PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS VOLUME 22, No. 4 FALL 2011 22 jean of barriers Remembering Betty Roberts: For Good 7 989-20 7 / By Diane Rynerson and Norma S. Freitas OREGOmmN ormer Oregon Supreme Court Justice Betty Roberts died peacefully women at home, surrounded by her family, on a sunny Saturday afternoon, LAWYERS" June 25, 2011. She was 88. President F I've heard it said that people come into our lives fora reason, bring- Heather L Weigler ing something we must learn, and we are led to those who help us Vice President, President-Elect most to grow if we let them, and we help them in return. * Megan Livermore Secretary The song "For Good" from the musical Wicked touched just the right Cashauna Hill note for those gathered at Portland State University on July 28 to cel- Treasurer ebrate the life of Betty Roberts. Her dear friend Ann Aiken, chief judge Kathleen J. Rastetter of the US District Court for the District of Oregon, introduced the song, Historian saying, "It is only through dedicating our lives to the lives of others that Kendra Matthews we can work for good in this world. The song dedicated for today's Board Members service was chosen by Betty herself. She chose it to send a message: That in reaching out to touch Sally Anderson-Hansell each of your lives, she ended up gaining so much more—you touched her life in return. And that Hon. Frances Burge Megan Burgess is how you must keep living. Carry Betty's torch—light others' torches—it is her charge to all of us: Bonnie Cafferky Carter Start a bonfire!" Laura Craska Cooper Dana Forman As Portland State Vice Provost Melody Rose said, "So much of Betty's life was spent in public service Gina Hagedorn that is widely known and deeply appreciated—these are the contributions that come readily to mind Amber Hollister in recent tributes to this unique and talented woman. But some of her greatest accomplishments Elizabeth Tedesco Milesnick Hon. Julia Philbrook were rarely chronicled because they were performed quietly, and often without attribution." Cassandra SkinnerLopata For Oregon Women Lawyers, Betty Roberts's public accomplishments had great significance: as a Shannon Reel prominent legislator, a savvy campaigner, Oregon's first female appellate judge, and an early advocate Hon. Jill Tanner Continued on page 12 Gloria Trainor Heather Walloch Hon. Youlee You Past Presidents Anita Hill Speaks at OWLS Fall CLE Concetta Schwesinger Gwyneth McAlpine By Ellen Klem Heather Van Meter Laura Caldera Taylor Kellie Johnson Norma S. Freitas Kate A. Wilkinson Jennifer K. De Wald Sarah J. Crooks Elizabeth Schwartz Lori E. Deveny Debra Pilcher Velure Marilyn E. Litzenberger Teresa M. Kraemer Patricia L. Heatherman The panel at the OWLS Fall CLE on October 14 (left to right): Julie Levie Caron Judge Adrienne Nelson, Professor Anita Hill, Diane Schwartz Sykes Phylis Chadwell Myles Helle Rode n 1991, Anita Hill's courageous testimony On October 14, OWLS welcomed Professor Hill Diana Craine Kathryn M. Ricciardelli during the Clarence Thomas confirmation to Portland to deliver an inspirational keynote Agnes Sowle Ihearings sparked a national conversation address at the OWLS Fall CLE, held in downtown Katherine H. O'Neil about sexual harassment and women's equality Portland and attended by nearly 300 people. Executive Director in politics and the workplace. Today, Anita Hill Before Professor Hill delivered her remarks, Linda Tomassi, 503.595.7831 [email protected] is a professor of social policy, law, and women's the Honorable Jill Tanner of the Oregon Tax AdvanceSheet Editor studies at Brandeis University. Her new book, Court presented the OWLS Katherine H. O'Neil EliseGautier, 503.292.2893 Reimagining Equality: Stories of Gender, Race, Volunteer Service Award to Terri Kraemer. Terri [email protected] and Finding Home, was published in October. was honored for her steadfast dedication and www.oregonwomenlawyers.org Continued on page 14 OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS Arkanff.Ueet FALL 2011 Remembering Betty Roberts continued from page 1 of alterna- tive dispute resolution, Betty Rob- erts proved it could be done. Ev- ery bit as important, r though, Among the women judges for whom Justice Betty Roberts (at far right) paved the way (from left): Justice Martha Walters, Judge Ellen Rosenblum, Judge Susan Graber, Chief Judge Mary Deits, was her Justice Virginia Under, Judge Darleen Ortega, Justice Susan Leeson quiet work behind the scenes, offering wise counsel, of Appeals, has called her "the mother did not sit well with Betty, so when she whether cautionary or encouraging, to of Oregon women lawyers and judges gave the luncheon keynote, she threw Oregon Women Lawyers and the Oregon and our mentor-in-chief." Former