The Honorable Adrienne Nelson Appointed to Oregon Supreme Court
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TM Published Quarterly by Oregon Women Lawyers Volume 29, No. 1 Winter 2018 The Honorable Adrienne Nelson Appointed to Oregon Supreme Court WLS congratulates Justice Adrienne Nelson When Justice Nelson on her appointment to the Oregon Su- graduated from high Opreme Court, which took effect January 2. school in Arkansas Justice Nelson moved to the Supreme Court in 1985, she had the from the Multnomah County Circuit Court, highest grade point In This Issue where she had served since 2006, having been average in her class appointed by former Gov. Ted Kulongoski. Before and was thus slated to Justice Adrienne Nelson that, she was a lawyer at Multnomah Defenders, be the valedictorian, OWLS Fall CLE Inc. (1996–1999), the Portland law firm Bennett her school’s first vale- Hartman Morris & Kaplan (1999–2004), and dictorian of color. The President’s Message Portland State University’s Student Legal and school board decided, Upcoming OWLS Events Mediation Services (2004–2006). She earned a however, to bestow Justice Adrienne Nelson Councilor Jaimie Fender bachelor’s degree at the University of Arkansas that honor on someone who was white. Nelson’s and a law degree at the University of Texas. mother retained a law firm and filed suit, Justice Political Leadership Series Justice Nelson’s extensive community service Nelson was named valedictorian, and she decided Judge Fay Stetz-Waters currently includes chairing the board of Self En- to pursue a career in the law. Judge Danielle Hunsaker hancement, Inc. and serving on the Reed College Justice Nelson is the first African American to Gorge OWLS (GrOWLS) Board of Trustees and the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars serve on an appellate court in Oregon. She is, as Advisory Board. A longtime OWLS member, Jus- Gov. Kate Brown said when making the appoint- Roberts & Deiz Award Recipient tice Nelson has also served as an adjunct professor ment, “a widely respected civil rights champion, Workplace Leader at Lewis & Clark Law School and as president of whose perspective on the bench moves us closer Queen’s Bench Honors Judges Queen’s Bench, the Portland OWLS chapter. to our shared vision of justice for all.” Contract Lawyer Service Judges’ Forum: Hon. Susan Graber United We Stand, Divided We Fall OWLS Mary Leonard Chapter Judge Beth Bagley Dispatches from the OWLS Fall CLE Lane County Event By Rebecca Guptill Chapter Summit WLS members from around the state Arnwine poignantly described how our nation’s united on Friday, October 27, for an history and resulting vestiges of past structural Career Strategies for Introverts inspiring and informative CLE program racism continue to affect our policies today. As a OSB Awards to OWLS Members O tackling several diversity-related issues. result, she warned that the legal community must Working Parents Committee Barbara Arnwine kicked off the CLE with a call remain vigilant at identifying and counteracting OGALLA Gala to action. “If we don’t affirm each other, then policies, structures, and laws that continue to tilt how can we be affirmed?” asked Arnwine. “We the scales of justice. Book Review: Just Mercy need to embrace each other. It is most critical to So where do we go from here? Can we imag- Dragonflies be unified and take action.” Arnwine stated that ine the “what ifs,” Arnwine asked: What if we Susan Pitchford this is the first time in her life that lawyers are can reenvision and reimagine the concept of being seen as the heroes in our society, describing justice? What if we built “community mediation Thank You the numerous attorneys showing up at airports centers” instead of courthouses? What if strong to help immigrants and fight racist immigration police-recruitment policies could prevent the in- policies. It is key, she said, that we ask ourselves filtration of police forces by white supremacists? what we can do, particularly as women lawyers, What if Gideon’s Promise was the norm and to move the nation forward and help to disman- better indigent defense was provided? What if tle the racism of the past and replace it with a we had more social workers than police? What if future of justice. Continued on page 6 OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS AdvanceSheet 1 WINTER 2018 President’s Message appy equity and inclusion, and to promote the New advancement of women and minorities HYear! I within our profession, the political are- hope you and na, and the judiciary. OWLS held several your families networking events throughout the state had a won- with the goal of continuing to build a President Angela Franco Lucero derful holiday legal community that is ready and willing season. to advocate OWLS’ mission. Vice President, President-Elect Amber Hollister 2017 proved Statewide, OWLS chapters have in- Secretary to be a chal- vested their time and talents to build Hon. Allison Boomer lenging year a more equitable