Attorney Profile

Admissions: 1984, California; 1991, Oregon; U.S. District Court, District of Oregon; 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
Law School: University of California at Berkeley (Boalt Hall), J.D., 1984; Notes and Comments Editor, Ecology Law Quarterly, 1983-1984
College: University of Michigan, B.G.S., 1980; Internship, Environmental Study Conference, U.S. House of Representatives, 1978
Member: Oregon State Bar; California State Bar

Positions Held:
— Jackson County Justice of the Peace, 2004 to present
— Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Pro Tempore, 1996-1997, 1999-2002
— Jackson County Bar Association President, 2001-2002; Executive Committee, 1997-2002
— Owner, Joseph M. Charter, P.C., 1997 to present
— Partner, Werdell, Charter & Hanson, Medford, Oregon, 1992 to 1996
— Associate, Grantland, Grensky & Blodgett, Medford, Oregon, 1991 to 1992
— Private Practice, Yreka, California, 1990
— Associate, Hellen, Partnow & Condon, Anchorage, Alaska, 1986 to 1989
— Law Clerk, Honorable Walter Carpeneti, Juneau, Alaska Superior Court, 1984-1985

Community Service / Professional Organizations:
— Member, American Judge’s Association
— Arbitrator, Jackson and Josephine County Circuit Courts
— Rotary Club of Ashland
— Board Member, Mediation Works, 2004 to 2007
— Boys To Men NW Rite of Passage Volunteer and Mentor, 2003
— OSB Civil Rights Section Executive Committee, 2001-2002
— Ashland Forest Lands Commission, 2000 to 2002
— Oregon State Bar House of Delegates, 1999-2002
— Divorce Mediation Training Coach, Southern Oregon University, 1999, 2002
— Smart Reader, Jackson School, 1998 to 1999
— Jackson County Courts, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, 1997-2004
— Jackson County Courts Small Claims Court Mediator, 1997 to 2000
— Medford School District 549C Budget Committee, 1999
— Medford Charter Review Committee, 1998
— Medford Planning Commission, 1994 to 1995; Vice Chair, 1995
— Board Member, Rural Outdoor Education, 1996 to 1998
— Board Member, Samaritan Counseling Center, 1996 to 1999
— Council Member, Ascension Lutheran Church, 1995 to 1998; President, 1997 to 1998

Appellate Decisions:
— Established wrongfully fired employees’ right to future wage loss (front pay) damages: Wooton v. Viking, 136 Or. App. 56 (1995) and Tadsen v. Praegitzer, 326 Or. 465 (1996)
— Haimovitz and Haimovitz, 163 Or. App. 244 (1999)
— Russell v. Sheahan, 324 Or. 445 (1996)
— Holmes v. Morgan, 135 Or. App. 617 (1995)
— Milligan v. Nopanen, et al., Ninth Circuit No. 95-36007 (unpublished)

Publications:
— Proving Damages in Employment Cases, Oregon State Bar Litigation Journal, March, 1997
— Case Note, Solar Access Obstruction Nuisance Remedy: 11 Ecology Law Quarterly 47 (1983)

Areas of Concentration:
— Family Law: Adoptions, Guardianships, Conservatorships, Elder Abuse, Probate, Domestic Partnerships, Dissolution of Marriage
— Employment: Wage claims, Unemployment Benefits, Severance Package Negotiations, Employment Handbooks and policies, Noncompete Agreements; Whistleblower, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful discharge claims, Bureau of Labor and Industries charges
— Real Estate Transactions and Disputes: Contracts, Easements, Construction Defects, Leases, Boundary Disputes, Landlord/Tenant

Email: jmcharter@uci.net