SALEM — Umatilla County Circuit Court Judge Dan Hill is seeking a promotion.

Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday, Sept. 14, announced a list of candidates for vacancies on the Oregon Court of Appeals and the Oregon Supreme Court. Roy Blaine, trial court administrator for the 6th Judicial district, which encompasses Umatilla and Morrow counties, said Hill applied to serve on the Supreme Court.

In a written statement, Hill said he believes “advancing to the Supreme Court would allow him to continue public service in a meaningful capacity, able to best promote the rule of law, fairness and equity for all, in these complex times.”

Blaine said he was sure Hill would accept whatever position was offered.

Hill is a 1979n graduate of Hermiston High School and won election in 1990 as municipal judge for Hermiston and appointment to half-time circuit judge pro-tem for Umatilla County. In the appointment, he spent three years hearing civil post-conviction relief cases.

While serving as a judge, he maintained his Hermiston law practice and served as a city prosecutor and an Army judge advocate.

Umatilla County voters elected Hill to the bench in 2004, the winner of a three-way race with the endorsement of his predecessor. Hill is in his third six-year term.

Hill’s military service was a direct commission into the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in September 1987. His service included deployment to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and to Afghanistan. He retired as a brigadier general on May 31, 2020.

Hill is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College (2014), Willamette University College of Law (1986), Oregon State University (1983) and Blue Mountain Community College (1981).

Brown is inviting attorneys and members of the public to comment on the candidates by contacting her general counsel, Dustin Buehler at 503-378-6246 or by email at dustin.e.buehler@oregon.gov.