, farmers, and ranchers. Local rancher Cassie Miller elaborates: “Judge Williams was our family’s lawyer. He helped our family throughout the years as he has for so many others. His wisdom, guidance and kindness were invaluable to us.”
As a lawyer, Judge Williams represented Eastern Oregonians in State Court, Federal Court, Municipal Court, Justice Court, the Oregon Court of Appeals, and the Oregon Supreme Court.
In 2018, the people of Union and Wallowa Counties elected Judge Williams as their Circuit Court Judge. At that time Judge Williams made a promise to the people of Union and Wallowa Counties that he would honor the principle of equality before the law, treat all with respect, and protect their constitutional rights. He kept that promise. Retired Elgin teacher Tim Troutman stated that “I have known Judge Williams since he was a teacher. I knew him as a lawyer. And now I know him as a judge. I can assure you he is absolutely devoted to the principle of equality before the law.”
Elgin City Administrator Brock Eckstein notes: “I am proud to support Judge Williams’ re-election bid. He has and he will continue to support our constitutional rights.”
Judge Williams has a remarkable record of making legally correct decisions. When a party believes the judge has erred, they may appeal the judge’s decision to the Court of Appeals and seek a reversal. Trial judges’ decisions are routinely appealed. Of the hundreds of criminal matters Judge Williams has decided, the prosecution has never appealed his decisions. Not one. Of the hundreds of decisions Judge Williams has made in civil cases such as negligence lawsuits, divorces and property disputes all have been affirmed. This sterling record “is a credit to Judge Williams legal acumen and devotion to equality under the law” according to retired Umatilla County Circuit Court Judge Jeff Wallace.
Judge Williams can be reached at weswilliamsforjudge.org.
