Agenda Packet 1-9-19 Work Session

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January 9, 2019, Work Session – Item 3 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Municipal Court Presiding Judge Meeting Date: January 9, 2018 Agenda Item Number: 3 Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Keri Beraldo www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5765 ISSUE STATEMENT This work session is an opportunity for Council to discuss the position of the Municipal Court Presiding Judge. Presiding Judge Wayne Allen retired which means the permanent Municipal Court presiding judge position is vacant. The current contract with Associate Judge Gregory Gill allows for him to serve in the presiding judge position on an interim basis until June 2019. This vacancy presents Council with the opportunity to determine how to structure and fill this position on a regular basis. BACKGROUND The presiding Municipal Court judge performs and oversees all judicial functions of the Eugene Municipal Court. Historically, the presiding judge has been an independent contractor that is paid a set hourly amount to perform the work outlined in their contract as well as an additional monthly amount to cover time spent attending required meetings. Current code stipulates the following process for appointment of the municipal judge: 2.011 City Council - Appointment of Municipal Judge. (1) The presiding municipal judge shall be hired and accountable to the city council. The city council shall hire, supervise, and specify the salary of the presiding municipal judge, who shall serve at the pleasure of the city council. All city council decisions regarding the presiding municipal judge will be made by a simple majority vote of the city council appointed in the manner provided in this section. (a) Prior to appointing the presiding municipal judge, the council shall cause contract(s) for the position to be prepared and advertised, and solicit applications for the position. The council shall review the applications, and by majority vote determine which of the applicants shall be referred to a screening committee nominated by the mayor and appointed by the council for interview. The screening committee shall be composed of one person from each of the following: the University of Oregon law school faculty; the Lane County public defender's office; the Lane County district attorney's office; the city's department of public safety; the city's human rights commission; the roster of local state or federal judges; and the city's municipal court staff. At the time of referral, the council shall indicate to the screening committee the number of finalists to be referred for consideration by the council. The screening committee shall interview the applicants and refer the finalists to the council. The council shall select the presiding municipal judge from among those finalists.