Transparency in the Courts - Voters have the opportunity to address the elephant in the (court)room.

Transparency in the Courts

Voters have the opportunity to address the elephant in the (court)room.  

The 7th Judicial District consists of 5 counties: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler.

We have 4 judges in our district. Judges Olson and Ostrye have their offices in Hood River, Judges Stauffer and Wolf office in The Dalles.  All of the judges hear matters in Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler counties.

John Wolf has been a circuit court judge for almost 12 years.  He has never faced an election opponent, thus, the tremendous burden he has caused the District has been largely unknown to the public. For Judge Wolf’s first 10 years, he was unable to hear any criminal matters in Wasco County.  Since 2021 he is also unable to hear any criminal matters in Hood River County.  Beginning 2023, because of bar complaints against Ms. Wolf, Judge Wolf will be also unable to hear criminal matters in Gilliam County. Criminal matters are the bulk of the cases filed in the District.

The reasons:  Judge Wolf’s wife, Leslie Wolf has been a deputy district attorney in Wasco and Hood River Counties. In addition, Ms. Wolf now has bar complaints filed against her as a result of events that occurred while she was employed by the Wasco County DA office. Because of the relationship, Judge Wolf is unable to hear criminal matters in Hood River, Wasco, and soon Gilliam counties.  

Docket posted to the wall outside Stuaffer’s Circuit Court Room on April 11. She had 98 cases that day.

Significant consequences to your Courts

Judge Wolf is unable to preside over the bulk of the cases in your courts. As a result, Judge Stauffer must hear almost all of the Wasco County criminal matters, or other judges must travel to cover. This results in potential backlogs of criminal cases and delays for victims. Further, because of the load of criminal matters, Judge Stauffer is not available to hear most other court matters.   

Judge Wolf has conflicts on all Wasco and Hood River:

Settlement conferences in criminal matters

Weekend jail approvals

Criminal related partner meetings

Docket appears blank at Wolf’s Circuit Court room on the same day, April 11.

Search warrants in cases involving those district attorneys offices

Arrest warrants

Daily jail dockets

Criminal arraignments

Plea dockets

Criminal motions and trials

Victim restitution hearings

Juvenile delinquency matters

Mental Health Court

Drug/DUII Court

Family Dependency Court 

Presiding Judge duties

Grand Jury orders

Grand Jury orientation

His latest conflict in Gilliam County (due to bar complaints against Ms. Wolf) means next year he will no longer be available for those criminal dockets and trials.  

The other 3 judges in the District must cover all of these duties, resulting in time away from their own duties and costs of travel and time to the District.  

The accommodations required by the 3 other judges has minimized the controversy in the past, but now is the time for transparency.  I am retiring at the end of this year, and will no longer be affected by Judge Wolf’s lack of ability to fully perform the duties of his job.  I am disappointed, however, that because of Judge and Ms. Wolf’s choices, I have never been able to be a true Circuit Court Judge. If the matter is not resolved by the voters, the issues will continue for the district and my replacement.

Vote for Caleb Berthelsen for the Bench

I am supporting Caleb Berthelsen for the Bench.  He practices in my court regularly.  I see him on almost a daily basis. He represents his clients well at arraignments,  pleas, trials, and from the jail. Caleb is always prepared, punctual, and respectful in Court. Caleb is a military veteran. He has the experience, integrity, and work ethic to make a fine Circuit Court Judge, who can preside over all of the types of cases of the Circuit Court.  

Your District is entitled to a fully functioning judiciary.

Janet L. Stauffer
Circuit Court Judge
7th Judicial District