List of Oregon judges


This is a list of Oregon judges that have served within the confines of the United States in the state of Oregon, as well as people from Oregon that have served in federal courts outside of the state. These include judges that served prior to statehood on February 14, 1859, including the judges of the Provisional Government of Oregon. Those listed include judges of the Oregon Supreme Court, the Oregon Tax Court, and the Oregon Court of Appeals at the state level. Judges for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon and judges from Oregon that have served on other federal courts are also listed. The judges of the Oregon circuit courts, who generally serve a single county, are not listed.

Pre-Provisional Government

is recorded to have served as a judge prior to the establishment of the Provisional Government of Oregon.
NameYearsNotes
John Kirk Townsend1835Oversaw murder trial of Thomas J. Hubbard at Fort William.

Provisional Government

Formation process of the Provisional Government

No formal judicial system existed in the region prior to February 18, 1841, when settlers at the Champoeg Meetings, in their effort to form a Provisional Government, elected Babcock as Supreme Judge as well as four Justices of the peace and a High Sheriff as minor executive position, while they failed to establish the introduction of a governor because of discontent by French-Canadian settlers. That meant that Babcock also acted as executive and law-maker until the establishment of an Executive Committee in 1843.
NameYearsNotes
Ira BabcockFebruary 18, 1841 – May 2, 1843Elected at Champoeg Meetings to be the first Supreme Judge with probate powers, dealt with Ewing Young estate.

Creation of the Provisional Government

On May 2, 1843, the Provisional Government of Oregon was finally created through a narrow 52–50 vote under the English American and French Canadian settlers. This government constructed a judicial system headed by a single Supreme Judge.
NameYearsNotes
Albert E. WilsonJuly 5, 1843 Elected at Champoeg Meetings, but declined to serve.
Osborne RussellOctober 2, 1843 – May 14, 1844Served as circuit judge and presiding judge
Ira L. BabcockJune 27, 1844 – November 11, 1844Served as circuit judge and presiding judge
James W. NesmithDecember 25, 1844 – August 9, 1845Appointed by Executive Committee before election in 1845, served as circuit judge and presiding judge.
Nathaniel FordAugust 9, 1845 Elected by Provisional Legislature, but declined to serve.
Peter Hardeman BurnettSeptember 6, 1845 – December 29, 1846Elected by legislature as supreme judge.
J. Quinn ThorntonFebruary 20, 1847 – November 9, 1847Appointed by Governor George Abernethy as supreme judge.
Columbia LancasterNovember 30, 1847 – April 9, 1849Appointed by Governor George Abernethy as supreme judge.
Asa Lovejoyno recordElected by Provisional Legislature on February 16, 1849 as supreme judge.

