Statesman Journal questionnaire for Nov.

2, 2010, General Election

Thank you for responding to this questionnaire, which is for use by Statesman Journal
Editorial Board members in evaluating Polk County Circuit Court candidates for
potential endorsement. Your answers also will be shared with reporters, may be published
in the print newspaper and may be posted on StatesmanJournal.com.

Deadline: Please return the questionnaire by 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11. Earlier is even
better. Please send it to the Editorial Board e-mail: Salemed@StatesmanJournal.com.

Circuit Court

Name: Melanie Mansell

Age: 50

City/town of residence: Sheridan

Number of years you have lived full-time in this county: 24

Family (name of spouse/partner, number and ages of children if at home, number of

grown children): Spouse is Ted Mansell, two grown step-daughters, Laurie and Sherry, 5
grandchildren.

Current employer/job: Deputy DA Polk County

Employment, military and volunteer history: 1989 – 2008, private law practice, peer
court judge volunteer,

Civic/religious/other local involvement:

Sunday school teacher Salt Creek Baptist Church,
Dallas Riders for Christ
Mustangs and Mohr
Sheridan Rotary
Modest Means Program – Oregon State Bar
Hwy 22 Safety Committee
Foster Parent

Please list all public offices to which you’ve been elected, and when:
2001 Sheridan School Board
2007 Polk County Bar President
Precinct Captain

Please list any unsuccessful candidacies for public office, and when:
N/A
Other political and government experience:

N/A
Year you were admitted to the Oregon State Bar:
1989

Other bars, if any, of which you an active member and when were you admitted:
Admitted Oregon Federal District Court –
Admitted 5th Circuit Court of Appeals –
Admitted 9th Circuit Court of Appeals –
Admitted United States Supreme Court –

Names/roles of any family members who serve as judges in Polk County or who are
practicing as lawyers in Polk County:

N/A
How the public can reach your campaign (remember that this information will be public):

Mail address:
124 NW Court St, Dallas, OR 97338
E-mail address:
info@mansellforjudge.com

Web site URL:

www.mansellforjudge.com

Phone:
503-843-7222
Fax:
503-843-7222

How much will your general election campaign cost? (Please be specific about your
campaign budget, not “as much as we can raise.”)

Who are your top campaign contributors/lenders? (Please list at least the current top five
and their total dollar amounts.)

Endorsements you’ve received:

Oregon Right to Life
Oregon Anti-Crime Alliance
Attorneys – see website for list

For each of the following questions, feel free to limit your answer to about 75 words,
although that’s not a requirement.

1. Have you ever been convicted of a crime, been disciplined by a professional licensing
board/organization (including the OSB) or had an ethics violation filed against you? If so,
please give the details.
No

2. Have you ever filed for bankruptcy, been delinquent on your taxes or other major
accounts, or been sued personally or professionally? If so, please give the details.

Bankruptcy Yes 1985

3. Why do you want to be a judge?

My diverse legal and family background uniquely qualify me for the position of Circuit
Court Judge. First, I have a heart for people. It is world view instilled in me by both
of my parents who believed it was what we did for others that makes us great. My
family was culturally mixed and culturally rich. My mother was Spanish, born in
Managua, Nicaragua, and my father was of Scotch-Irish descent. Together they
raised my brother and I to look out for the needs of others. As a judge, I can use
my legal training and my personal nature to apply the law in way that treats all
participants has human beings.

4. Why should people vote for you? What separates you from your opponents?

I have a very diverse legal background which includes both trial and appellate practice,
along with experience in different counties and courtrooms. My experience includes both
sides of the criminal justice system. I will bring a fresh, clean approach to the bench.

5. What personal strengths or talents would you bring to the role of circuit judge?

I also have many years experience working with other lawyers as research counsel.
I have honed my skills to quickly be able to isolate the involved legal issues and then
search out the applicable statutory and case law.

6. What is the largest number of employees you’ve supervised, and in what capacity?

2 – receptionist and a law clerk

7. How would you describe your judicial temperament?

Patient and aware of the stressful situation that being in court brings to people.

8. How many criminal cases have you tried in court as a prosecutor or defense attorney?

35
9. How many civil cases have you tried in court?

75

10. How many cases have you handled overall?

830

11. For what organizations have you done pro bono work?
Alliance Defense Fund, Thomas More Legal Center

12. What has been the scope of your practice as a lawyer?

1989 to 2008: I was a sole practitioner with an emphasis on plaintiff’s personal

injury. I have experience in criminal defense, juvenile law, family law,
guardianships, adoptions and appellate law, as well as drafting contracts, wills, and
real property transactions. I had a diverse practice as a contract research attorney
working in maritime law, environment law and international law.

13. What involvement have you had with the Oregon State Bar as far as writing
publications, leading seminars, working on projects or the like?

Presenter at DOJ seminar on dependency issues

14. What involvement have you had in educating laypeople, especially young people,
about the law and/or the role of lawyers/judges?

When my office was located in Sheridan, I participated in the work experience program
for high school students and received an award for my involvement.

15. What experience do you have as a judge?

N/A

16. How would you explain the role of a judge?

From a human point of view, in the criminal courtroom setting you see some of the
worst behavior we as humans can do to one another. I see the role of the judge as
one which treats all participants with human dignity while applying the law and all of
its consequences to those involved. I am ready to step into that role.

17. The Oregon Judicial Department, like other departments, faces a budget crunch.
Granted, you may have a limited role as a new circuit judge. Still, what cost-saving
and/or efficiency-improving steps would you advocate?
I will not make a guess until I am fully aware of the issues as they occur in my County.

18. How would you deal the issue of over-representation of minorities in the judicial
system (and thus the corrections system)?

To my knowledge, Polk County does not have this problem to the same extent as the
larger counties.

19. How effectively is the CASA system working in Polk County?

Polk County CASA is working very well. It is a pro-active group, whose director is
always looking for ways to assist children involved in foster care system.

20. What changes, if any, would you advocate in the Polk County juror/jury selection
system?

None.

21. Who is your judicial role model, and why?

Judge Abernathy – her commitment to change recidivism rates among families with
young children.

22. Any skeletons in your closet or other potentially embarrassing information that you
want to disclose before it comes up in the campaign?