Gray retires after 32 years; lawyers get in line

Published 6:50 am Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Charlotte Gray is looking forward to taking this year’s election cycle easy. After serving as Morrow County justice of the peace for 32 years, and winning five contests for her seat, she’s retiring soon. So is her husband, who works at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution in Pendleton.

“We’re going to enjoy the fact that we’re not slaves to the alarm clock anymore,” Gray said.

As justice of the peace, Gray presides over the justice court, which handles traffic violations and other minor crimes. Gray does not have a law degree, but according to Morrow County Undersheriff Steve Myren, she knows the law inside and out.

“It’s not uncommon for her to hold officers to task if they don’t have all their ducks in a row,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for her and she’s going to be sorely missed from my perspective.”

Gray is one of the few justice court judges in the state who does their own clerical work. On the days she works at the Heppner court, she’s on her own. When she presides over the Irrigon court, she has two helpers.

“She’s very diligent and hardworking, and she really cares about her job,” said county Treasurer Gayle Gutierrez.

Morrow County residents will vote on Gray’s replacement in the May 18 primary. Annetta Spicer and Earl Woods, two lawyers who live in?Heppner, have filed for the position.

Spicer is the Heppner city attorney and chairs the Oregon Trail Library District Board of Directors. She and her husband, Bill Kuhn, moved to Heppner in 1977 and opened the Kuhn and Spicer law firm.

Spicer has been active in the community; she helped form the county recreation district and what is now the Willow Creek Valley Economic Development Group. She wants to be justice of the peace, she said, because someone trained in the legal profession should fill that role – although Gray did well without a degree.

“She has been an excellent justice of the peace, partly because she really dedicated herself to learning enough of the law to make it work,” Spicer said. “Not everyone has that strength of character.”

Spicer said she also feels committed to serving the community.

“I love this county – I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t,” she said.

Earl Woods, who hails from the John Day area, was once the Morrow County district attorney. He’s prosecuted cases in Lane, Coos and Umatilla counties. He’s also spent 16 years in private practice and worked as a police officer.

In addition to his law work, Woods is a Vietnam veteran. He retired from the military in 2003 as a colonel in the U.S. Army reserves.

Woods echoed Spicer’s opinion that the justice court should be run by someone trained in the law. The law has become increasingly complex over the last 15 years, he said.

“I think my background is ideally suited to this position and, frankly, I think It’s something I would be good at,” he said.