PRINEVILLE, OR -- Crook County will soon have a new District Attorney. Governor Kate Brown has tapped D.A. Daina Vitolins to fill a vacancy on the Crook-Jefferson County Circuit Court, effective July first.
Vitolins tells KBND News, "I actually applied to become a Circuit Court Judge in April, which is when Governor Brown opened the position. And so, I went through the interview process; and I’m deeply honored that Governor Brown chose me to fill the Jefferson/Crook County vacancy." She replaces retiring judge Gary Lee Williams.
She won’t become an acting judge until August 14. Vitolins says, "I would essentially resign from the District Attorney’s office and then Governor Brown would open the position and accept applications and appoint somebody to take my place. It’d be on Governor Brown’s timeline, but I would hope that it would happen quickly." She adds, "I think it’ll be a smooth transition. I have a very competent staff: A Chief Deputy who’s very good and two Deputy District Attorneys, and I think it’ll be a smooth transition. And I’ll, of course, support them between now and then the best I can."
Vitolins has been the Crook County D.A. since 2008. She worked as a Deputy D.A. in Prineville from 2006 to 2008.
