The U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society Newsletter Magistrate Judge Jolie A. Russo Eugene’s First Woman Magistrate By Hon. Stacie Beckerman n October 21, 2016, a crowd gathered at honoring Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin, Othe Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse in whose seat on the bench she fills, and District Eugene to welcome U.S. Magistrate Judge Jolie Judge Ann Aiken, with whom Judge Russo A. Russo to the District of Oregon federal bench worked for many years. Following the court- at her formal investiture ceremony. Paul Bruch, room ceremony, guests celebrated Judge Russo Judge Russo’s courtroom deputy, opened court, at a lively courthouse reception. and Chief Judge Michael W. Mosman welcomed Judge Russo was appointed to the federal Judge Russo’s many friends, colleagues, and fam- bench on February 25, 2016, following 28 years ily members in attendance. of service to the U.S. District Court, first as a In honor of her contributions in mentoring staff attorney to Judge James Redden, and later law students and young lawyers, a distinguished as a senior staff attorney to Judge Ann Aiken. group of lawyers whom Judge Russo has trained Judge Russo has served as an adjunct law pro- over the years spoke in her honor: David Higgs, fessor at the University of Oregon School of Rachel Rose, and David Svelund. Following their Law since 2004, and she has also served as an kind remarks, Divisi, the University of Oregon’s adjunct law professor at Lewis and Clark Law a cappella choir, performed a beautiful arrange- School. She is an active community volunteer ment of “Imagine” by John Lennon. and also serves her legal community on several Danielle Hunsaker, a partner at Larkins Vacura boards, including the Federal Bar Association, Kayser LLP who has served with Judge Russo Continue on page 2 on the Federal Bar Association board of directors for several Chad Tucker Chad years, shared remarks about Judge Russo’s professionalism and friend- ship. Susan Pitchford, a partner at Chernoff Vilhauer LLP, assembled a group of lawyers from the federal bar who rose up from the audience and each handed Judge Russo a flower while reciting lyrics from Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young.” Chief Judge Mosman adminis- tered the oath of office, and Judge Russo’s sons, Max and Nico, per- formed the robing honors, as Judge Russo’s partner, Lynn Barkley, From left: Judge Marco Hernandez, Magistrate Judge Jolie beamed from the front row. Judge Russo, Chief Judge Michael Mosman, Magistrate Judges Stacie Beckerman and Youlee Yim You. Russo shared inspiring remarks,

www.usdchs.org Fall 2016 1 President’s Message Judge Russo Oregon Women Lawyers, and the Happy New Year! Multnomah County Bar Association. She earned her JD from Lewis and I hope this newsletter finds you rested and restored after the Clark Law School. holidays, and with a renewed sense of purpose going into the Judge Russo is now part of a judi- new year. The USDCHS is excited to begin 2017 with its twin cial line whose predecessors include goals of preserving and celebrating history – through its Oral Judge Michael Hogan, Eugene’s first History Project, Famous Cases Program, and other initiatives U.S. Magistrate Judge (1973-91), who – as well as “making” history by bringing together our mem- then went onto serve as a U.S. Dis- bership and the community-at-large to create relationships trict Judge and Judge Thomas Coffin, and memories that will last into the future. who served in Eugene from 1992 until The USDCHS had a busy and successful year. In April, we participated he changed to recall status in 2016. in a ceremony to unveil the official portraits for retiring U.S. Magistrate Judge Russo is the only non-recall Judges Janice M. Stewart and Dennis J. Hubel. The event was held in the U.S. Magistrate Judge serving in the 16th-floor ceremonial courtroom at the Hatfield Courthouse and featured Eugene courthouse. She sits alongside speakers including Chief Judge Mosman, Magistrate Judge Jelderks, attor- U.S. District Judges Ann Aiken and ney Bill Gaylord, and the honored judges themselves. We were pleased for Michael McShane. the opportunity to honor two true public servants. Judge Russo is the fourth woman to In August, we celebrated attorneys who perform pro bono service at serve as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the our Annual Picnic. As you surely know, Judge Leavy and his family host District of Oregon, following Magis- the Society’s summer event at their stunning property, a hop farm south trate Judges Janice Stewart, Patricia of town studded with tall trees, historic barns, and lots of hops. It was, as Sullivan, Stacie Beckerman, and You- always, a lovely event and we are forever thankful to the Leavy family for lee Yim You. She is just the seventh its many gifts to the Society. woman to serve on the U.S. District Finally, we capped off 2016 with our Annual Dinner in the Grand Ball- Court since 1859, following U.S. Dis- room at the Sentinel Hotel. At the dinner, we were honored to name Jewel trict Judges Helen Frye, Ann Aiken, and Ron Lansing as our Lifetime Service Award winners. We weren’t alone: and Anna J. Brown, in addition to Professor James Huffman, Governor Kate Brown, and Governor Barbara the other U.S. Magistrate Judges. In Roberts joined us in singing their praises. The evening ended with remarks addition, three women have served by Professor Lansing who gave us an unforgettable thank you (and pos- on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the sibly a new name – the nickname Us-“Duck”-us). District of Oregon since 1978: Judges Thanks to all for a wonderful year and we look forward to more memo- Polly S. Higdon, Elizabeth L. Perris, ries in 2017. and current Chief Bankruptcy Judge Trish Brown. Judge Susan Graber is Kathryn P. Roberts the only woman judge from Oregon President, Us-“Duck”-us who has served on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. District Court of Oregon Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors Historical Society extends a warm welcome to Judge Russo. PICNIC SPONSORS: the District of Oregon’s Attorney Admissions Fund, the Oregon Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Lane Powell, Markowitz Herbold PC, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, Pioneer Courthouse Historical Society, and Stoel Rives LLP ANNUAL MEETING TABLE SPONSORS: Angeli Law Group, Bulli- vant Houser Bailey PC, Davis Wright Tremaine; Janet Hoffman & Associ- ates LLC, Klarquist, Lane Powell, Lewis & Clark Law School, Markowitz Herbold PC, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, Ogletree Deakins, Perkins Coie, Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, and Stoel Rives LLP Judge Russo (with folder) enjoys the event.

