The U.S. DistricT coUrT of oregon historical SocieTy newSletter The Hon. Hernández and Simon Sworn In Oregon Welcomes New Federal Judges by Adair Law he investiture of Oregon’s 27th and 28th Senate on a 64 to 35 vote, a tally said to hang on Tfederal judges, the Hon. Marco Hernández a wall in his chambers. Senator Wyden noted that and the Hon. Michael Simon, respectively, took he was pleased to see two outstanding individuals place on October 14, a fine day at the Mark O. join the federal bench. Hatfield Courthouse. They fill the seats of Judge Senator Jeff Merkley noted that the first political Garr King and Judge Ancer Haggerty, who are campaign he had volunteered on was one for Betty on senior status. Roberts, and that he had worked with Suzanne Chief Judge Ann Aiken, wearing a robe that Bonamici, Judge Simon’s wife, in the Oregon leg- had been given to her by the family of the late islature. He observed that the current number of Betty Roberts (see page 9), noted that the day of vacancies on the federal bench “confound rather investiture is “a profoundly moving day, one a than serve justice” and that we need to have more judge never forgets.” people who have “traveled different journeys” on Oregon’s U.S. Senators were the first to speak. the bench. Senior Senator Ron Wyden noted that the day Chief Judge Aiken introduced Judge Alan Bone- had been a long time in coming, and joked that brake, a senior judge for the Washington County “these two men were nominated to participate in Circuit Court, as a man who has seen everything the longest running battle since the Trojan War, and ruled on everything a judge can rule on. He the Senate confirmation process.” He noted that has been a mentor and inspiration to Judge Hernán- Marco Hernández was nominated by two presi- dez, who referred ot Judge Bonebrake as a judicial dents (Presidents Bush and Obama) from two Continue on page 3 different parties, and sponsored by three sena- tors from two different parties, (Wyden, Gordon Smith, and Jeff Merkley) in the 110th and 111th Congress. He was confirmed on February 7, 2011. (See Oregon Benchmarks, Spring 2011.) Senator Wyden came to know Michael Simon as a busy and well-respected trial attorney at Perkins Coie and as an engaged volunteer with the Classroom Law Project, Waverly Children’s Home “and through work at our temple,” Con- gregation Beth Israel. Judge Simon’s path to con- firmation was somewhat less arduous. He was originally nominated in 2010 and approved by the Judiciary Committee. His nomination died when the Senate failed to bring it to the floor for a vote before year’s end. He was re-nominated Chief Judge Ann Aiken stands with Judges Marco by President Barack Obama early this year and Hernández and Michael Simon after their investiture. again endorsed by the committee. He cleared the Photo by Chad Tucker Fall 2011 1 President’s Message Thomas Renn is Oregon’s Newest It has been an honor to serve as president of the U.S. District Bankruptcy Judge Court of Oregon Historical Society this year and I have been By Adair Law fortunate to work with dedicated board members who have ortland attorney Thomas Renn worked tirelessly on the Society’s projects. Ptook his oath of office on Friday, As the year winds down, the Society would like to take the October 28, 2011 to serve as a judge opportunity to acknowledge the service of the senior judges for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the of the U.S. District Court of Oregon. These individuals have District of Oregon. He fills the seat left served the bench and bar for numerous years and we owe a vacant when Judge Albert Radcliffe debt of gratitude to their public service. In particular, during died suddenly on January 19, 2011. the district court’s recent judicial vacancies, the senior judges His chambers will be in Eugene. provided an invaluable service in handling cases on the district court’s busy A native of Minneapolis, Judge docket. To that end, the Society is working on two projects to honor their Renn received his B.A. from Gusta- years of service, which continue to this day. vus Adolphus College in 1981, where First, the Society and the Oregon Chapter of the Federal Bar Association he graduated magna cum laude, and will jointly sponsor a ceremony honoring the district court’s senior judges his J.D. from on December 5, 2011, at 3:00 p.m. in the Pioneer Courthouse. There will the University be a short program highlighting the judicial career of each currently serv- of Minnesota ing senior judge, which includes Senior Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Law School in Judges Alfred Goodwin, Edward Leavy, and Otto Skopil; Senior District 1984. Court Judges Owen Panner, James Redden, Malcolm Marsh, Robert E. Judge Renn Jones, Ancer Haggerty, Garr