Mayor Miro Weinberger has announced the appointment of Justin St. James as the City’s newest Assistant City Attorney. Mr. St. James, a New Hampshire native, comes to the City of Burlington after nearly four years working as a union attorney and negotiator in Oregon and Vermont.
“The City Attorney’s Office plays a critical role protecting taxpayers from financial risks and sorting through complex local governance issues created by emerging technologies and social challenges,” said Mayor Weinberger. “I am excited to add Justin’s considerable experience and energy to this key City Hall team.”
“We look forward to having Justin join our team here in City Hall,” said City Attorney Eileen Blackwood. “Justin’s enthusiasm for the task ahead is contagious, and we are eager to begin our great work together.”
Mr. St. James, a New Hampshire native, has a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Wake Forest University and a JD from the University of Oregon. He serves on the board of the Restorative Justice Panel in Montpelier, and served as the campaign manager for two candidates for statewide office in Oregon after graduating from law school. Mr. St. James also worked as the chief negotiator for an AFSCME council in Salem, Oregon. In addition, he has experience working in a New Hampshire County Attorney’s Office and served as a law clerk in the Oregon Department of Justice’s Criminal Justice Division. He most recently served as Associate General Counsel with the Vermont State Employees’ Association, having been promoted from Staff Attorney a little over a year and a half after joining the organization.
Mr. St. James’s appointment follows an extensive search that resulted in 25 applicants who met the minimum application requirements from Vermont and around the country. The details of the searc outlined in the attached memorandum to the City Council.
“I am excited and grateful for this opportunity to work for the City with the dedicated team in the City Attorney’s Office,” said Mr. St. James.