Deschutes County Oregon -- 1/13/2012 --
Ernest J. Mazorol III, Trial Court Administrator for the 11th Judicial District (Deschutes County), will retire on June 30, 2012. He was appointed to this position by Presiding Judge John M. Copenhaver on March 1, 1984. Prior to the appointment, he served as Court Operations Manager for the City of Eugene Municipal Court (March 1981 – February 1984) and as Court Coordinator for the Harris County (Houston, Texas) Criminal District Courts (March 1, 1972 – September 30, 1980). Mr. Mazorol graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston, is a Fellow Graduate of the Institute for Court Management in Judicial Administration and attended graduate school in Community Service and Public Affairs at the University of Oregon. When Mr. Mazorol was appointed as Deschutes County’s first Court Administrator in 1984, the State just assumed financial responsibility for the Oregon Judicial Branch, which had been previously funded by county government.
In 1984, the 11th Judicial District was composed of six counties: Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson, Grant, Gilliam and Wheeler. Six judges were authorized for the district and many of them “rode circuit” to hear cases among these counties. Four of the judges resided in Deschutes County, while the other two resided in Grant and Jefferson Counties. Within a few years, the Oregon Legislature realigned the district, and removed Grant, Gilliam and Wheeler Counties. As Central Oregon grew, Crook and Jefferson Counties were eventually realigned and Deschutes County stood alone as the 11th Judicial District. There are currently seven circuit court judges in the 11th Judicial District who reside in Deschutes County, with roughly 50 staff to process 20,000 case filings per year.
Mr. Mazorol is active in community and legislative issues. He helped realign judicial districts, create four judgeships, change practices in juvenile and family court, seek solutions to untangle duplication of services among multiple agencies, set up mediation and treatment court programs, expand the use of community volunteers to resolve small claims and landlord tenant disputes, write and advance legislation to revamp practices in domestic relations proceedings, advocate for a supervised parenting time and exchange center and expand the Presiding Judge’s involvement with the Board of County Commissioners in matters affecting children and families. Mr. Mazorol is also responsible for court services and staff operations including jury duty, technology changes, courtroom support, records, financial management, budget, personnel and case scheduling. Mr. Mazorol served on numerous statewide committees appointed by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court to address: budget matters, issues related to children and families, reengineering business practices, allocation of resources, review of disciplinary appeals and technology improvements. In 2002, Mr. Mazorol was selected by the board of directors of the National Center for State Courts to receive their Trial Court Administrator Distinguished Service Award given annually to one recipient in the nation. That same year he was also recognized by the Oregon Supreme Court as an honorary recipient for exceptional service and extraordinary achievement.
Presiding Judge Alta J. Brady, along with the other Deschutes County Circuit Court Judges, plan to select Mr. Mazorol’s replacement by June, following a recruitment process that begins in February.
