Oregon's Governor Tina Kotek has announced new appointments to the Jackson County Circuit Court in a move that will bring fresh faces to the state's judiciary system. Kotek, fulfilling her gubernatorial duties, named Christine K. Herbert and Matthew A. Rowan to the court, steps that are effective as of today, according to the Governor's Office.
Herbert, who recently won the primary election for position 5, fills the vacancy left by the retired Judge Timothy Gerking. Bringing a wide-ranging background in criminal law to the bench, Herbert's resume includes time spent with Rogue Valley Defenders LLC and she also serves on the board of Rogue Retreat, hinting at her community involvement and legal expertise. Rowan, with connections anchoring him in Southern Oregon since his high school days, will take on position 11, which materialized through Senate Bill 1541.
Matthew Rowan's biography is a tapestry of local and cosmopolitan threads, after graduating from South Medford High School, he ventured out to teach English before making his way back to Jackson County to lay down the roots of his legal career, as detailed by the Governor's Office. Rowan's multifaceted background, which, spans civil and criminal litigation over the past sixteen years will now pivot to include the responsibilities of a Circuit Court judge.
