A Conversation with Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici by Florence Z
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TM Published Quarterly by Oregon Women Lawyers Volume 28, No. 1 Winter 2017 A Conversation with Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici By Florence Z. Mao n No- tive Bonamici vember answered O10, the questions and OWLS Leader- discussed a va- In This Issue ship Commit- riety of issues tee continued relating to her Rep. Suzanne Bonamici its series titled career both “Skills and before and Balancing the Scales Strategies for after entering Emerging Po- politics. After President’s Message litical Leaders” law school, Ms. Mary Leonard Chapter at a luncheon Bonamici was event with U.S. an attorney Upcoming OWLS Events From left: Susan Pitchford, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Representa- Judge Karin J. Immergut for the Federal tive Suzanne Trade Commis- Roberts & Deiz Awards Bonamici, who represents the 1st Congressional sion in Washington, DC, where she practiced OWLS Members Elected District of Oregon. Moderated by Multnomah consumer protection law. She then moved to County Circuit Court Judge Karin J. Immergut, the Portland and continued consumer protection Breaking into Public Speaking event was the second of a series of presentations work at a law firm, where she was one of the few Eugene Event in which political leaders discuss their pathways women lawyers, and worked until her children to elected office. The series aims to strengthen were born. She recalled having to shape her own Supporting Women Litigators the leadership skills of OWLS members and to family-leave policy to accommodate their births. inspire them to political activity at every level, Noting that 25% of women in the United States Lawyers’ Assoc. of Wash. County from neighborhood associations to national return to work only two weeks after the birth Capitol Update office, while championing causes near to their of a child, Ms. Bonamici emphasized the need to hearts. The first event in the series was held in update our nation’s workplace policies to reflect Dress for Success June 2016 and featured Oregon Attorney General the current workforce and family dynamics. Ellen Rosenblum. Ms. Bonamici encouraged those with young Women’s Trial Academy During the November event, held at the Stoel families to have honest discussions with their OSB Awards Rives office in downtown Portland, Representa- Continued on page 4 Investiture of Judge Russo Queen’s Bench Honors Judges Balancing the Scales: Film Examines OWLS Foundation Grants Gender Inequality in the Legal Profession By Bridget Budbill Meet Kristin Sterling tlanta trial lawyer and filmmaker Sharon Rowen poses a big question in her new documen- Clackamas Women Lawyers tary, Balancing the Scales: why do so few women reach the highest echelons of America’s Alaw firm leadership? In an effort to find answers, Ms. Rowen spent 20 years interviewing a broad range of women lawyers, all of whom have something to say on the matter. Included in Ms. Rowen’s interviews are United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Roe v. Wade attorney Margie Pitts Hames, 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Senior Judge Phyllis Kravitch, civil rights attorney Gloria Allred, current and former members of state supreme and appellate courts, and women partners at law firms. OWLS and Bodyfelt Mount sponsored a screening of the film with Ms. Rowen on October 25 at the World Trade Center in Portland. Continued on page 6 OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS AdvanceSheet 1 WINTER 2017 President’s Message hen I are just 36% of the legal profession and Wgradu- only 30% of all state court judges.” In ated from another finding, the study reports that law school white men are 30% of the population but in 1991 (and make up 58% of all state judges; white law school women (31% of the population) make President enrollment up another 22% of the state judiciary, Laura Craska Cooper was already leaving just 20% of the remaining seats Vice President, President-Elect Angela Franco Lucero more than to be apportioned between men and Secretary 40% wom- women of color. Men of color make up Hon. Allison Boomer en!), I was nearly a fifth—19%—of the population Treasurer Laura Craska Cooper sure that but only 12% of the state judiciary, and Amber Hollister within 25 women of color, who make up 20% of Historian years, we would be beyond feminism the population, occupy a measly 8% of Megan Burgess and the need to push for equality. I the state bench. Board Members thought that by now we would all have The study’s findings are worrying Jacqueline Alarcón roughly equal representation in the seats because without representation on the Maya Crawford Sara Kobak of power. I was certain that organizations farm team, it seems unlikely that women Katharine Lozano like OWLS would have lived past their and minorities will have much chance to Hon. Valeri Love Aruna Masih usefulness. How sadly wrong I