Oregon Supreme Court

The Oregon Territory was created in 1848 by the United States Congress. Congress then created a three judge supreme court for the territory. In 1859, the territory became the state of Oregon, with the Oregon Supreme Court remaining, eventually expanded to seven justices.
OrderNameYears on the CourtNotes
1.William P. Bryant1848–1850Appointed by U.S. President, chief justice 1848–1850.
2.Orville C. Pratt1848–1852Appointed by U.S. President.
3.Thomas Nelson1850–1853Appointed by U.S. President, chief justice 1850–1853.
4.William Strong1850–1853Appointed by U.S. President.
5.George Henry Williams1853–1858Appointed by U.S. President, chief justice 1853–1858.
6.Cyrus Olney1853–1858Appointed by U.S. President.
7.Matthew Deady1853–1859Appointed by U.S. President.
8.Obadiah B. McFadden1853–1854Appointed by U.S. President.
9.Reuben P. Boise1858–1870, 1876–1880Appointed by U.S. President in 1858, elected in 1859, 1876. Appointed by Governor 1878. Chief justice 1862–1864, 1867–1870.
10.Aaron E. Wait1859–1862Elected in 1858, chief justice 1859–1862.
11.Riley E. Stratton1859–1866Elected in 1858, died in office December 26, 1866.
12.Paine Page Prim1859–1880Appointed by Governor in 1859 and 1878, elected 1860, 1866, 1872. Chief justice 1864–1866, 1870–1872, and 1876–1878.
13.William W. Page1862Appointed by Governor.
14.Erasmus D. Shattuck1862–1867, 1874–1878Elected in 1862, 1874. Chief justice 1866–1867.
15.Joseph G. Wilson1862–1870Appointed by Governor in 1862, elected 1864.
16.Alonzo A. Skinner1866–1867Appointed by Governor in 1866.
17.William W. Upton1867–1874Appointed by Governor 1867, elected in 1868. Chief justice 1872–1874.
18.John Kelsay1868–1870Elected in 1868.
19.Benoni Whitten1870Appointed by Governor in 1870.
20.Lewis Linn McArthur1870–1878Elected in 1870 and 1876.
21.Andrew J. Thayer1870–1873Elected in 1870, died in office April 26, 1873.
22.Benjamin F. Bonham1870–1876Elected in 1870. Chief justice 1874–1876.
23.Lafayette F. Moser1873–1874Appointed by Governor in May 1873.
24.John Burnett1874–1876Elected in 1874.
25.James F. Watson1876–1878Elected in 1876.
26.James Kerr Kelly1878–1880Appointed by Governor in 1878. Chief justice 1878–1880.
27.William Paine Lord1880–1894Elected in 1880, 1882, and 1888. Chief justice 1880–1882, 1886–1888, and 1892–1894.
28.Edward B. Watson1880–1884Elected in 1880. Chief justice 1882–1884.
29.John B. Waldo1880–1886Elected in 1880. Chief justice 1884–1886.
30.William Wallace Thayer1884–1890Elected in 1884. Chief justice 1888–1890.
31.Reuben S. Strahan1886–1892Elected in 1886. Chief justice 1890–1892.
32.Robert S. Bean1890–1909Elected in 1890, 1896, 1902, 1908. Chief justice 1894–1896, 1900–1902, and 1905–1909.
33.Frank A. Moore1892–1918Elected in 1892, 1898, 1904, 1910, 1916. Chief justice 1896–1898, 1902–1905, 1909–1911, and 1915–1917. Died in office September 25, 1918.
34.Charles E. Wolverton1894–1905Elected in 1894 and 1900. Chief justice 1898–1900, and 1905.
35.Thomas G. Hailey1905–1907Appointed by Governor in 1905.
36.Robert Eakin1907–1917Elected in 1906 and 1912. Chief justice 1911–1913.
37.William R. King1909–1911Appointed by Governor in 1909.
38.Woodson T. Slater1909–1911Appointed by Governor in 1909.
39.Thomas A. McBride1909–1930Appointed by Governor in 1909, elected in 1914, 1920, and 1926. Died in office September 9, 1930. Chief justice 1913–1915, 1917–1921, and 1923–1927.
40.Henry J. Bean1911–1941Elected in 1910, 1914, 1920, 1926, 1932, and 1938. Died in office May 8, 1941. Chief justice 1931–1933 and 1937–1939.
41.George H. Burnett1911–1927Elected in 1910, 1916, and 1922. Died in office September 10, 1927. Chief justice 1921–1923, and 1927.
42.Charles L. McNary1913–1915Appointed in 1913.
43.William Marion Ramsey1913–1915Appointed in 1913.
44.Henry L. Benson1915–1921Elected in 1914, 1920. Died in office October 16, 1921.
45.Lawrence T. Harris1915–1924Elected in 1914 and 1920.
46.Wallace McCamant1917–1918Appointed by Governor in 1917.
47.Charles A. Johns1918–1921Appointed by Governor in 1918. Elected in 1918.
48.Conrad P. Olson1918–1919Appointed by Governor in 1918.
49.Alfred S. Bennett1919–1920Elected in 1918.
50.George M. Brown1920–1933Appointed by Governor in 1920. Elected in 1920 and 1926.
51.John McCourt1921–1924Appointed by Governor in 1921. Elected in 1922. Died in office September 12, 1924.
52.John L. Rand1921–1942Appointed by Governor in 1921. Elected in 1922, 1928, 1934, and 1940. Died in office November 19, 1942. Chief justice 1927–1929, 1933–1935, and 1939–1941.
53.Oliver P. Coshow1924–1931Appointed by Governor in 1924. Elected in 1924. Chief justice 1929–1931.
54.Martin L. Pipes1924Appointed by Governor in 1924.
55.Harry H. Belt1925–1950Elected in 1924, 1930, 1936, 1942, 1948. Chief justice 1945–1947. Died in office August 6, 1950.
