Marissa Gonzales, left, shakes the hand of 6th Judicial District Treatment Court Judge Joanna Marikos in late summer 2023 in Pendleton. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek in February 2024 appointed Marikos to the circuit court bench for the district, which encompass Umatilla and Morrow counties. She faces a runoff in November against attorney John Ballard.

SALEM — The circuit courts of Umatilla and Morrow counties have a new judge.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek announced Friday, Feb. 16, she has appointed Joanna A. Marikos to the position of circuit judge in Oregon’s 6th Judicial District, which encompasses the two counties.

Marikos fills the vacancy the retirement of Judge Christopher Brauer created. The appointment is effective immediately.

“Joanna Marikos has already earned a reputation as a fair and compassionate judge in her current role as a referee for Oregon’s 6th Judicial District,” Kotek said in a written statement. “Her judicial experience, broad legal expertise and deep local roots make her an ideal choice to serve the people of Umatilla and Morrow counties from the bench.”

Marikos graduated after her junior year at Hermiston High School with an adult high school diploma from Blue Mountain Community College before earning a bachelor of science degree from Gonzaga University and a law degree from Willamette University College of Law. Marikos is referee pro tem for the 6th Judicial District Civil Department, where she also serves as Treatment Court judge.

Before that, she was an attorney in private practice who worked on court-appointed juvenile cases, estate planning matters and Social Security Disability cases, among other case types. From 2013 to 2016, Marikos was the paralegal program chair at Broadview University in Meridian, Idaho. Before and during that time, Marikos worked on criminal defense, real estate, landlord/tenant, family law and other matters as a solo practitioner. Marikos has been a member of the Oregon State Bar for 24 years.