2 U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society Bankruptcy Judge Randall L. Dunn to Retire By Hon. Peter McKittrick he Hon. Randall L. Dunn will be member of isms. When a corporate debtor would Tretiring in January 2017 after 18 the board of plead for more time to put together a years of service as a U.S. Bankruptcy governors. sale or a viable reorganization plan, Judge. Judge Dunn is known for his As presi- Judge Dunn would retort “This is service to his colleagues nationally, his dent, he was like the play Waiting for Godot—and tenure on the 9th Circuit Bankruptcy responsible we all know what happens—Godot Appellate Panel (BAP), and his quick for organiz- never appears.” He was also known wit on the bench. ing the larg- to use the term “tough crunchies,” Judge Dunn earned his under- est national (that’s too bad counsel), as well as the graduate degree from Northwestern insolvency phrase “when Humpty Dumpty falls University, and received his Juris Hon. Randall Dunn professional off the wall, you can’t put him back Doctor from Stanford in 1975. Prior conference together.” Chief Bankruptcy Judge to joining the bench, Judge Dunn in the country, with attendance Trish M. Brown lamented that she was a partner in the Portland-based approaching 2,000 attendees. Judge has treasured their 17 years together firm Landye Bennett Blumstein. Dunn served an extended 10-year on the bench: “We will miss Randy. His practice focused on commercial term on the 9th Circuit BAP, hear- He has been an enthusiastic and sup- bankruptcy, business transactions, ing appeals from bankruptcy courts portive colleague.” and securities. Judge Dunn brought throughout the 9th circuit. He served Judge Dunn looks forward in a wealth of practical experience in as chief judge of the BAP and he also retirement to spending more time both bankruptcy and business law served on the 9th Circuit Judicial with his family, and returning to to the bench. Conference planning committee. In his favorite hobby of playing music. Judge Dunn is well known for his 2016, Judge Dunn was honored with service to the National Conference of William N. Stiles Award of Merit by Judge Dunn performed for 25 years Bankruptcy Judges (NCBJ) and his the Debtor/Creditor Section of the with the Portland Opera Orchestra, time as a member of the 9th Circuit Oregon State Bar for his outstanding where he played clarinet. He plans to BAP. He has been involved as a mem- contributions to the section and years celebrate his retirement with friends, ber and officer of NCBJ throughout of public service to the bar and bench. family, and colleagues at a reception his career, having served as treasurer, The local bankruptcy bench will at the Multnomah Athletic Club on secretary, and president, as well as a miss Judge Dunn’s quips from the Friday, January 13, 2017. bench, known as “Judge Dunn”  Attendees at the Annual Dinner

Bankruptcy Judge Thomas Renn Judge Anna Brown and Board members Julie Engbloom, Kathryn and Chief Judge Trisha Brown. Governor Barbara Roberts. Roberts, Mary Anne Anderson, and Joan Hilsenteger. Photos by Owen Schmidt.

www.usdchs.org Fall 2016 3 Neither Snow Nor Rain Nor Graft: Oregon’s Supporting Role in the Star Route Scandals By Stephen Raher, USDCHS Board Member