56.George Rossman1927–1965Appointed by Governor in 1927. Elected in 1928, 1934, 1940, 1946, 1952, and 1958. Chief justice 1947–1949.
57.Percy R. Kelly1930–1949Appointed by Governor in 1930. Elected in 1930, 1936, 1942, and 1948. Chief justice 1941–1943. Died in office June 14, 1949.
58.James U. Campbell1931–1937Elected in 1930 and 1936. Chief justice 1935–1937.
Died in office July 16, 1937.
59.John O. Bailey1933–1950Elected in 1932, 1938, and 1944. Chief justice 1943–1945
60.Hall S. Lusk1937–1960, 1961–1968Appointed by Governor in 1937. Elected in 1938, 1944, 1950, 1956. Temporary service from 1961–1968. Chief justice 1949–1951.
61.James T. Brand1941–1958Appointed by Governor in 1941. Elected in 1942, 1948 and 1952. Chief justice 1951–1953.
62.Arthur D. Hay1942–1952Appointed by Governor in 1942. Elected in 1944 and 1950. Died in office December 19, 1952.
Walter C. Winslow1947–1948Served as judge pro tempore while Brand served as war crimes judge following World War II.
63.E. M. Page1949-1950Appointed by Governor in 1949.
64.Earl C. Latourette1950–1956Appointed by Governor in 1950. Elected in 1950. Chief justice 1953–1955. Died in office August 18, 1956.
65.Harold J. Warner1950–1963Appointed by Governor in 1950. Elected in 1950 and 1956. Chief justice 1955–1957.
66.Walter L. Tooze1950–1956Appointed by Governor in 1950. Elected in 1950 and 1956. Died in office December 21, 1956.
67.William C. Perry1952–1970Appointed by Governor in 1952. Elected in 1954, 1960, and 1966. Chief justice 1957–1959 and 1967–1970.
68.William M. McAllister1956–1976Appointed by Governor in 1956. Elected in 1956, 1962, 1968, and 1974. Chief justice 1959–1967.
69.Randall B. Kester1957–1958Appointed by Governor in 1957.
70.Gordon Sloan1958–1970Appointed by Governor in 1958. Elected in 1958 and 1964.
71.Kenneth J. O'Connell1958–1977Appointed by Governor in 1958. Elected in 1958, 1964, and 1970. Chief justice 1970–1976.
72.Alfred T. Goodwin1960–1969Appointed by Governor in 1960. Elected in 1960 and 1966.
73.Arno H. Denecke1963–1982Elected in 1962, 1968, 1974, and 1980. Chief justice 1976–1982.
74.Ralph M. Holman1965–1980Elected in 1964, 1970, and 1976.
75.Thomas Tongue1969–1982Appointed by Governor in 1969. Elected in 1970 and 1976.
76.Edward H. Howell1970–1980Appointed by Governor in 1970. Elected in 1970 and 1976.
77.Dean F. Bryson1970–1979Elected in 1970 and 1976, also appointed by Governor in 1970.
78.Berkeley Lent1977–1988Elected in 1976 and 1982. Chief justice 1982–1983.
79.Hans A. Linde1977–1990Appointed by Governor in 1977. Elected in 1978 and 1984.
80.Edwin J. Peterson1979–1993Appointed by Governor in 1979. Elected in 1980, 1986, and 1992. Chief justice 1983–1991.
81.Jacob Tanzer1980–1982Appointed by Governor in 1980. Elected in 1980.
82.J. R. Campbell1980–1988Appointed by Governor in 1980. Elected in 1982.
83.Betty Roberts1982–1986Appointed by Governor in 1982. Elected in 1982. First woman on court.
84.Wallace P. Carson Jr.1982–2007Appointed by Governor in 1982. Elected in 1982, 1988, 1994 and 2000. Chief justice 1991–2006.
85.Robert E. Jones1983–1990Appointed by Governor in 1982. Elected in 1984.
86.W. Michael Gillette1986–2011Appointed by Governor in 1986. Elected in 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004.
87.George Van Hoomissen1988–2001Elected in 1988 and 1994.
88.Edward N. Fadeley1988–1998Elected in 1988 and 1994.
89.Richard Unis1990–1996Appointed by Governor in 1990. Elected in 1990.
90.Susan P. Graber1990–1998Appointed by Governor in 1990 and 1991. Elected in 1992.
91.Robert D. Durham1994–2013Appointed by Governor in 1994. Elected in 1994, 2000, and 2006.
92.Ted Kulongoski1997–2001Elected in 1996.
93.Susan M. Leeson1998–2003Appointed by Governor in 1998. Elected in 1998.
94.R. William Riggs1998–2006Appointed by Governor in 1998. Elected in 1998 and 2004.
95.Paul J. De Muniz2001–2013Elected in 2000 and 2006. Chief Justice 2006 to 2012.
96.Thomas A. Balmer2001–presentAppointed by Governor in 2001. Elected in 2002, 2008, and 2014. Chief Justice 2012 to present.
97.Rives Kistler2003–2018Appointed by Governor in 2003. Elected in 2004, 2010, and 2016.
98.Martha Lee Walters2006–presentAppointed by Governor in 2006. Elected in 2008 and 2014.
99.Virginia Linder2007–2015Elected in 2006 and 2012.
100.Jack L. Landau2011–2017Elected in 2010 and 2016.
101.David V. Brewer2013–2017Elected in 2012.
102.Richard C. Baldwin2013–2017Elected in 2012.
103.Lynn Nakamoto2016–presentAppointed by Governor in 2015. Elected in 2016.
104.Meagan Flynn2017–presentAppointed by Governor in 2017.
105.Rebecca Duncan2017–presentAppointed by Governor in 2017.
106.Adrienne Nelson2018–presentAppointed by Governor in 2018.
106.Chris Garrett2019–presentAppointed by Governor in 2018.