was. move into the big leagues any time soon. Banafsheh Violet Nazari Two of seven. Five of thirteen. Two And make no mistake, the “big Jennifer Nicholls of eleven. Twelve of thirty-five. Three leagues” are ripe for realignment. Yumi O’Neil Susan Pitchford of nine. President-elect Trump is inheriting 103 Adele Ridenour Those are, respectively, the numbers unfilled judicial vacancies from President Kristin Sterling of women justices/judges at the Oregon Obama, who made nominations, but Amanda Thorpe Val Tomasi Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, couldn’t get them past a Senate con- Gloria Trainor U.S. District Court for the District of Ore- trolled by the opposing party. Mr. Trump Jim Yocom gon, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth will not face that problem. To put that Past Presidents Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court. number in context, President Obama Elizabeth Tedesco Milesnick Kendra Matthews 50.32% inherited only 54 vacancies from the Kathleen Rastetter That’s the percentage of women now outgoing Bush administration. Who will Megan Livermore enrolled in U.S. law schools, as reported fill those seats remains to be seen, but it Heather L. Weigler Concetta Schwesinger in December. For the first time ever, that is not encouraging that President-elect Gwyneth McAlpine number has crossed the 50% threshold. Trump’s list of 21 potential Supreme Court Heather Van Meter How much difference will that make? nominees includes only three women, Laura Caldera Taylor Kellie Johnson History to date is discouraging. and only three minorities, and none of Norma S. Freitas Women have been roughly at the 50% them are minority women. Kate A. Wilkinson threshold in law school for over two Why it is so difficult to shatter that Jennifer K. De Wald Sarah J. Crooks decades. Despite that, a massive first- ceiling is something we talk about all Elizabeth Schwartz of-its-kind study of the demographics the time. Many of us have heard the war Lori E. Deveny of the states’ judiciaries recently found stories of the toll taken on any woman Debra Pilcher Velure Marilyn E. Litzenberger a huge gap in representation by women or minority who has ever attempted to Teresa M. Kraemer and minorities on the bench versus the assault the judicial heights. Patricia L. Heatherman population. Entitled The Gavel Gap: Who Oregon Women Lawyers exists be- Julie Levie Caron Phylis Chadwell Myles Sits in Judgment on the State Courts?, cause of data like these. Our mission “to Helle Rode the study was conducted by a pair of transform the practice of law and ensure Diana Craine researchers at Vanderbilt University and justice and equality by advancing women Kathryn M. Ricciardelli Agnes Sowle the University of Toronto and released and minorities in the legal profession” is Katherine H. O’Neil in June 2016. It is depressing. as relevant as it has ever been. And yet, Executive Director Among the study’s findings, as re- one of the most astonishing findings of Linda Tomassi ported by the American Constitution the Gavel Gap study was that despite executivedirector@ oregonwomenlawyers.org Society, under whose auspices the study the underrepresented status of women, Editor was prepared: “Women are 51% of the Oregon ranks first among the states for Elise Gautier population, and have been about 50% representation of women on the state [email protected] of law students for two decades, but Continued on next page www.oregonwomenlawyers.org Our mission is to transform the practice of law and ensure justice and equality by advancing women and minorities in the legal profession. OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS AdvanceSheet 2 WINTER 2017 President’s Message OWLS Mary Leonard Chapter continued from page 2 bench. With sustained effort, we have Hosts New Admittee Luncheon managed to see 44.32% of the state’s By Rachel Hungerford judicial seats filled by women, much closer n October 31, than the rest of the country to the 50.53% the OWLS Mary of the population that women represent. Leonard Chap- We should take a minute to appreciate O ter (OWLS MLC) hosted that fact and to recognize that OWLS its annual new admittee almost certainly has had something to do luncheon to celebrate with it. Nonetheless, while encouraging, newly admitted Oregon something a little short of parity hardly lawyers. For the first equals victory. time this year, OWLS From left: Judge Meagan Flynn of the Court of Appeals, This is especially true when we consid- MLC had the pleasure er the representation of non-dominant Gabby Hansen, and new admittees Franz Bruggemeier, of co-hosting the event Erica Tatoian, Rachel Morris, and Jon Zunkel-deCoursey cultures in the judiciary. The statistics with the Marion County for Oregon are much, much worse. The Bar Association and the Willamette Valley American Inn of Court. The presidents of all state ranks 34th overall in putting men three organizations offered words of welcome to the new admittees and described and women of color on the bench.