Hon. Thomas B. Powers is a judge for the 10th Judicial District Circuit Court of Oregon. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Kate Brown in April 2017, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Brian Dretke (Ret.).
The 10th Judicial District includes Union and Wallowa Counties.
While on the bench, Powers has served as the treatment court judge in both Union and Wallowa Counties and is the Presiding Judge for the 27th Judicial District Circuit Court.
Prior to his appointment, he handled criminal defense and civil matters at his own private practice, Thomas B. Powers, Attorney at Law, in Enterprise since 2013. During his tenure in solo practice, he spent seven months as a senior assistant attorney general in the Consumer Protection/Financial Fraud Section of the Oregon Department of Justice (2015 to 2016). Powers returned to his practice after that time.
Before opening his firm, he was a partner at Williams, Love, O'Leary & Powers in Portland. He began as an associate in 2000, and his practice included representing plaintiffs in product liability cases, including pharmaceutical and medical device issues in state and federal courts.
Powers received a B.S. in political science from Florida State University. He went on to complete a J.D. at Lewis & Clark Law School in 1998.
After graduating from law school, Powers began his legal career as an associate at Bullivant Houser Bailey (1998 to 2000). He was the representative for the defense bar in the Wallowa Count Treatment Court.
He attended Kecoughtan High School. When not presiding over legal matters, Powers enjoys spending time outdoors biking and skiing.