About Joe

With the exception of most lawyers, when an individual steps into a courtroom they are likely experiencing one of the worst periods in their life. Whether they are individuals charged with a crime, victims of a crime, or community members dealing with divorce or a civil action being in court is a stressful, scary, or sad situation for most individuals. And yet, there are few things as important as a courtroom in our country’s system of justice. In the limited number of words allowed in this publication I hope to convey a little about who I am and why I am the best choice for Benton County Circuit Court Judge.

I grew up the oldest of nine siblings in rural Nevada. After high school I followed in my grandfather’s footsteps and joined the United States Navy and served as a nuclear operator on the USS Nimitz until my honorable discharge in 2001. After the Navy I worked for various Oregon based companies in the semiconductor industry, but I always felt like I wanted to work with people instead of machines. In 2009 I moved to Corvallis to attend law school at Willamette University in Salem. I have lived in Benton County ever since.

As a lawyer I have worked with many people at the lowest point in their lives including divorces, child custody, and criminal defense. I currently have the privilege of representing indigent individuals as a court appointed defense attorney. I have seen the effect that a good judge can have in the lives of everyone affected by crime or dealing with difficult situations.

I believe that the judicial system is in place to 1) protect the citizens of the community; 2) fairly resolve civil disputes; and 3) prevent criminal recidivism. There are times when incarceration is required to protect the community. However, there are many cases where the community will benefit more from fixing the underlying issue leading to criminal behavior. For this reason, I want to make drug treatment court and mental health court a priority. I have seen how these alternative forms of justice can change lives and these changes roll down to future generations. My dream for Benton County is a judicial system that uses all of these available tools to enhance the safety of this beautiful area.