The official changing of Superior Court judges will take place the first week of January following the March Primary elections. Criminal Defense Attorney Karen Diane Olson will replace retiring Judge Robert F. Cochran. The Honorable Judge Cochran’s last day is January 3 and Judge-elect Olson will tap her first gavel January 6. Judge Cochran began his legal career in 1975, spending 43 years in private practice.
Cochran was hired and mentored by Judge Phillip Schafer after graduating from McGeorge Law School and passing the State Bar, Judge Cochran became a Certified Family Law Specialist in 1980. Cochran was appointed to the Superior Court as a judge in 2018.
He successfully ran for the office a year later. Upon leaving the Bench, Judge Cochran praised the work of District Attorney Katherine Micks. He cited his greatest challenge was transitioning from a private attorney to an independent-thinking neutral arbiter of justice. After some initial traveling, the retired Judge hopes to become an “Assigned Judge,” following in the footsteps of retired judges Schafer and William Follett.
One thing is for certain Judge Cochran will have not be doing is mowing his or anyone else’s lawn. According to older brother Gerald Cochran, as a Senior at Del Norte High. Master Cochran was tasked by his Dad to mow the family lawn. Somehow, someway, the younger Cochran managed to run over his large toe with said lawnmower, severely injuring the big phalange. He recovered but am told he never mowed another lawn after the mishap. Robert Cochran devoted his talents to the law rather than honing his questionable landscaping skills.
Karen Olson, Esq. is a local Del Norte product. Judge-elect Olson owned and conducted an independent criminal law practice in Crescent City for almost a quarter century. Olson has just closed down her office.
Olson passed the extremely difficult State Bar exam and attended and graduated from California Western School of Law in San Diego. Judge-Olson will soon don her black robes and prevail in Dept. 1 of the Superior Court.
The soon-to-judge plans “…hit the ground running”. No introductions needed. She’s worked with all local clerk staff in both Departments 1 and 2.
The future judge hopes to improve efficiency, does not anticipate any problem in transitioning from client advocate to judge. She’ll undertake a three week Superior Court training, hopefully in April. She’s excited to begin her first day, January 6.
So are we.