OWLS Honors Judge Frantz, Kasia Rutledge by Brie Bridegum He 25Th Her Privilege
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TM Published Quarterly by Oregon Women Lawyers Volume 28, No. 2 Spring 2017 OWLS Honors Judge Frantz, Kasia Rutledge By Brie Bridegum he 25th her privilege. Roberts That makes T& Deiz her an asset Awards Dinner to the legal was held at the community Portland Art and her or- Museum on Fri- ganization,” In This Issue day, March 10. Roberta said. OWLS was Kasia then Roberts & Deiz Awards pleased to be- took the President’s Message stow on Judge stage to a Julie Frantz the chorus of GrOWLS: OWLS’ New Chapter Justice Betty Photo: Dreams in Bloom Photography cheers from Roberts Award Judge Julie Frantz (left) and Kasia Rutledge her many sup- Upcoming OWLS Events and on Kasia porters in the Mary Leonard Chapter Rutledge the Judge Mercedes Deiz Award. audience, many of whom brought cardboard The Judge Mercedes Deiz Award is given an- cutouts of her face, which they waved in the air OWLS Foundation nually to a person who has made an outstanding during her speech. contribution to the promotion of minorities in Kasia spoke about the tremendous honor she Flynn to Supreme Court the legal profession and the community. Kasia feels to work as a public defender, noting that she R&D Dinner Sponsors, Photos Rutledge, an attorney with Metropolitan Public gets to help people tell their stories. She pointed Defender Services, received the award based on out that the law has never been a leader in social The Judges’ Forum her history of support and advocacy for people change and that each person has a responsibility OFALA Founded of color, from law students to other lawyers to to help ensure progress. her own clients. During her remarks, Kasia said: Thank you, Laura Craska Cooper Each award recipient was introduced by a The space I often find myself in in the law video that featured comments by some of the is not made for me. My voice is often not 100 Years of Counting Women many people who supported her nomination. welcome, or is not valued. These spaces We Still Have a Long Way to Go On the first video, law student Alvin T. Clavon II have traditionally and are currently filled by said, “Kasia is there, and she is always there in the same people who have filled them for Meet Judge Bethany Flint full force supporting each student and being the past two hundred years. And if I, as a Meet Aruna Masih very passionate about what needs to be done. straight, cis, non-disabled, privileged citizen She helps students breaking into a culturally white woman experience this feeling, it is U.S. District Court Update homogenous profession.” hard to imagine how stifling it is for queer, Judge Darleen Ortega spoke in the video about disabled, non-citizen, or lawyers of color in OWLS Members Lead OL4GG the professional impact Kasia has had, and she those same court rooms, classrooms, and OWLS Workplace Leader Award noted that Kasia’s experience as a public defender board rooms. To continue moving in those has enabled her to educate the bench and bar spaces as someone who doesn’t get the Book Review: Judge Jane Bolin on how race affects the criminal process. Judge presumption of being entitled to one’s own Ortega also noted Kasia’s strong history of men- More R&D Dinner Photos air is an every day act of bravery. To endure torship, and that she hosts an annual “orphan sting after sting of microagressions, hearing 1917 Newspaper Article Thanksgiving” to provide a welcoming holiday “Where are you from?” knowing that means experience for those without family in Portland. “You don’t belong here” is bravery. It’s Roberta Phillip-Robbins also mentioned Kasia’s our responsibility to make room for those professional success, noting that she is one of not currently at the table. only a handful of public defenders in Oregon to Judge Julie Frantz of the Multnomah County obtain an acquittal on a murder charge. Circuit Court received the Justice Betty Roberts “Kasia is aware of her privilege and is willing Award. The award is given annually to a person to create safe spaces for people who don’t share Continued on page 6 OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS AdvanceSheet 1 SPRING 2017 President’s Message ccord- lifting up those whose civil rights hav- Aing to en’t always been protected or viewed the Oxford as equal. I would argue that civil rights Living Dictio- are so fundamental that they should be nary, the first generally accepted as a societal norm. definition of But until we universally accept basic civil President the word rights for all, regardless of color, ethnicity, Laura Craska Cooper “political” nation of origin, gender, religion, sexual Vice President, President-Elect Angela Franco Lucero is “relating orientation, or gender identification, Secretary to the gov- we