Help Restore Public Trust & Integrity
To The
Union and Wallowa County Courts
Recall Judge Mendiguren
By law he must serve 6 months in office
Recall Petition Circulation begins in:
Days
This site is being re-disigned to serve as a contact and information point in upcoming efforts to
launch a recall petition drive. If you or someone you know has been impacted by the judges erratic
courtroom behavior please contact us. If you are a court staff member and have witnessed abuses
toward litigants, attorneys, or court staff please have the courage to come forward.
From my letter to the Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability
The combination of chronic inattention, disregard for impartiality, and willingness to lash out when feeling
challenged has fostered an atmosphere of disrespect for the rule of law in his courtroom. His lack of integrity
has made Judge Mendiguren susceptible to manipulation and unable to acknowledge mistakes particularly after
choosing to “read between the lines”. Below is a list of documents that support my assertion that there has been
a systematic pattern of abuse including; swearing, docket manipulation, judge shopping to achieve outcomes,
missing records, and document alterations that have culminated in Judge Mendiguren attempting to cover up his
actions and mistakes with a lie and additional threats. The electronic and written record provides the only
avenue of accountability for a citizen when their rights have been systematically denied. I have grave concerns
about the fact that portions of the record in our case are missing and/or have been altered.

For full text and links to support documents Click Here
If you follow the links in my letter to the Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability you will see that I have
accumulated a highly documented account of manipulation and abuse of authority. I am asking for those who
have been victimized or bullied to share their stories on our site. In the interest of trust and integrity, no account
will be published to the site without permission of the victim. I am asking for those who have the skills needed to
organize this effort to step forward and help. Thank you, Larry Bare
It was reported in the Observer that Phil was on his computer working on other cases during the recent Dunning attempted
murder trial in Wallowa County. I had witnessed him continually doing the same during mine and other hearings I have
attended. I had repeatedly complained about his inattention during proceedings (see my letter below) but had assumed he
was researching the cases he was presiding over. What could possibly be more important than paying attention during a
murder trial?

There was also the clumsy effort to muzzle the press. When challenged Phil admitted that he didn't know the law - but that
hadn't stopped him from ruling.
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From the La Grande Observer - Letters to the Editor
John DeNault  - Trial Court Administrator during Judge Mendigurens first two terms - "We give our judges tremendous
authority and responsibility. We ask our judges to render decisions in the most difficult cases — cases involving our
cherished rights, our safety and the future of our children.  The Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct requires that our judges
adhere to some fundamental principles. Our judges must: be faithful to the law; put the performance of judicial duties above
all other activities; maintain the integrity to the judiciary; maintain order and decorum; and be patient, dignified and courteous
to everyone having business with the court. Judge Mendiguren does not consistently adhere to these principles."       

Martin Birnbaum - Retired Union County District Attorney - "He wants to be a good judge, and he thinks he’s a good judge. But
in the courtroom he’s rude, usually late and almost always unprepared. He makes little effort to control his temper. He doesn’t
respect the people who appear before him, and he’s inconsiderate to the people who have to wait for him. He doesn’t read the
legal documents that are submitted to the court, and he frequently makes judicial decisions based on favoritism rather than
fairness or legal principles."     

Larry Bare - "In the transcripts there are numerous instances that I believe show him being confused as to the facts and
being inattentive during the proceedings. He often lashes out when unsure or feeling his authority is being challenged. When I
tried to protect my daughter and myself by asking for a restraining order he said, “I’m going to throw your ass in jail.”  Contrary
to our wishes, Mendiguren sent my daughter to live with an acknowledged drug addict. With her went $4,875 of her assets,
now gone ($14,000 total stolen through his court). After she failed to appear twice, my daughter and I petitioned the court for a
warrant. The warrant was signed and dated by Phil. His signature and the date are later obscured by whiteout and entered into
the official record as denied — a clear indication of both his willingness to help families and his integrity."

Phils response to my publicly challenging his integrity regarding the altering of a warrant request would be to lie. Click Here  

Oregon State Police report # 03-032842 Phil knowingly allows perjury in his courtroom Click Here
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From the State Bar website-http://www.osbar.org/_docs/leadership/elections/judicial/08may/Mendiguren.p.pdf.  Below are
Phils answers to questions 19 & 20 regarding his motivation and philosophy (in his own grammar)

"I felt that being a judge was a natural progress. I have always felt that my understand of people would make me a good judge.
I definitely had a good grasp of the law."  "While the understand of the law is important, I also feel that a Judge must be able to
""read between the lines,"" particularly in matters of equity such as Dissolution and Child Custody. If a judge only knows the
law he/she is open to make severe mistakes."
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In December of 2006 I was asked by a young mother to attend a divorce/custody hearing in which a stepfather was attempting
to get custody of all three of her children only one of which was his. Phil became angry during the proceedings and threatened
to declare the mother unfit and to award immediate custody of all three children to the stepfather. Six months later he would
give custody of her adolescent daughter and youngest son to the stepfather stating that he knew he had made mistakes and
that she was free to appeal. A year later the mother and daughter were reunited voluntarily.
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Testimonials
Dennis Wilkinson Click Here

Please have the courage to share your experience before more families are destroyed

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