Washington County's Board of Commissioners appointed Cortney Duke-Driessen as chief attorney for the Office of County Counsel, the county's in-house legal team.

The appointment ends a turbulent stretch for the office. Duke-Driessen, a 13-year veteran of the county counsel's office, had been serving as interim leader since July 14. She replaces Alex Barnett.

Barnett left the post after roughly one year following a $275,897 settlement the board approved unanimously in July, The Oregonian reported. The settlement included about 11 months' salary and a payout for accrued vacation time. The county declined to say what prompted Barnett's departure, according to The Oregonian.

Board Chair Kathryn Harrington had placed Barnett on paid administrative leave on April 29. The full board ratified that decision 5-0 at a special meeting on May 8.

It was the second time Duke-Driessen stepped in to lead the office. She also served as interim lead attorney from 2024 to 2025, before Barnett was hired.

"I'm thankful to the board for this appointment and to Alex for his leadership during his tenure with Washington County …" Duke-Driessen said in a county announcement published Tuesday, Sept. 1. She also praised the "talent, knowledge and skill" of her colleagues in the office.

Harrington called Duke-Driessen "an experienced leader and accomplished attorney" with a deep commitment to the county organization.

During her 13 years with Washington County, Duke-Driessen provided legal counsel on capital projects, transportation, facilities, parks and the county's use of millions of federal dollars for COVID-19 pandemic recovery, according to the county announcement.

Before joining the county, Duke-Driessen spent 10 years as a managing partner at Schroeder Law Offices, where she represented special districts and agricultural water organizations. Her work there included negotiating intergovernmental agreements, handling civil litigation and advising clients on public-meetings and public-records law. She holds a bachelor's degree from Concordia University in Oregon and a law degree from Valparaiso School of Law in Indiana.

The Office of County Counsel advises the Board of Commissioners, the Sheriff's Office, the Housing Authority, the Fair Board and every county department. The office operates on a $6.2 million annual budget with 16 full-time staff positions.

No effective date for Duke-Driessen's permanent appointment was listed in the county's announcement beyond the Sept. 1 publication date.