Published Quarterly by Oregon Women Lawyers Volume 23, No. 2 Spring 2012 23 years of breaking barriers 500 Celebrate Roberts, Deiz Awards 1989 -2012 By Rose Alappat n March 9, 500 Benton County Dis- people gath- trict Attorney John ered to cele- Haroldson, one of President O brate the 20th annual many colleagues who Heather L. Weigler Justice Betty Roberts wrote in support of Vice President, President-Elect Megan Livermore and Judge Mercedes Judge Lopez’s nomi- Deiz Awards. The nation: “While I’m Secretary Kendra Matthews awards were espe- certain that Judge Treasurer cially poignant as at- Lopez was not aware Kathleen J. Rastetter tendees remembered of the important role Historian the passing of Justice he played for me as a Elizabeth Tedesco Milesnick Betty Roberts in June mentor, his influence Board Members 2011. became evident. I Sally Anderson-Hansell This year, the Justice chose to remain in Hon. Frances Burge Betty Roberts Award Oregon and with the Megan Burgess Photo by Jodee Jackson Laura Craska Cooper was presented to Or- Judge Angel Lopez and Justice Virginia Linder beliefs inspired by Gina Eiben egon Supreme Court Judge Lopez, I went Dana Forman Amber Hollister Justice Virginia Linder, and the Judge Mercedes on to become Oregon’s first Hispanic district Angela Franco Lucero Deiz Award was presented to Multnomah County attorney.” Banafsheh Violet Nazari Circuit Court Judge Angel Lopez. Judge Lopez developed his appreciation for the Hon. Julia Philbrook Shannon Reel The sold-out Roberts-Deiz Awards Dinner was law during an especially chaotic time in his child- Cassandra SkinnerLopata held for the first time in the elegant setting of hood. As a young child, he saw his neighborhood Hon. Jill Tanner the Nines Hotel Ballroom in Portland. The eve- suffer through the Watts riots. He remembers the Gloria Trainer Heather Walloch ning began with the OWLS Foundation’s silent destruction of his local post office and library, Hon. Youlee You auction. OWLS members and friends enjoyed the and the helicopters enforcing curfew. He real- Past Presidents new venue while socializing over drinks and spa ized that even though he and his family lived in Concetta Schwesinger packages. The celebration then transitioned to poverty, they still had something to lose. That Gwyneth McAlpine Heather Van Meter dinner, which began with a concert by the Aurora experience, and early guidance from mentors, Laura Caldera Taylor Chorus honoring OWLS’ founders. inspired him to become an attorney. Kellie Johnson During dinner, OWLS President Heather Judge Lopez has advanced the Oregon State Norma S. Freitas Kate A. Wilkinson Weigler thanked the dinner sponsors, including Bar’s diversity efforts by, among other activities, Jennifer K. De Wald title sponsor Stoel Rives, and recognized the dis- serving as one of the first directors of the OSB’s Sarah J. Crooks tinguished judges, political leaders, candidates for Affirmative Action Program and joining the Elizabeth Schwartz Lori E. Deveny public office, and guests in attendance, including steering committee for the 2011 Convocation on Debra Pilcher Velure members of Betty Roberts’s family. Equality. As a judge, he aims to challenge stereo- Marilyn E. Litzenberger The Judge Mercedes Deiz Award was then types about the ability and ambition of people, Teresa M. Kraemer Patricia L. Heatherman presented to the Honorable Angel Lopez. The especially children, who live in poverty. Julie Levie Caron award recognizes an individual who has made an During his remarks, Judge Lopez noted, “There Phylis Chadwell Myles Helle Rode outstanding contribution to promoting minori- are many people in this country who believe that Diana Craine ties in the legal profession and the community. poor people—and that minority people—are stu- Kathryn M. Ricciardelli The presenter, Multnomah County Circuit Court pid and inadequate and get what they deserve. Agnes Sowle Katherine H. O’Neil Judge Richard Baldwin, praised, among other Standing before you tonight is a poor person, a accomplishments, Judge Lopez’s early work rep- person with English as a second language, who Executive Director Linda Tomassi, 503.595.7831 resenting Spanish-speaking clients and inspiring was given the opportunities and is not stupid, and [email protected] fellow Hispanic attorneys. Judge Baldwin quoted Continued on page 4 AdvanceSheet Editor Elise Gautier, 503.292.2893 [email protected] Q & A of candidates on pages 6–9 www.oregonwomenlawyers.org OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS AdvanceSheet 1 SPRING 2012 President’s Message OWLS Members in ver the past year as OWLS president, I’ve learned Contested Races a lot. Those lessons haven’t always been easy, but lease see pages 6–9 for information OI suppose nothing really worth learning ever