and inclusive legal Treasurer Angela Franco Lucero for many. profession and educate Oregon lawyers Megan Burgess Headline news about access-to-justice concerns. The Historian has often left me feeling discouraged, OWLS Mary Leonard Chapter (MLC) in Maya Crawford frustrated, and sometimes helpless. As I Salem was a leader in creating a new Board Members look back on the events of this past year, CourtCare program in Marion County, a Jacqueline Alarcón Maya Crawford however, I remain optimistic and hopeful service that provides childcare to people Sara Kobak for the year ahead. I am optimistic for with business at the courthouse so that Katharine Lozano our future because of the tremendous children are not exposed to conflict and Hon. Valeri Love Aruna Masih work that has been done this year by can experience a safe, child-friendly en- Jennifer Nicholls the Oregon legal community and OWLS vironment at the courthouse. The OWLS Kathryn Olney members. While my optimism may appear MLC also partnered with the Marion Yumi O’Neil Susan Pitchford naïve, I think it more accurately reflects County Bar Association and Legal Aid Adele Ridenour my philosophy that with struggle comes Services of Oregon to help educate and Kristin Sterling strength, courage, and perseverance. serve members of the Marion County Amanda Thorpe Val Tomasi In 2017, as a nation we witnessed the community on legal remedies for immi- Gloria Trainor implementation of a strict seven-country grant families. Past Presidents travel ban, the suspension of the DACA Lane County Women Lawyers recently Laura Craska Cooper program (Deferred Action for Childhood formed a Community Building Committee Elizabeth Tedesco Milesnick Kendra Matthews Arrivals), and rollbacks on legislation designed to provide monthly low-income Kathleen Rastetter impacting women’s rights and those of legal clinics to serve their local commu- Megan Livermore the LGBTQ community. These changes nity. OWLS welcomed a new chapter this Heather L. Weigler Concetta Schwesinger directly affect Oregonians and our legal past year, located in the Columbia River Gwyneth McAlpine community. Despite these challenges, I Gorge. The new chapter, better known Heather Van Meter have witnessed our community and OWLS as “GrOWLS,” has already proven to be Laura Caldera Taylor Kellie Johnson members unite to defend the rights of a much-needed and valued source of Norma S. Freitas our citizens, teach acceptance, and help support for women judges and attorneys Kate A. Wilkinson and inspire our fellow citizens to support working in Hood River and elsewhere in Jennifer K. De Wald Sarah J. Crooks and defend the rights of all Oregonians. the Gorge. Elizabeth Schwartz OWLS members have devoted time and Queen’s Bench remains a strong fix- Lori E. Deveny energy to help with DACA Renewal Day, ture in the Portland legal community by Debra Pilcher Velure Marilyn E. Litzenberger Refugee Adjustment Day, and the Home- offering its seminal monthly lunchtime Teresa M. Kraemer less Youth Law Clinic, and to help raise programing throughout the year. In 2018, Patricia L. Heatherman funds for the Campaign for Equal Justice Queen’s Bench will focus on educating Julie Levie Caron Phylis Chadwell Myles to support Oregon’s legal aid program, our legal community on challenges affect- Helle Rode to name just a few projects. ing refugees, attorneys with disabilities, Diana Craine Kathryn M. Ricciardelli Through the hard work of OWLS children with disabilities, women of color Agnes Sowle members, committees, and chapters in politics, victims of domestic violence, Katherine H. O’Neil across the state, this past year OWLS has and others. I look forward to attending Executive Director continued to strive to meet its mission to these talks. Linda Tomassi “transform the practice of law and ensure In sum, even though 2017 brought executivedirector@ oregonwomenlawyers.org justice and equality by advancing women difficulty and disappointment, I still have Editor and minorities in the legal profession.” much to be grateful for. I remain inspired [email protected] OWLS has offered varied programing by the OWLS membership and the great www.oregonwomenlawyers.org designed to promote conversations about 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 WINTER 2018 Upcoming OWLS Events Weekend of Service with OWLS Contract Lawyers GrOWLS OWLS Working Parents Committee and Sole Practitioners Columbia River Gorge Portland Portland First Wednesdays, noon–1 p.m. Monday, January 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays: January 19, February 16, Hood River or The Dalles Community Garden Cleanup March 16, 12–1:30 p.m. Location varies. For details, contact East Portland OWLS Headquarters [email protected]. 121 SW Morrison St., Suite 1100 OWLS First Generation Joan Seitz Law Society Professionals Discussion Group OWLS Mary Leonard Chapter Roseburg Portland Pay Negotiation Panel First Tuesdays, noon Friday, January 19, noon Salem Daily Grind Café, 368 SE Jackson St.