Marc Williams, Division Administrator
Administrative Services Division
Marc is the division administrator of the Administrative Services Division and is responsible for leading the delivery of all business services, including information technology, accounting, operations and human resources. Marc joined the Oregon DOJ as its first chief information officer in 2004. He provides leadership for the strategic use of business resources in support of the mission and goals of the Oregon DOJ and works closely with department leaders in formulating policy, facilitating decision-making processes, determining projects, and setting and managing priorities.
Marc's prior professional experience includes technology leadership positions with SuperShops, Inc., the United States Air Force, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. He holds degrees in information management and business administration from the University of Maryland and California State University, respectively, and is a graduate of the Willamette University Certificate in Public Management program.
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Benjamin Gutman, Solicitor General
Appellate Division
Ben is the solicitor general. Ben and his team represent the state in cases on appeal in the United States and Oregon Supreme Courts. Before becoming the solicitor general, Ben was the chief administrative judge and western regional director for the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board. He also was a member of the federal government’s senior executive service.
Earlier in his career, he served as deputy solicitor general for the State of New York and as an appellate attorney for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ben has a B.A. magna cum laude in math and philosophy from Yale College and a J.D. from Yale Law School, where he served as executive editor of the Yale Law Journal.
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Kate Cooper Richardson, Division Administrator
Division of Child Support
Kate is the division administrator of the Division of Child Support and the director of the Oregon Child Support Program, Oregon’s federal Title IV-D program. Kate oversees 575 employees in 13 offices who provide child support services for 141,000 cases, and coordinates with 19 district attorney offices who also provide child support services under the Child Support Program. Those services include paternity establishment; establishment, modification, and enforcement of child support orders; and local and interstate work. The Oregon Child Support Program collects nearly $343 million per year to distribute to families.
Prior to joining the Oregon DOJ in 2010, Kate’s public service career includes work in all three branches of state government, including the legislature, the Oregon Court of Appeals, eight years as Chief of Staff to a former Oregon State Treasurer, and a year with a former Governor. Kate holds a B.A. from the University of Oregon and a J.D. cum laude from the Willamette University School of Law.
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Claudia Groberg, Chief Counsel
Joanne Southey, Chief Counsel
Civil Enforcement Division
Claudia and Joanne are co-chief counsels of the Civil Enforcement Division, which handles a wide range of issues including consumer protection/financial fraud; charities; civil recovery; medicaid fraud; and child advocacy. Joanne is chief counsel for child advocacy and Claudia is chief counsel for all the other areas of CED’s work.
Joanne has been with DOJ since 2003, starting as an Assistant Attorney General in the Family Law Section. She served as an AAIC and AIC in the Child Advocacy Section, and then served as Deputy Chief Counsel since 2012. Prior to coming to DOJ, Joanne was in private practice at a civil litigation firm in Portland after a clerkship at the Multnomah County Courthouse. Joanne received her undergraduate degree at the University of Oregon and her law degree from Willamette University College of Law.
Claudia joined DOJ in 2006 as an Assistant Attorney General also in the Family Law Section. She served as an AAIC in the Civil Recovery Section, and then served as AIC since 2013. Prior to coming to DOJ, Claudia clerked at the Lane County Circuit Court for the Honorable Lauren Holland and worked as a staff attorney at the Workers’ Compensation Board. Claudia earned her undergraduate degree from Idaho State University and her law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law.
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Michael Slauson, Chief Counsel
Criminal Justice Division
Michael is the chief counsel of the Criminal Justice Division. Prior to his current appointment, Michael served as the Oregon Attorney General’s special counsel on public safety. Michael joined the Oregon DOJ in 2001 as an honors attorney. He spent his first year with the Appellate Division before moving to the Criminal Justice Division where he provided assistance to district attorneys and their staff, and prosecuted a broad array of criminal cases for 11 years. Michael received his B.A. from the University of Oregon and his J.D. from the University of Arizona College of Law.
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Shannon Sivell, Director
Crime Victims and Survivor Services Division
Shannon Sivell is the director of the Crime Victim and Survivor Services Division (CVSSD), which provides victims of violent crime with financial assistance through the Crime Victims’ Compensation fund. CVSSD also funds community-based domestic and sexual violence service programs statewide; funds victim assistance programs in each district attorney office; and coordinates statewide crime victim rights education and human trafficking intervention. Shannon joined the Oregon DOJ in 2009 as the legislative director for the Attorney General. Prior to working for the Oregon DOJ, Shannon was counsel for the House and Senate Judiciary Committees during the 2009 Legislative Session and a Deputy District Attorney in Multnomah County. Shannon received her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Oregon.
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Steve Lippold, Chief Trial Counsel
Trial Division
Steve is the chief trial counsel of the Trial Division. He is responsible for the daily operations of the division, which defends the state and its officers and employees in civil cases filed in state and federal court. The Trial Division also represents the state in post-conviction and habeas corpus petitions filed by convicted criminals. Steve has been with the Oregon DOJ since 2012. Prior to working for the Oregon DOJ, Steve was in private practice in Salem, Oregon. Steve received his B.A. from the University of Washington and his J.D. from the Willamette University College of Law.
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