is. on the candidates for position 3 on I’d like to take this opportunity to share some of those Pthe Oregon Supreme Court and the lessons with you, to acknowledge the many teachers I’ve candidates for attorney general, all of encountered along the way (some more nurturing than whom are OWLS members. others, but all powerful educators), and to thank OWLS The following OWLS members are and its members for the opportunity to stretch myself and running in other contested races. grow as OWLS president. Timothy Volpert is in a three-way race for a seat on the Oregon Court of Ap- 1. You can have it all, just not at the same time. peals, position 6. I had heard this before, but I never fully appreciated it Beth Bagley, a supervising attorney Heather L. Weigler until I became a mom. That happened two months before in the Deschutes County District Attor- I became OWLS president, and, quite frankly, I don’t know ney’s Office, is in a three-way race for what on earth I was thinking. If I hadn’t been able to negotiate for a reduced work a seat on the bench in the 11th district, schedule, hand off committee chair assignments, and lean heavily on others, I wouldn’t position 2. have been able to make it all work, which leads me to lesson number two. J. Channing Bennett, a shareholder with Garrett Hemann Robertson in Salem, 2. You can’t do it alone. is in a two-way race for a seat on the Thank goodness for an active and engaged OWLS executive committee, an out- bench in the third district, position 11. standing staff, an understanding boss, a supportive partner at home, and a host of Victory Walker, an attorney with South- ern Oregon Public Defenders, is running incredibly dedicated OWLS members who volunteer their time and energy to support for a seat on the bench in the 14th district, OWLS’ mission. If I tried to thank everyone who deserves it, I would fill this whole position 2, against one challenger. newsletter, but I’d like to mention a special few. President-elect Megan Livermore Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici often made trips up to Portland from Eugene to attend after-hours events so I could (D) is the in- be home with my new baby. Cashauna Hill, Heather Van Meter, and Kate Wilkinson cumbent in stepped in to lead the OWLS judicial work group, which has done remarkable work the race to this past year to help our members seek judicial positions. Fall CLE committee co-chair represent Or- Judge Jill Tanner and the Fall CLE committee members made it possible for me to egon’s first spend the afternoon with Anita Hill and 300 OWLS members and make it home for congressional baby bedtime. Amber Hollister, Stephanie Corey, and the members of the Roberts- district. She Deiz Awards Dinner committee made my last public evening as OWLS president a does not face smashing success. And Executive Director Linda Tomassi has done more for me this an opponent year than I can possibly recount in sentence form. Behind every great woman are in the May lots of other even greater women, which leads me to lesson number three. Democratic primary, but 3. We are better together. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, will face the an OWLS member As you may have already gathered, this year was challenging for me in many ways. winner of the But it has also been indescribably rewarding. One of the most rewarding moments Republican primary in the November was also the most difficult, requiring me to navigate a difference of strong opinions general election. on a topic of great importance to our organization and our mission. I learned from Secretary of State Kate Brown (D), has that experience that many small voices can be louder than a bully pulpit, but that two challengers for her position, one the key is speaking as one. Democrat and one Republican. That is why I believe in OWLS and its mission. This organization has supported Beth Heckert, the chief deputy district women and minority lawyers’ efforts to accomplish great things in Oregon, and attorney in the Jackson County District I’m proud to be a part of a legal community that listens to our voices. There is still Attorney’s Office, is in a three-way race much work to do to transform the practice of law and ensure justice and equality for Jackson County district attorney. by advancing women and minorities in the legal profession, but I am thankful to Two of the four people running for have been a part of advancing that mission over the past five years. I look forward state representative in the 36th district to our future adventures together, and I wish the best of luck to our incoming board are OWLS members. Sharon Meieran, and president! MD, JD (D) is an emergency physician, and Jennifer Williamson (D) is a lawyer working for an international education research nonprofit.