t was a slowly evolving series of tracting had a distinctly political Ipolitical scandals that captivated aspect. The nation was reeling from the nation. Driven by politics of the economic depression and Reconstruc- post-Reconstruction era and the eco- tion was a hotly contested issue. Both nomics of westward expansion, the parties used star route contracts as a star route scandals provided fodder convenient form of political payoff. for editorial pages and political wags As the party in power, Republicans throughout the early 1880s. Oregon seemed to be more commonly impli- played a small but important role in cated. Most notably, some evidence the narrative of the legal drama that suggests that Republican James Gar- unfolded in Washington, DC. field asked Asst. Postmaster Brady As the United States pursued its to enlist the help of star route con- policy of “manifest destiny” after the tractors in support of his 1880 presi- Civil War, one perennial problem in dential campaign, although this was newly occupied territories was reli- never proven. Interest in President able mail service. In large swathes Garfield’s role diminished after his Thomas Nast drawing of John of Oregon and other frontier areas, assassination in 1881. Mitchell. Library of Congress the Post Office Department relied on As Democrats challenged the contractors to transport mail between Republicans’ national majority, so sparsely populated communities (for too did the parties compete in Ore- The Trial arcane bureaucratic reasons, these gon. Oregon voters chose Republi- The epic courtroom battle started on routes were often referred to as “star can presidential candidates in 1876 June 1, 1882, lasted three months, routes”). and 1880 (by narrow margins), but and featured 115 witnesses and three Democrats served as governor 3,600 exhibits. The prosecution’s case The Swindle between 1870 and 1882. While Dem- focused on establishing details con- A politically-connected contractor ocrats controlled the state legislature cerning the volume of mail and the would submit an unrealistically low for most of the 1870s, Republicans changes in service on the 19 suspect bid to carry mail on a route. The Post captured both chambers in 1880. routes. This required several Ore- Office, required by law to accept the Given the political landscape and the gon witnesses—not an insignificant low bid, awarded the contract. Soon number of isolated frontier commu- undertaking, given that round-trip thereafter, the contractor submitted nities in Oregon, it was practically train travel would have taken weeks. petitions—purportedly from local inevitable that the star route scandals John Carrey of Grant County was residents, but sometimes forged— would touch the state. a witness who provided colorful asking the Post Office to increase the After congressional investigations behind-the-scenes details. Described frequency of mail service. Through in the 1870s produced no reform in by the Washington DC Evening Star an emergency provision in the pro- postal contracting, the U.S. Depart- as a “Frenchman [who] talked broken curement statute, Second Assistant ment of Justice secured criminal English,” Carrey worked for defen- Postmaster General Thomas J. Brady indictments in 1882. The indictments dant John R. Miner on the Canyon approved a substantial payment concerned 19 routes that were the City-McDermitt route. Carrey testi- increase, enriching contractors while subject of a bid-rigging conspiracy. fied that the postmaster, a Mr. Abbott avoiding solicitation of new bids. The Three of the routes were in Oregon: in Alvord on the east side of Steens contractors benefitting from these Eugene to Bridge Creek (in Wheeler Mountain (Carrey was unsure of his supplemental appropriations then County, near the present-day town of first name and documentation shows made payments to Brady and his co- Mitchell), The Dalles to Baker City, either S.H. or J.G. Abbott), had com- conspirator, Sen. Stephen W. Dorsey, and Canyon City to Fort McDer- plained to the Post Office Department a Republican from Arkansas. mitt (just across the Oregon-Nevada that no more than weekly service The corruption of star route con- border). was needed with so little mail trav-

4 U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society eling between Canyon City and Fort orator Robert Ingersoll—sought to in Washington, DC were dismissed McDermitt. This complaint threat- portray the defendants as innocent from office for meddling in the trial. ened the increased service that Miner public servants merely implementing The government swiftly commenced a had obtained—service that increased Congress’s postal policy. The first second trial, which concluded in June payments by $50,166 per year, an defense witness was Oregonian John 1883 with a verdict of not guilty as astounding 1,700% increase over the H. Mitchell. A Republican politician, to all defendants. original price. According to the trial Mitchell represented Oregon in the Public dissatisfaction with the out- testimony, Miner directed Carrey to U.S. Senate for three non-contiguous come of the 1882 and 1883 trials pay Postmaster Abbott to keep his periods (totaling 22 years) between paved the way both for the Pendleton opinions to himself. 1873 and his death in 1905. The trial Civil Service Act and the Independent Other witnesses testified about took place between his first and sec- Counsel Act. Meanwhile, rural resi- petitions demanding increased mail ond terms. Mitchell testified that he dents in modern-day Oregon enjoy service. James F. Browne, of Fort had contacted Asst. Postmaster Brady regular mail service, threatened less McDermitt (trial records alternate “a great many times” on behalf of by corruption than by Congress’s between the spellings McDermitt and constituents, supporting their calls for inability to chart a future course for McDermott), testified that he had increased mail service. He also spoke the U.S. Postal Service. circulated petitions at the direction about his advocacy on behalf of the of defendant Miner. These petitions Eugene-Bridge City route, describ-  included the signature of Canyon ing the distances between Oregon’s City Postmaster Edwin Hall; how- population centers ever, Hall himself testified that his to the East Coast and at least two other signatures on jury and the delays the petition were forgeries. Two sub- that came from contractors from Utah (Nephi and mail being routed W.D. Johnson) testified that they had through Portland. signed petitions for increased ser- vice between Canyon City and Fort The Verdict McDermitt even though they lived The trial results nowhere near the route in question. were not a high Other Oregon witnesses provided point for the mundane yet important details for nation’s justice the prosecution’s case. Three sub- system. The jury contractors (John M. Fisk and Joseph acquitted two E. Masterson, both of Canyon City, defendants, found and Emil Schultz, of Camp Watson two compara- near present-day Antone in Wheeler tively minor actors County) testified over several days guilty, and could about the details of their respective not reach a verdict portions of The Dalles-Baker City on the remaining route. The prosecution elicited these defendants. The details to lay a foundation for prov- trial court judge, ing that contractors had submitted Andrew Wylie, set false affidavits regarding the number aside the entire ver- of men and horses needed to trans- dict due to “general port the mail. Testifying about the unreasonableness” mail volume in the area, Elizabeth and allegations of Wilson, postmistress of The Dalles, jury corruption. This illustration from the humor magazine Puck told the jury that there were there The jury foreman shows a well-dressed Robert G. Ingersoll carrying two were more mountains than people was subsequently large bags of money labeled “Counsel Fees” as he de- in Wasco County. indicted for brib- parts the “Washington Court House”; exiting on the right side, wearing tattered clothing, are defendants While the prosecution focused on ery, and five gov- Thomas J. Brady and Stephen W. Dorsey. Library of details, the defense—led by renowned ernment employees Congress.https://www.loc.gov/item/2012645483

www.usdchs.org Fall 2016 5 Kernan Bagley: Fifty Years of Service Jewel and Ron Lansing: 2016 Lifetime Service Award By Adair Law; Photos courtesy of Ron and Jewel Lansing