will have to continue to engage in Hon. Allison Boomer ernment or “political” activities to promote the Treasurer Laura Craska Cooper public affairs rights of these historically marginalized Amber Hollister of a country.” individuals and groups. Historian Is OWLS a “political” organization? Un- If our focus on civil rights and justice Megan Burgess der the formal definition, most certainly. and equality weren’t justification enough Board Members I’ve been thinking about this a lot (and it should be) to validate our decision Jacqueline Alarcón lately, ever since I received a call a couple to engage our elected officials regarding Maya Crawford Sara Kobak of weeks ago from an OWLS member in the national agenda, the fact that we Katharine Lozano response to the letter that I sent, at the seek to transform the practice of law Hon. Valeri Love Aruna Masih direction of the OWLS board, to Oregon through our efforts and advocacy certain- Banafsheh Violet Nazari Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. ly should cause us to share our views. Our Jennifer Nicholls The letter asked that our senators op- system of government is founded on the Yumi O’Neil Susan Pitchford pose the confirmation of then-Senator rule of law. Our government, indeed our Adele Ridenour Jeff Sessions for attorney general of the society, works because the overwhelming Kristin Sterling United States. Of course, the letter did majority of us respect and honor the Amanda Thorpe Val Tomasi not have much of a practical effect. Both legal foundation of our government. Gloria Trainor Oregon senators had already announced As lawyers, we have a duty to respect Jim Yocom their opposition to Sessions’s appoint- and advocate for the rule of law. As an Past Presidents ment. And as we now know, Sessions organization dedicated to transforming Elizabeth Tedesco Milesnick Kendra Matthews didn’t need their votes to be confirmed. the practice of law, that duty is doubly Kathleen Rastetter But in my view, the letter was import- incumbent upon us. Megan Livermore ant. Through his words and his actions, So if our mission is political, then why Heather L. Weigler Concetta Schwesinger Senator Sessions had demonstrated a shouldn’t we engage in political activi- Gwyneth McAlpine hostility to the core of OWLS’ mission to ties? I believe that if we are unwilling to Heather Van Meter “transform the practice of law and ensure engage in political activities, then our Laura Caldera Taylor Kellie Johnson justice and equality by advancing women mission doesn’t matter because it will Norma S. Freitas and minorities in the legal profession.” never be achieved. It is only by standing Kate A. Wilkinson The OWLS member who called to ob- up for what we believe, by arguing Jennifer K. De Wald Sarah J. Crooks ject to the letter wanted to know why with those who disagree, by loudly and Elizabeth Schwartz and when OWLS had begun engaging publicly objecting to those who seek to Lori E. Deveny in political activities. The member didn’t undermine our mission that we will make Debra Pilcher Velure Marilyn E. Litzenberger necessarily agree with the letter, but the progress. No one ever “transformed” any- Teresa M. Kraemer larger point the member tried to make thing or achieved “justice and equality” Patricia L. Heatherman was that OWLS shouldn’t engage in po- by talking among themselves or taking Julie Levie Caron Phylis Chadwell Myles litical activities. I was surprised because positions with which all in the universe Helle Rode I had always understood OWLS’ mission agreed. So we will continue to speak up. Diana Craine to be political. We will continue to march. We will con- Kathryn M. Ricciardelli Agnes Sowle In looking at the definition above, I tinue to write letters. We will and should Katherine H. O’Neil think OWLS’ mission is clearly political. continue to engage in political activities. Executive Director It seems unlikely that an organization Morality is well and good. But what Linda Tomassi would be able to ensure justice and about the practical aspects of this de- executivedirector@ oregonwomenlawyers.org equality by advancing women and mi- cision? First, OWLS is permitted under Editor norities in the legal profession without the federal tax code to take political Elise Gautier relating to the government and public positions and engage in advocacy on [email protected] affairs of the United States. OWLS is, political issues. That’s part of the reason www.oregonwomenlawyers.org fundamentally, about civil rights and Continued on page 3 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 SPRING 2017 Save the Date GrOWLS: OWLS’ New Chapter By Carrie Benson and Diana McDougle OWLS Fall CLE e are excited to announce the for- Friday, October 27, 2017 mation of the newest OWLS chapter, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.