By Kathryn Roberts On April 10, the USDCHS welcomed Prof. Joshua C. Tate to the Hatfield Courthouse for his presentation “Magna Carta and the Charter of the Forest.”  Professor Tate teaches at the SMU Dedman School of Law in Dallas. The presentation to introduced and investigated the Charter of the Forest, a document that, although roughly contemporaneous to Magna Carta (1215), receives far less attention.  Promulgated in 1217, the Charter of the Forest governed matters associated with the royal forest lands under King John.  At the time, the royal forest comprised approximately one-third of the land in England.  The charter had three primary aims; reduce the overall area of the royal…

By Jeanne Sinnott The investiture of our newest bankruptcy judge for the District of Oregon, Judge David W. Hercher, took place on March 24, 2017, at the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland.  Judge Hercher fills the Portland position previously held by Judge Randall L. Dunn. The Clerk of the Court, Charlene M. Hiss, opened the program. Judge Edward Leavy then gave the remarks from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and emphasized that bankruptcy judges are chosen on merit, commenting that they are often happy judges who have actually worked in their field.  Chief Judge Michael Mosman, then gave comments from the District Court, joking that it was…

By Adair Law Jewel and Ron Lansing are the second couple to receive the LSA after the late Tom and Caroline Stoel in 2006. This article is based on archives, writings, and conversations with Jewel and Ron Lansing as well as research and contributions by their children Mark, Alyse, and Annette. Through the conduct of their professional and personal lives, Jewel and Ron Lansing have been the source of education and inspiration for thousands with their contributions in teaching, political office, and their respective written works. Jewel Anne Beck was born in May 1930 to Lars and Julia Beck on the Flathead Reservation in western Montana. She joined two brothers…

By Hon. Peter McKittrick The Hon. Randall L. Dunn will be retiring in January 2017 after 18 years of service as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge. Judge Dunn is known for his service to his colleagues nationally, his tenure on the 9th Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP), and his quick wit on the bench. Judge Dunn earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, and received his Juris Doctor from Stanford in 1975. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Dunn was a partner in the Portland-based firm Landye Bennett Blumstein. His practice focused on commercial bankruptcy, business transactions, and securities. Judge Dunn brought a wealth of practical experience in both bankruptcy and…

By Mary Anne Anderson, USDCHS board member In Spring 2013, Oregon Benchmarks noted that 114 women had served or were serving as state and federal judges in Oregon.  Three years later that number has increased to 137 women who have served (or will begin serving in 2017) in 176 different judicial offices in Oregon. Would it surprise you to learn that only six of the 103 judges that have served on the Oregon Supreme Court in its 150+ year history—and only 12 of the 50 judges to serve on the Oregon Court of Appeals—have been women?  Over the past 15 years, the face of the Oregon judiciary has slowly shifted. …