Jewel and Ron Lansing are the sec- ing sandlot field for baseball. The ond couple to receive the LSA after librarian said that anyone wanting the late Tom and Caroline Stoel to play baseball needed to read for in 2006. This article is based on an hour first, which helped a reluc- archives, writings, and conversa- tant Ron develop a stronger interest tions with Jewel and Ron Lansing in reading. A Chicago Cubs fans in as well as research and contributions a White Sox-loving family, Ron first o by their children Mark, Alyse, and heard the comment, “You should be Annette. To see additional photos a lawyer,” during family arguments for this article go to https://usdchs. over baseball et al. org/2016/12/22/jewel-and-ron-lan- Jewel was a sixth grader at the sing-2016-lifetime-service-award/ start of World War II. She and her friends collected discarded tires and hrough the conduct of their Jewel and Ron Lansing celebrate rolled bandages for the Red Cross. in 1976 as she wins the Democratic Her siblings served in the war effort, Tprofessional and personal lives, primary for state treasurer. Jewel and Ron Lansing have been the her brothers as a naval ensign and an source of education and inspiration Montana, Jewel recalls that as a sec- army air corps corporal in the Pacific, for thousands with their contributions ond grader she would watch the store her sisters as a dietician and a cadet in teaching, political office, and their when her parents needed a short nap. nurse. As keepers of a general store, respective written works. If customers came in, Jewel pressed the Becks were very involved in col- Jewel Anne Beck was born in May a buzzer and one of her siblings or lecting and tracking ration coupons. 1930 to Lars and Julia Beck on the parents came to wait on them. In the summer of 1945 she helped Flathead Reservation in western Mon- Ron’s family moved around between her father finish haying before she tana. She joined two brothers and two northern Indiana and Illinois as his left home with two girlfriends to sisters, with another sister arriving in father searched for work in the Great pick cherries along Flathead Lake. 1939. Lars Beck and Julia Syla both Depression. At the age of seven, he She was there when the atomic bomb came from homesteading families. lived with his Richardson grandpar- was dropped. The Beck family emigrated from Nor- ents in Michigan for several months For the Lansing family, the U.S. way, homesteading in Washington while his parents sought more sta- entry into the war helped to lift the in 1884. The Syla family were Czech bility. As a second grader he lived in family out of poverty. Bert Lansing emigrants, homesteading in Nebraska; three different houses and attended found steadier work as older World Alberta, Canada; and Montana. three different schools. The family War I factories were cleaned, reno- Ron Lansing was born to Bert and finally settled in Lansing, Illinois vated and pressed into service. Mabel (Richardson) Lansing in 1932 (no relation to Ron). His school on Chicago’s South Side. Bert was a grades were average and his deport- High School and College member of the painter’s and decora- ment grades read “day dreamer” and Jewel went to high school in Ronan, tors union and served as treasurer for “mischief nine miles from her home. She became his local. At age one Ron was stricken m a k e r . ” an avid reader and described her high with diphtheria or measles that went G a m e s school library (which held a mere six into his trachea. He almost died but were a great students) as her Shangri La. She signed survived with a wheezy voice for the motivator up for debate, and learned to argue rest of his life. He was joined by sis- f o r R o n . both sides of an issue. She was the ters in 1937 and 1942. The pub- only girl in her advanced algebra class. Lars and Julia Beck ran a family lic library After taking a standardized IQ test farm and a general country store with across the her junior year, she was told that she a post office that sold fishing and big Ron Lansing, age 9, street had had the highest IQ in the school. She game licenses. In her 2007 memoir My with his sister Marlene. an adjoin- didn’t share this with her classmates,