King, and Michael Hogan; Senior Magis- has worked trate Judges John Cooney and John Jelderks; and Senior Bankruptcy Judge as Chapter 7 Henry L. Hess, Jr. The program will also include a remembrance of U.S. panel trustee District Court Judge Helen J. Frye, Magistrate Judge Donald Ashmans- in the Portland Thomas Renn kas, and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Albert Radcliffe. The ceremony will be division of the followed by refreshments and a social hour. We hope you will join us in Oregon Bankruptcy Court since honoring the District Court’s Senior Judges at this special event. Please 2002. He has handled more than call 503-326-8150 to R.S.V.P. 14,200 cases filed for individuals, Second, the Society is beginning efforts to assist in the production of joint filers and businesses. His duties paintings of the District Court’s Senior Judges to forever memorialize their have included turning the non-exempt contributions to the District Court. These paintings will be hung in the assets of estates into funds that can be courtrooms in which they served. distributed to creditors; investigating The Society is grateful for the contributions of the District Court’s debtors’ financial affairs; liquidating Senior Judges and is privileged to participate in these projects honoring assets; examining creditors’ claims; their years of service. and investigating bankruptcy fraud – Kari Furnanz and crimes. He also has been a dis- bursing agent in Chapter 11 cases. Before joining the trustee panel, Judge Renn practiced law for 15 years, representing debtors, creditors and CALENDAR trustees in business and consumer cases under all major chapters of December 5, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Honoring Senior Judges. a joint celebration bankruptcy. He was an adjunct pro- by the Society and the Oregon Chapter of the Federal Bar Associations, Pioneer fessor at Lewis and Clark Law School Courthouse, 700 SW Sixth Avenue. where he taught advanced bankruptcy RSVP 503-326-8150. For more information, visit www.usdchs.org from 1989-94. He wrote the Wiley Bankruptcy Law Update in 1995, 1996, and 1997. 2 U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society ments would be bittersweet. On the hitchhike from California to Oregon New Federal Judges bitter side, courthouses are closing to look for new work. Judge Hernán- continued from page 1 around the country. Supreme Court dez made a point of saying, “Mom, hero during his Senate confirmation Chief Justice John Roberts has recog- it turned out okay.” hearings. Judge Bonebrake noted with nized judicial emergencies throughout After arriving in Oregon, Hernán- amusement that while some may have the country. There are currently 92 dez was hitchhiking from Beaverton heard about Judge Hernández’s con- federal vacancies, with the oldest from to Hillsboro when Janet Freeman, a firmation through a tweet, a text, or 2004. There are now 52 nominations woman who worked for the Hillsboro an email, he received a phone call. pending. On the sweet side, the merits School District and had never picked “Bonebrake, this is Marco. You’re of honest men and women are being up a hitchhiker before, stopped to going to need to buy a new suit.” recognized. Chief Justice De Muniz give him a ride. She wanted to know Wearing that new suit with panache, arranged his schedule so he was able why he wasn’t in school. Through Judge Bonebrake commented on how to attend the hearings for both Judges their conversation, she connected him satisfying it was “to see people with Hernández and Simon. with teachers, friends, and colleagues intelligence, common sense, and dili- Chief Judge Ann Aiken adminis- who helped him find his own path in gence join the federal bench.” tered the oath of office and MaryBeth Oregon. Judge Hernández noted that While doing research on Judge Hernández and Suzanne Bonamici “Her random decision to give me a Michael Simon to put together her assisted their husbands in putting on ride ended here.” comments for the investiture, Chief their robes. Judge Michael Simon spoke of his Judge Aiken commented to a col- In making his remarks, Judge sincere appreciation of the hard work, league that Paul Fortino and his for- Hernández started out by saying: “I perseverance, and persuasiveness of mer Perkins Coie colleague Michael apologize in advance for the Academy Oregon’s U.S. Senators. He extended Simon were men of very different Award sound of what I have to say thanks to his mother, Arlene Simon, temperaments. The colleague agreed today.” He extended his thanks to who was present. He thanked Paul noting that the two men were “The Judge Alan Bonebrake, “who taught Fortino, who hired him at Perkins Odd Couple of complex litigation.” me that most problems that emerge Coie more than 25 years ago.