Jolie Houston named interim City Attorney

Jolie Houston of Berliner Cohen has been named interim City Attorney by the Merced City Council. The Council voted unanimously Monday to hire Houston while the City searches for a permanent City Attorney.

An attorney with Berliner Cohen since 1998, Houston practices land use and public law with an emphasis on municipal law.

'We are glad to add Jolie to our team,' said City Manager Steve Carrigan. 'She's a great asset while the Council searches for a City

Attorney.  Her experience and knowledge will help us through the next several months.'

Houston currently serves as the City Attorney for Los Altos and as the assistant City Attorney for Gilroy. She has been the deputy City Attorney for Santa Clara.

Born in Sacramento, she graduated UC Davis and received her juris doctorate from the Santa Clara School of Law.

Members of the Merced office of Berliner Cohen, Jeffrey Kaufman and Kimberly Flores, also will assist the City.

Merced has been without a City Attorney since mid-May. Chief Deputy City Attorney Kelly Fincher has been serving as the interim City Attorney.

The City Attorney's office currently only has one attorney on staff. The contract with Berliner Cohen is for $29,000 a month for 100 hours of service. Filling the City Attorney position is expected to take four to six months.