Prosecutor Amy Queen challenging Judge Erious Johnson Jr for Marion County judge seat

Unlike the hustle and bustle of other election offices, the campaign season for Marion County judges is typically a quiet routine.

Sitting judges usually face no opposition and are elected overwhelmingly even though some voters don't even make it down their ballot to check the judicial races. They typically manage to avoid the partisan politics of other races.

The last competitive judicial race in Marion County was in 2018, to replace suspended Judge Vance Day.

But this election, two are vying for the position 14 judicial seat in Marion County Circuit Court. And it appears to be all about politics.

Judge Erious Johnson Jr., who Gov. Kate Brown appointed to the seat in February, is being challenged by longtime Marion County prosecutor Amy Queen.

Many of Johnson's endorsements come from Democrats, while Queens' tend to be Republican.

The race echoes the May primary election for Marion County District Attorney — another position that is typically not competitive, or political. Current District Attorney Paige Clarkson, who like Queen is a longtime prosecutor with deep ties to the law enforcement community, ran against the reform-minded Spencer Todd, a defense attorney who promised change.

The race attracted record-breaking amounts of contributions, accusations of lying, and back-and-forth attacks on whether Todd would "defund the police" and whether Clarkson was vilifying defense attorneys.

Clarkson ultimately won with 52% of the vote.

In this election, the incumbent is not a longtime prosecutor, but a former civil rights and criminal defense attorney.

Recently appointed judge seeks seat

Growing up in Queens, New York, Johnson said, he was raised as a child of the civil rights movement, setting him on a lifelong quest to seek justice.

"I've always wanted to be a judge," he said.

He remembers visiting family in Virginia and noticing that some of the older people in the church couldn't read the Sunday school primers; in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education, their public schools had been closed and private schools, which allowed segregation, were opened in their place.

"That always stayed with me," he said.

This feeling, paired with afternoons after school watching People's Court, sent Johnson on his journey to becoming a jurist.

After receiving his law degree from Howard University School of Law in 2002, Johnson spent two years as a litigation associate in New York, four years as a litigator and trial attorney in the New York City Law Department, and three years as a clerk for the New York State Supreme Court before moving to Salem, his wife's hometown.

Johnson and his wife, Nkenge Harmon Johnson, wanted to be close to family and have space for raising backyard chickens. He said he loves Salem, feeling safe and connected to the community. In their spare time, the couple cooks, writes, tends to their chickens and renovates their home.

Johnson opened a solo practice in town and worked as the civil rights director for the Oregon Department of Justice for three years.

He made headlines in 2016 when he discovered an investigator with the Oregon Department of Justice was illegally surveilling him. Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum determined the surveillance may have constituted racial profiling and violated Johnson's rights, according to reporting from Willamette Week.

Johnson sued the state, which agreed later agreed to pay him $205,000.

He left his DOJ position and went back to solo practice until being appointed to the bench in February.

When she appointed Johnson, Brown highlighted his active role in the community. He mentors law students, volunteers for the classroom law project, serves as a volunteer fee arbitrator through the Oregon State Bar, and is a frequent speaker and writer on topics related to civil rights.

Johnson said he wants to create an open, respectful courtroom.

"I'm not trying to hide behind my robe," he said. "When you put yourself out there, you make yourself accountable. I treat everyone like they are my neighbors."

He said he wants all sides in his courtroom to feel heard, helped and respected. It might be just another day at work for him, but for those in the courtroom, it could be the most important thing in their life.

Johnson frequently invites members of the public to court to see how he runs his courtroom and makes his decisions.

He said he knew going into the appointment that he'd be facing a challenger, but he feels like he's the best person for the job.

He said his breadth of experience — 20 years of state, federal, defense, civil rights and municipal legal work — set him apart from his opponent.

And, he added, he's been doing the job for six months.

"You can pull my tapes," Johnson said. "You can hear how I treat individuals in my courtroom."

His campaign has reported $78,276 in contributions, with his top donors being the Kate Brown Committee ($5,000), law firm Kafoury & McDougal ($2,000) and individuals, many of them local attorneys.

Since starting his campaign, he's garnered several endorsements, including Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, retired Oregon Supreme Court Justice Paul DeMuniz, Salem Mayor-Elect Chris Hoy, State Sen. Deb Patterson, and several sitting Oregon Court of Appeals justices, district attorneys, judges, attorneys and city council members.

