Hon. Fred E. Avera (Ret.) was a judge for the 12th Judicial District Circuit Court of Oregon in Polk County. He was elected to the bench in 1998. Avera retired in December 2011.
He was censured by the Oregon Supreme Court in 2012 for violating the Oregon Code of Judicial Conduct. The censure stems from allegations that he took more than the standard limit to make a decision in a divorce ruling. Instead of 60 to 90 days, Avera handed down his decision sixteen months after the trial.
Prior to joining the bench, Avera was the District Attorney for Polk County (1987 to 1998). He first joined the office as a deputy district attorney in 1985. Before becoming a prosecutor, Avera spent nine years as a private practice attorney (1976 to 1985).
He was admitted to practice in Oregon in 1976.