Remembering Judge Garr M. King: “Unquestionably and Eminently Qualified”
By Carra Sahler When I try to conjure up an image that captures what it is to have “good judicial temperament” it is Judge Garr M. King who comes to mind. A man who embodied kindness and thoughtfulness, he was decisive, fair, diligent, and empathetic as well. I had the pleasure and joy of working for Judge King for 12 years, nearly two-thirds of his service on the federal bench. His service started with his appointment by President Clinton in 1998 and ended with his death on February 5, 2019. Those who knew him called him Mike—asking for Garr on the phone marked the caller as a stranger. But…
A Double Portrait Unveiling and Honoring the Society’s Longtime Historian
By Adair Law There was warm weather and warmth of feeling in evidence when family and friends gathered in Courtroom 9A of the Hatfield Courthouse on May 13, 2019 to unveil portraits of U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Papak and U.S. District Judge Anna Brown, as well as to honor the work of historian Janice Dilg. Under the gaze (via separate portraits) of U.S. District Judges James Redden and the late Garr King, USDCHS President Julie Engbloom welcomed a packed courtroom. Kerry Tymchuk, Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society, introduced Janice Dilg. He reminded the crowd, that, in the words of historian and writer David McCullough, “History is who we…
Barnes H. Ellis “The role of a lawyer is to be a good citizen”
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…
Sharing Our History through Social Media
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…
Oregon Attorney General Moderates Famous Cases Panel
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…