"I'm not some Johnny-come-lately. I'm truly part of the community here in Marion County," Johnson said. "And I think that's also what my endorsement list shows."

Learn more about Johnson at judgejohnson4justice.com.

Prosecutor vies to be judge

Queen, too, decided she wanted to be a judge from a young age.

She remembers watching a family judge on Dateline when she was 10. The judge was a strong, confident woman helping families through crises and protecting children. She turned to her mom and said, "That's what I want to do."

Fast forward to college, when Queen shifted from her career in tech to go to law school at the Willamette University College of Law. She worked to pay for college, and three weeks before her final year in law school, her first son was born.

Queen said she was elected chair of the Moot Court Board and would bring her baby to meetings at the law school.

She joined the Marion County District Attorney's Office as a clerk and was hired as an attorney when she passed the bar in 2004.

"I've lived my entire career in that courthouse," Queen said.

While serving as deputy district attorney, Queen said, she prosecuted every type of crime, including aggravated murder, and was promoted to the trial team leader on the Domestic Violence Team and became the office's public information officer.

Queen is married to Salem Senior Police Officer Cheyne Galusha and together they have three teen children.

She said she's worked hard to provide support and leadership in the community, volunteering with Meals on Wheels and the Oregon State Bar New Lawyer Mentor Program and serving on the Salem Police Department Domestic Violence Response Team, the Marion County Dispute Resolution Committee and the Marion County Domestic Violence Council.

When Judge Susan Tripp announced her retirement last year, Queen threw her hat in the ring and made the shortlist of people considered for the position.

Queen said she was recommended by the local judicial selection committee and supported by the outgoing Tripp.

"Governor Brown went a different direction and appointed my opponent in February," Queen said. "And for me, having grown up in that courthouse and in Marion County and dedicating my career to public safety and the community, it matters to me who sits on the bench. I'm here because of my experience, my dedication to public safety and victims. I am the right candidate for that position."

She said her experience and reputation sets her apart from Johnson.

"My reputation as a lawyer, which if you look at my endorsement list, I think speaks volumes as to how I practice," she said.

Queen has the endorsement of local law enforcement leaders, including Marion County Sheriff Joe Kast, retired Sheriff Jason Myers, retired Salem police Chief Jerry Moore and current Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson along with endorsements from the Salem Police Employees Union, the Keizer Police Association and Woodburn Police Association.

Her campaign has raised $36,272 with the top contributors being the Salem Police Employees Union ($3,000), law firm Ferder Casebeer LLP ($5,000), several local attorneys and Colm Willis for Oregon ($1,000).

Several Marion County deputy district attorneys and current and former Marion County judges, including Tripp and Gardiner, also endorsed Queen. Marion County commissioners Kevin Cameron, Colm Willis and Danielle Bethell, along with Sen. Kim Thatcher and Rep. Raquel Moore-Green, support her candidacy.

"I've been raised by this community," Queen said. "I built relationships and partnerships with people in order to have the best outcomes for our citizens who come through the courthouse doors."

She said she wants to create a courtroom similar to the ones she's been fortunate enough to practice in — a courtroom where people are listened to and helped to understand the process.

"Demeanor and temperament are everything," she said. "How you speak to people, how you listen to them, really matters. It can't just be because you have to. It's because you want to. I'm convinced that the reason I've been able to be successful in my role is that I've had to slow down and really listen to those that are participating in the process."

Queen said despite the unofficial tradition of judge's seats running unopposed, the position is designed to be elected by the community.

"I'm here to give voters a choice," she said. "With my experience and reputation here in Marion County, I'm asking them to pick me."

Learn more about Queen at amyqueenforjudge.com.

Both candidates' profiles are also included in the Oregon State Bar's Judicial Voters Guide.

Judge Jennifer Gardiner, also a former prosecutor, was appointed to the bench at the same time as Johnson and is up for election, but is running unopposed.

Reporter Whitney Woodworth covers city hall, economic development and business for the Statesman Journal. For questions, comments and news tips, email wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter @wmwoodworth.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Erious Johnson Jr, Amy Queen vie for Marion County judge seat