6 U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society but carrying that knowledge helped trees, and helped the military label strong compared to the German mark. bolster her confidence when it flagged. Danish maps in English. During the Jewel saved her money and bought a Jewel started her studies at the Uni- summer he did hard labor, working VW Bug for $900, which gave her versity of Montana in Missoula in in the steel mills, oil refineries, and freedom to travel. Jewel Beck met 1948 and described the change from war plants. He was president of his Ron Lansing in 1955 while teaching a farm life to college life as “the biggest fraternity and drama club. He gradu- class in contract bridge at the Terrace cultural shock of my life.” ated with a degree in philosophy and Service Club in Ulm. Jewel liked that In 1949, doctors at the Mayo Clinic English in 1954. After graduation he Ron enjoyed card games, telling jokes, told Jewel’s father that he had inoper- enlisted in the army and was sent to and the way he argued either side of able stomach and liver cancer. Jewel West Germany. an issue to get a dialogue going. He worked as a reporter and ad collector also seemed attracted to rather than for the Ronan Pioneer newspaper the Two Points Converge intimidated by her intelligence. For next two summers to help care for her After receiving a top secret security Ron, meeting the greatest compan- father. He died in 1950. She graduated clearance, Jewel did secretarial work ion of his life was the luckiest benefit with honors in 1952 with a major in for the CIA. But typing correspon- of his army experience. He proposed journalism, a minor in business, and dence with six carbon copies and marriage in the fall of 1955 on a hill- a high-paying job in Washington, DC. fetching coffee for Army officers was side as they looked at the sparkling with the Central Intelligence Agency. not her style. She resigned after nine lights of Munich’s Oktoberfest. They Ron graduated from Thornton months, and took a job with Stanford married twice in June 1956, once in Fractional Township High School in University’s women’s residence hall a German language civil ceremony Calumet City, Illinois. He participated staff while she pursued a masters’ (for the West German Republic) and in various sports and was the sports degree in education, counseling, and again at a U.S. military post (for the editor on his school’s paper. He was guidance in 1954. While at Stanford, bride and groom). attracted to learning but preferred she was recruited by the U.S. Army Army Special Services did not allow to follow his own path to the things Special Services as a civilian recreation married women in its ranks. Jewel that interested him rather than go director to direct off-duty activities resigned her service club director down the road suggested by his teach- for GIs stationed overseas. Her post- position. The couple took a two-week ers. Ron was the first member of his ing was in Ulm, West Germany. honeymoon to Paris, Venice, Florence, extended family to go to college. He Jewel conducted a range of activi- and Rome using the VW. They rented went to Valparaiso University in Indi- ties including teaching classes, leading a fifth floor walk-up apartment with ana and was “suddenly thrown into a tours, conducting bingo games, and no hot water in Ulm for four months, whole potpourri of different people at supervising the German civilian staff. while Ron served as a court martial- different levels.” At college he worked Her talent brought her five promotions reporter. Ron’s army unit was rotated at a die machinery company, made in two years, which required many back to Fort Carson in Colorado, picnic furniture, flocked Christmas moves all over Bavaria. The dollar was continue on page 8

The Beck family traveling to Seattle in 1934, with Jewel 1955 Ron (second from left) and his army mates in a at the center. The family traveled 675 miles that day. West German café.

www.usdchs.org Fall 2016 7 a young associate in the law offices various downtown rented buildings of Shuler Sayre Winfree Rankin and was moved to wooded campus quar- the family moved to Portland. Jew- ters on the outskirts of Portland. The el’s part-time work at two Portland Lansings too, bought a home closer CPA firms allowed her to complete to the college campus. the experience portion of her CPA Along with his teaching load Ron requirement. was called into the process of gain- Ron switched to the law firm of Bai- ing the school’s accreditation from ley Swink Lezak Haas in 1963, filling the American Association of Law the vacancy left by Sid Lezak when he Schools and the American Bar Asso- became Oregon’s U.S. Attorney. Ron ciation. He kept a record and wrote soon became a partner and business the book on those tumultuous times Ron Lansing and Jewel Beck on a manager at the firm. His practice was Crystalling the Legacy: Stories and date, 1956. thriving and he had a range of civic Reflections on the Accreditation obligations. Jewel juggled raising three Era of a Law School. In spite of the Ron & Jewel Lansing young children with her work com- tedium and time involved, Ron never continued from page 7 mitments. Both Lansings were active lost humor. He sketched caricatures where he finished his term of service Unitarians and served as presidents of his colleagues, which he continued as the regimental colonel’s secretary. (Jewel the first female president) of for an ensuing four decades of meet- West Hills Fellowship. ings. A gallery of 75 of his caricatures Setting Roots line the halls of the school. After their return to the United States, Fresh Fields of Endeavor Jewel received her CPA license in the Lansings made their way cross In January 1963, Ron contacted 1969. Her personal and professional country to Colorado Springs in the Judge James Crawford and John development coincided with the begin- VW Bug. Jewel found part-time work Gantenbein—dean and registrar of nings of the woman’s movement and teaching differently abled children. the 80 year-old downtown Portland she was active in several women’s Their first child Mark was born in night school Northwestern College organizations as an eager participant. July 1957, with the U.S. Army pick- of Law—to express his interest in She co-founded a League of Women ing up the tab for Jewel’s pregnancy becoming a part-time instructor. Voters unit in SW Portland and served and Mark’s birth. Ron mustered out Three years later, he was hired to on the state board of the American of the army early so he could start at teach Code Pleading part time. Association of University Women. She Willamette Law School in Septem- In September 1965, Lewis and joined the National Organization of ber 1957, his tuition and books paid Clark College and Northwestern Col- Women, the National Abortion Rights for by the GI Bill. The family made lege of Law merged to a home in Salem. Jewel taught at the become officially titled: Chemawa Indian School and sixth Northwestern School grade at Keizer School on an emer- of Law of Lewis and gency teaching credential, because Clark College (now of a teacher shortage. Ron served as known as Lewis and a founding editor of the Willamette Clark Law School). Law Review. After his graduation In March 1967, Ron with honors in May 1960, he was received and accepted admitted to the bar and clerked for an offer to become one Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice of the first five full- William McCallister. The Lansings’ time members of the daughter Alyse was born in August faculty. He started as 1960. When Jewel could not find part- a full-time assistant time work in journalism, she studied professor in September financial theory and accounting by 1967 at an annual sal- correspondence while pregnant with ary of $12,500. The law Annette (who joined the family in school’s eight-decade- The Lansing family in Manzanita as part of the July September 1961). Ron found work as old nomadic jobsite in 4th parade in 1976 with the VW serving as a float.