Chief out her prepared remarks and spoke Women Lawyers Foundation, as well Judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals about attitudes about women in the as her absolute embrace of all women Mary Deits said that arguing cases before courtroom. "Now take Gini Linder's green lawyers and law students who hoped to Judge Roberts showed her that a woman dress. That's perfectly appropriate court work "for good." could be an appellate judge. When Mary wear." It was the first time she realized Of the hundreds of people who at- Deits went on the bench herself, Betty that Betty had noticed her. tended her memorial service and the Roberts was the first person to call to Virginia Linder later asked Betty for thousands more who couldn't be there offer candid, blunt, humorous, and very her support when she put her name in but wanted to be, a great percentage useful advice. for the Oregon Court of Appeals, telling counted her as a friend. Her genuine According to Oregon Court of Appeals her she was a lesbian at the same time. interest in the lives of others quickly Judge Darleen Ortega, "Her example of Justice Linder says that when she decided transcended any barriers. Although she courage and grace under tremendous to run for the Oregon Supreme Court, always had advice, she also readily sought pressure literally kept me from giving "Betty grabbed my hand and jumped the ideas of others. Her almost boundless up early in my career—and her guid- out with me." energy and her desire to keep learning ance and encouragement has cheered Betty Roberts lived her life with pur- and growing kept her connected with a and fortified me in the years since I have pose. She taught us how to live, and she wide and varied circle of friends. been a judge." taught us how to die. She acknowledged One of the areas in which she had the In 2002, when Justice Susan Leeson that pulmonary fibrosis was a fatal dis- greatest influence was in getting more worried that leaving the Oregon Supreme ease, but she was engaged in life until women on the bench, then encouraging Court for health reasons might be seen the very end. Whether we knew her as a and supporting them once they were as a betrayal to women, as she was the symbol of women's achievement, a role there. Her help was hands-on and per- only woman on the court, just as Betty model, an inspiring speaker, a teacher, a sonal, whether it was public or behind Roberts had been, she said that the ques- friend, or a treasured confidante, each the scenes: walking door to door with tion was always "WWBRD?—What Would member of Oregon Women Lawyers can Marilyn Litzenberger to talk with voters Betty Roberts Do?" She phoned her and say, "Because I knew you I have been in her successful 2002 campaign for the was told, "Quit, get well, and don't ever changed for good."* Multnomah County Circuit Court, asking look back!" For more on the life of Betty Roberts, former Gov. Mark Hatfield to keynote The very first woman lawyer whom read her memoir, With Grit and By Grace: the Oregon Women Lawyers Founda- Oregon Supreme Court Justice Virginia Breaking Trails in Politics and Law (Or- tion's 2001 celebration of 40 consecutive Linder ever met was Betty Roberts, then egon State University Press, 2008) and years of women judges on the Oregon a gubernatorial candidate campaigning her 2005 oral history, taken by OWLS' circuit court bench, or spending hours at Southern Oregon College. Later, when founding president, Katherine O'Neil, on the phone answering questions from she was in law school, seeing Betty on available at www.americanbar.org/ attorneys interested in becoming judges. the bench gave her an ecstatic moment groups/sen iorjawyers/pages/roberts. Portland attorney Kathryn Root recalls of recognition: "It gave me my sense of html. A video of her memorial service working with Betty Roberts and Multno- place in the courtroom. I knew I could is at http://echo360.pdx.edu/ess/echo/ mah County Circuit Court Judge Mercedes belong there." presentation/4c31aelb-9a02-45ec-a06b- Deiz in 1989 to organize OWLS' first- When Virginia Linder began doing 4d460e6850ae. ever "How to Become a Judge" seminar, appellate work for the Oregon Depart- * This quotation is from the song "For thereby helping to demystify a process ment of Justice, she didn't have much Good" from the musical Wicked, music and that was then not widely understood. money for an extensive wardrobe. She lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Up until Betty's death, every woman spent $20 (a large sum for her at that Diane Rynerson is the executive director who followed her on the Oregon appel- time) on a green dress to wear for oral of the National Conference of Women's late bench, from Susan Graber to Lynn argument.