Grant County District Court judge announces retirement this summer

EPHRATA — Grant County Commissioners will replace two Grant County District Court judges this summer.

Janis Whitener-Moberg, the presiding district court judge, announced on Tuesday her intention to retire, effective Aug. 31. Desiree Ochocinski, assistant court administrator, said Whitener-Moberg has been a district court judge since 1990.

Grant County commissioners already started, and halted, the process of looking for a district court judge to fill the position left when former GCDC Judge Tyson Hill was appointed to the Grant County Superior Court. Hill replaced John Antosz, who retired earlier this year.

Commissioners started the application process for Hill’s seat. Commissioner Cindy Carter said Monday the commissioners thought the district court judges wanted the position filled sooner than later, but Whitener-Moberg told them there wasn’t a rush.

Commissioners discussed options for choosing a new judge, or judges, during a Tuesday meeting. Kirk Eslinger, the county’s human resources director, and previous commissions had started by appointing a committee.

Carter said the committee members interviewed the candidates, then ranked them. The commissioners picked the new judge from the top three candidates.

Eslinger asked whether the commissioners would interview the finalists, when they’re chosen, and if the finalist interviews would be in open session, if they’re conducted. Whitener-Moberg said she didn’t think open-session interviews would work.

Commissioners will meet at some point with Whitener-Moberg to work out the details of the process. There’s no date for applications yet, and Carter said the application and appointment process would take longer than a month, when it starts.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.