8 U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society performance auditing to local and state governments and for making audit findings available to the public.

The Written Record Along with teaching Torts and Evi- dence to thousands of Oregon’s cur- rent 12,000 lawyers by the time of his retirement in 2008, Ron has always made time for writing. His 1983 book Skylarks & Lecterns: A Law School Charter, was excerpted in the Rut- As part of her city auditor duties, gers Law Review as well as the 2003 Jewel Lansing swears in Portland Professor Ron Lansing in class, ca. collection of legal humor, Amicus Mayor Bud Clark, 1985. 1980s. Humoriae. He co-edited Evidence Action League and most importantly, for the Oregon State Bar in 1986. We thank them for their many con- the Oregon Women’s Political Caucus. His books include Juggernaut: The tributions to our state. She started her own accounting firm Whitman Massacre Trial 1850, 1993; They have asked to express here in 1972 with two employees. In 1973 Nimrod: Courts, Claims, and Killing their gratitude to the society for this she volunteered as treasurer for future on the Oregon Frontier, 2005; and award. They are particularly thrilled Oregon Supreme Court Justice Betty the earlier mentioned Crystalling the by it because in 2003, the original Roberts during her campaign for gov- Legacy, 2011. In 2002, he contrib- recipient of the award was the late ernor. That August Jewel was the first uted articles on the Whitman Mas- Randall Kester, the first president of woman appointed to the Multnomah sacre Trial and the Charity Lamb our society. He was their friend. They County Civil Service Commission. Murder Trial to Great American joined Randall and his wife Rachel The commission was Jewel’s spring- Trials. He wrote numerous articles on numerous outdoor adventures board into public office. Learning that for the Oregon State Bar Bulletin. backpacking the Cascades, canoe- the incumbent Multnomah County After leaving elected office, Jewel ing northwest rivers and lakes and Auditor was not filing for reelection, returned to the love of her school climbing Mount Hood’s peak. And she was enouraged to run and she days: writing. She attended numer- they were there at the annual dinner decided two days before the March ous writing courses and started pro- when Randall received the inaugural 1974 deadline. After a whirlwind ducing her own work. Her books award. Not only are they humbled by campaign, she won the Democratic include: The Beck Family Book: sharing this honor with so many other primary against five white men with 1700-1989- Norway-U.S.A. with co- notables over the years, they have 23 percent of the vote. That summer, author Ole J. Lokberg, 1989; Cam- received the chance, as they put it, “to she climbed Mount Hood with family paigning for Office: A Woman Runs summit with our departed friend.”

members and in November, won the and 101 Campaign Tips for Women Owen Schmidt election. 1974 was a big year. Candidates and Their Staffs, both Jewel served eight years as county in 1991; A Czech Family Heritage: auditor and went on to four years as Bohemia-U.S.A. 1765-1996; the Portland City Auditor. She won the mystery Deadly Games in City Hall, Democratic primary for state trea- 1997; Portland: People, Politics, and surer in a 1976 race that received Power –1851-2001, 2003, which has national attention. In 1977 she served gained recognition as one of the most as an elected Oregon delegate for the important sources of local Portland National Women’s Conference in history; My Montana: A History and Houston. She ran as the Democratic Memoir, 1930-1950, 2007; and with candidate for state treasurer in 1980, co-author Fred Leeson, Multnomah: again losing by a hair to the incum- The Tumultuous Story of Oregon’s bent Clay Myers. When she left the Most Populous County, 2012. City Auditor’s office in 1986, the Ron and Jewel celebrated their Jewel and Ron Lansing receive Oregonian lauded her for introducing 60th wedding anniversary in 2016. 2016 Lifetime Service Award.

www.usdchs.org Fall 2016 9 (Almost) President Hughes: The Benson Decision By Doug Pahl, USDCHS Board Member

