Exactly why would Kulongoski make this appointment? It makes no sense whatsoever, other than their having a friendship going back a ways.

Really, and she shouldn't be rewarded for changing her party affiliation whenever it was expedient, even though she's now being appointed to a nonpartisan position. And apparently she has no apologies for abandoning the Democratic Party to work for the Starr Commission. Speaking of apologies, her official apology to Brandon Mayfield didn't sound sincere to me.

How about a USA interested in civil rights enforcement? U-know, like police brutality?

I rather like the idea of Mayfield as USA.

If by USA you mean Undeserved Spending Account, then I would agree.

Years ago, with a paw print ink stamp that Santa brought me and Multnomah Circuit Court Judge Nomination Form in hand, I nominated one of my cats with a platform plank of running the vermin out of the courthouse. It seems to be a rodent repository, and although that particular cat is no longer with us, maybe I can talk some of the excellent hunters I now own into running.

I don't think the Oregon Humane Society would allow a cat in the MultCo Courthouse -- the building is too dangerous in the event of an earthquake.

Maybe that is why Torti the Tortishell Tortfeasor didn't make it. Otherwise she would have fit right in, except that she looked wise and didn't say anything to prove she wasn't.

In view of the observation that the lady was perhaps not a one to rock the boat, it's appropriate that her surname literally translates from the German as always good.

I've always loved her last name.

Just remember that Immergut was among the US Attys who survived the Rove political purge. She was just fine for Karl. WTF was Ted thinking.

I've always loved her last name, too; a perfect moniker for a good old network puppet appointee. And that's what she has been, although an article in the Oregonian today paints her as an oh-so-professional good soldier planning to make a "seamless transition" to the bench. The woman has failed to investigate shocking allegations of white collar crime, and my guess is that the same will be expected of her on the bench.

I do believe there are good judges, on both the state and federal benches, in Oregon. I am fine with the governor's other two recent appointees: I have only good to say about Angel Lopez, based on my limited experiences with him,and David Rees' resume looks great.

But until the Good Old Boy forum shopping problem is confronted directly, I think the Oregon courts will always be a problem, one that prevents Oregonians from taking risks, and out-of-state businesses from locating here.

If John Kroger could clean up the courts, he would not only be entitled to any job he wants imo, but he would also go down in history as one of Oregon's great AGs.
I know the O has been apprised of some of the problem situations, and in my view, its failure to investigate has something to do with the paper's ownership.