Lifetime Service Award 2018  By Adair Law The U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society is pleased to honor Barnes H. Ellis with its  Lifetime Service Award. This article is based on research, interviews, and conversations with Barnes and his colleagues. A briefer version of this article appears in the paper Oregon Benchmarks Fall 2018 Winter 2019. Learning about the full, varied life of Barnes Ellis is like going to a large, happily provisioned picnic.  A big group of able cooks have filled several picnic tables to overflowing. Appetites are sharpened and curious for what will be served. A guest senses a certain enjoyment in the hard work that made…

By Michael Fuller 2018 marks the first year of the Oregon U.S. District Court Historical Society’s presence on social media. The first post from our Twitter account was re-tweeted and liked two dozen times by followers including Maxine Bernstein with The Oregonian, Amber Hollister with the Oregon State Bar, and the Oregon Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Consistent with the purpose of our society, our Twitter account serves to share the unique story of the U.S. District Court of Oregon with our followers through archived pictures and key dates in our history. Our social media presence now allows us to announce and better promote our upcoming oral histories and…

By Douglas Pahl The most recent USDCHS Famous Cases presentation took place on June 28, 2018, graciously hosted by Perkins Coie LLP. In 1908, the U.S. Supreme Court permitted legislation for the protection of women in the workplace.  An impressive panel, moderated by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, took on the Famous Case of Muller v. Oregon, 208 U.S. 412 (1908), in which the High Court upheld Oregon’s 1903 statute establishing a maximum 10-hour workday for women working in industrial laundries. Although limiting working hours for women was motivated by a desire to protect women, advocates for gender equity have regarded the statute and the Muller decision with disdain, as…

By Joseph Carlisle 2018 proved to be a busy and productive year for the Oral History Committee.  We weathered the departure of long-time friend and oral historian Janice Dilg, engaged two up-and-coming oral historians, and began conducting three new oral histories. Many of you are likely familiar with Jan Dilg.  For many years she has conducted numerous oral histories for the Society and she has been a familiar presence at the District Court Historical Society’s Annual Picnic and Annual Dinner.  For the last several years, Jan has been our primary oral historian, which is a testament to both her skills and to her dedication to our work. Last fall, Jan…

By Gabriela Sanchez Former Lane County Circuit Judge Kasubhai was appointed U.S. Magistrate Judge for the District of Oregon in September 2018.  Oregon Benchmarks is grateful to Ms. Sanchez for writing about her work and friendship with Judge Kasubhai. After 15 years in practice and three firms, the framed Ansel Adams photos that Mustafa T. Kasubhai gave me still hang in my office at Lane Powell PC. They remind me how Mustafa helped shape me as a lawyer during my formative years.  His lessons have served me well. I walked into the law offices of Mustafa T. Kasubhai looking for a job as a summer clerk in 2001. Back then,…