n a cool summer evening 100 https://www.loc.gov/item/ggb2005021948/ in his Senate primary race. “For the Oyears ago, a confident Repub- sake of your candidacy, you ought to lican presidential nominee, Charles come out for Johnson. If you do, you’ll Evans Hughes, sat in his ornate suite be elected. If you do not, you may not at Portland’s Benson Hotel and made carry California.” Hughes indicated a decision that likely cost him the elec- that he very much wanted to appear tion. In 1916, the Republican Party with Johnson during his California needed a unifier. The party had split in visit and instructed his staff to arrange two when the Old Guard clashed with it. Yet Hughes declined to endorse the party’s progressive wing—throw- Johnson in the primary, not wishing ing the 1912 election to the Democrat Charles Evan Hughes in 1916. Bain to play favorites in local political mat- Woodrow Wilson. Nowhere were the News Service, Library of Congress ters. “I couldn’t possibly comply with Republican wounds more raw than in your request,” Hughes said, “even if progressive-leaning California, where victory for Democrat Woodrow Wil- it should mean my defeat.” the feud of 1912 continued. son with just 42 percent of the vote. Prescient words by the candidate. Just back from a drive along the The fractured Republican Party Hughes spent four days traveling new Columbia River Highway and a was stunned and angry. To retake through California, never once seeing stroll at the foot of Multnomah Falls, the White House in 1916, it desper- or appearing with Governor Johnson. Hughes now needed to calm the war- ately needed a healer. President Taft By sheer unfortunate coincidence, the ring Republican factions in Califor- had appointed Hughes, the popular two candidates spent several hours nia, the next and most troublesome former governor of New York, to the in the Virginia Hotel in Long Beach. state on his whistle-stop western tour. U.S. Supreme Court, in 1910. Politi- After checking in, Johnson became It was August 16, 1916, the presi- cally sidelined, Hughes played no role aware of the Hughes party, but he dential election was in full swing. in the unpleasantness of 1912 and felt he was being excluded and did That evening, Hughes met with an was therefore uniquely positioned not make his presence known. Hughes impatient Chester Rowell, emissary to reunite the party in 1916. In June left without knowing of Johnson’s from California’s most popular poli- 1916, Hughes resigned from the court presence. tician, Republican Governor Hiram to run for president— the only justice Intentional or not, Governor John- Johnson, the irascible progressive who in the history of the court to do so. son’s progressive supporters in Cali- was in the midst of his own campaign The wounds of 1912 were still fresh fornia took the entire Hughes visit as for the U.S. Senate. in California. Old Guard Republicans a snub, one that would loom large. Old Guard Republicans, especially deeply resented Governor Johnson Although before the advent of mod- in California, hadn’t forgotten Gov- and attempted to keep him from bask- ern polling, Hughes appeared heavily ernor Johnson’s betrayal. In 1912, ing in Hughes’s considerable national favored to win. Two days prior to the former President Theodore Roos- glow. Remarkably, on the eve of November election, President Wilson evelt boldly came out of retirement his four-day visit to California, the wrote an extraordinary letter to his to challenge incumbent President Hughes campaign had scheduled no Secretary of State Robert Lansing. At William Howard Taft on the grounds joint events with Governor Johnson, that time, the presidential inaugura- Taft wasn’t upholding progressive nor had Hughes endorsed Johnson tion took place in March, not January, ideals. When the party bosses gave for the California Senate race. Feeling as it does today. In addition, unlike the nomination to Taft, Roosevelt disrespected, Governor Johnson sent today, after the vice president, the angrily gathered his progressive sup- Rowell to Portland for a face-to-face secretary of state was next in the line porters and bolted from the party. with the Republican nominee. of succession. Standing, as the nation Governor Johnson bolted too, serv- Although he may not have realized was, on the verge of entering World ing as Roosevelt’s running mate on it at the time, Hughes likely deter- War I, Wilson believed that a five- the Progressive “Bull Moose” Party mined the election that evening in month lame duck presidency would ticket. The Roosevelt-Johnson ticket Portland. Rowell pleaded with Hughes expose the country to grave risks. split the Republican vote, causing the to schedule events with Johnson and Wilson wrote to Secretary Lansing: unthinkable—a defeat for Taft and a asked that Hughes endorse Johnson I feel that it would be my duty to

10 U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society relieve the country of the perils of such a situation at once. The course I have in mind is depen- dent upon the consent and coop- eration of the Vice President; but, if I could gain his consent to the plan, I would ask your permission to invite Mr. Hughes to become Secretary of State and would then join the Vice President in resign- ing, and thus open to Mr. Hughes the immediate succession to the presidency. Early in the evening on Election Day as the lights of Times Square This 2002 photo shows (from left) Judges Susan Leeson, Betty Roberts, flashed “President Hughes Elected,” Susan Graber, Virginia Linder, and Mary Deits, the five women who at that it appeared Wilson would have to time had served on the Oregon appellate courts. Photo courtesy of Trudy Allen. act on his letter. Hughes had quickly secured the delegate-rich northeast. Major newspapers called the race for The (Slowly) Changing Face of Oregon’s Judiciary Hughes. Wilson needed a near sweep By Mary Anne Anderson, USDCHS Board member of the rest of the county to win. n Spring 2013, Oregon Benchmarks noted that 114 women had served or Despite the news, Wilson with- Iwere serving as state and federal judges in Oregon. Three years later that held his concession until morning. number has increased to 137 women who have served (or will begin serving By then, there was hope. Wilson had in 2017) in 176 different judicial offices in Oregon. dominated in the South, and run much Would it surprise you to learn that only six of the 103 judges that have stronger in the Midwest and West served on the Oregon Supreme Court in its 150+ year history—and only 12 of than expected. It took days before the 50 judges to serve on the Oregon Court of Appeals—have been women? the counts were final. Over the past 15 years, the face of the Oregon judiciary has slowly shifted. In one of the closest elections in his- That change is evident in the roster of Oregon’s appellate courts, detailed on tory, Hughes carried only one western the Oregon Women Judges “Quick Facts” sheet. It reveals that, by the early state: Oregon. Sadly for Hughes, the 2000s, only five women had served on the Oregon appellate courts since the election came down to California. first woman (Betty Roberts) was appointed 25 years previously. The Oregon The winner of its 13 electoral votes Women Lawyers Foundation “Five in Twenty Five” event of November 20, would be president. 2002, celebrated the five women who at that time had served on the Oregon In the California results, Wilson appellate courts, namely Susan Leeson, Betty Roberts, Susan Graber, Vir- had won the state by 3,773 votes out ginia Linder, and Mary Deits. of one million votes cast. Incredibly, In the 15 ensuing years, the number of women who have served on the if just 1,887 Californians had voted Oregon appellate courts has grown to 18 with the addition of Martha Wal- for Hughes rather than Wilson, we ters (Oregon Supreme Court 2006), Lynn Nakamoto (Court of Appeals 2011- would have had a President Hughes. 16; appointed to Oregon Supreme Court 2016), Darleen Ortega (Court of Meanwhile, Hiram Johnson won Appeals 2003), Ellen Rosenblum (Court of Appeals 2005-12), Rebecca Dun- his California Senate race by an envi- can (Court of Appeals 2010), Erika Hadlock (Court of Appeals 2011), Erin able 300,000 votes. Lagesen (Court of Appeals 2013), and Meagan Flynn (2014). Wilson never had to act on his This historical society (usdchs.org) and Oregon Women Lawyers (oregon- remarkable letter. womenlawyers.org) have formed Oregon Women Judges (OWJ) for the pur- Despite the loss, Hughes continued pose of collecting, preserving, and celebrating the histories and contributions his impressive career, serving as sec- of Oregon’s women judges. Currently, the information gathered by OWJ is retary of state under Presidents Hard- housed on the OWLS website (http://www.oregonwomenlawyers.org/resources/ ing and Coolidge. In 1930, President oregon-women-judges/). Hoover appointed Hughes to be Chief Volunteers for OWJ are writing “profiles” of the women who have served Continue on page 12 Continue on page 12

www.usdchs.org Fall 2016 11 The U. S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society 740 U. S. Courthouse 1000 S.W. Third Avenue Portland, OR 97204

More content online at www.usdchs.org. Find out about legal podcasts and look for a brief article on the occupation of the Malheur Wildlife refuge in mid-January.

OFFICERS: President, Kathryn Roberts; Vice (Almost) President Hughes cont. President, Julie Engbloom; Treasurer, Stephen Raher; Secretary, Mary Anne Anderson; Immediate Past Justice. From this position Chief Justice Hughes guided and transformed President, Stephen Joncus the court throughout the tumultuous New Deal era. 2016 BOARD MEMBERS: Hon. Stacie Beckerman, One wonders if Hughes ever thought back on his western tour and his Hon. Anna J. Brown; Nell Brown; Joseph Carlisle; Tom Edmonds; Pat Ehlers; Hon. Marco Hernandez; momentous decision at the Benson Hotel. Molly Honoré; Gary Liao; Scott McCurdy; Hon. Peter McKittrick; Doug Pahl; Carra Sahler; Kennon Scott; Jeanne Sinnott; Vicki L. Smith; Harry Wilson.  Ex-Officio members: Hon. Michael Mosman; Hon. Thomas Balmer, Tom Kranovich, Kerry Tymchuk, The Changing Face of Oregon’s Judiciary cont. Hon. Edward Leavy. 2016 HONORARY MEMBERS: The Belloni Family; or are serving in the Oregon state and federal judiciary, with a goal of Ernest Bonyhadi; Hon. James Redden; Richard B. launching a website that creates a repository for those judicial profiles and Solomon shares statistics regarding the women judges of Oregon. The OWJ website The U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society thanks its lifetime members for their continued sup- has hopes of inspiring women to continue to seek judicial office, especially port of the mission of the Society and honors those in judicial districts where no woman has yet served, or in courts where lifetime members who are no longer with us. women continue to be few in number. Information on volunteering your 2016 LIFETIME MEMBERS: Mary Anne Anderson, Jeffery Batchelor, Frank Bauman, Owen Blank, Hon. time, talents, or resources to the OWJ project, as well as downloadable Anna J. Brown, Donald Cinnamond, Sarah Crooks, “quick facts” and other information on women in judicial office in Oregon Paul Fortino, Gersham Goldstein, Edwin Harnden, Cynthia Harrison, Douglas Houser, Hon. Robert may be located on the web page. Those interested in volunteering with Jones, Jenifer Johnston, James Knoll, Rob Laney, Ron Lansing, Anthony Larson, Hon. Edward Leavy, OWJ are encouraged to do so, whether your skills are in research, inter- James S. Leigh, Nancy Moriarty, Jeffrey Mutnick, viewing, writing, data entry or website design and maintenance. Elizabeth Newcomb, Verne Newcomb, Daniel O’Leary, Hon. Owen M. Panner, Katherine O’Neil, Hon. Edwin Peterson, Peter Richter, Dian Rubanoff, Author Mary Anne Anderson, current Secretary of the USDCHS, works Sarah Ryan, Thomas Sand, Arlene Schnitzer, Jordan in the chambers of the Honorable Youlee Yim You, the fifth woman to Schnitzer, Norman Sepenuk, Arden Shenker, Hon. Michael Simon, Richard Solomon, Gayle Troutwine, serve in Oregon as a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Heather Van Meter, Norm Wiener, Timothy Williams, Kelly Zusman.

IN MEMORIAM: Frank Bauman

LIAISONS: Janice Dilg, Oral History; Adair Law, Newsletter; Dana Vinchesi, USDC

12 U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society