Oregon Court of Appeals

In 1969, the state of Oregon created an intermediate level appeals court. Judges from the Oregon Court of Appeals decide cases appealed from the Oregon Circuit Court. The court has a total of thirteen judgeships.
NameYearsNotes
Virgil Langtry1969–1976Appointed by governor in 1969. Elected in 1970. Resigned in 1976.
Robert H. Foley1969–1976Appointed by governor in 1969. Elected in 1970. Resigned in 1976.
Herbert M. Schwab1969–1980Appointed by governor in 1969. Elected in 1970 & 1976. Resigned in 1980. Chief judge 1969–1980.
William S. Fort1969–1977Appointed by governor in 1969. Elected in 1970.
Edward H. Branchfield1969–1971Appointed by governor in 1969.
Robert Y. Thornton1971–1983Elected in 1970 & 1976.
Jacob Tanzer1973–1975, 1976–1980Appointed by governor in 1973 & 1976. Elected in 1976. Resigned in 1980.
Jason Lee1975–1980Elected in 1974. Died in office February 19, 1980.
Lee Johnson1977–1978Elected in 1976. Resigned in 1978.
William L. Richardson1976–1997Elected in 1976, 1982, 1988, and 1994. Appointed by governor in 1976. Resigned in 1997. Chief judge 1993–1997.
John H. Buttler1977–1992Appointed by governor in 1977. Elected in 1978, 1984, and 1990. Resigned in 1992.
George M. Joseph1977–1992Appointed by governor in 1977. Elected in 1978, 1984, and 1990. Resigned in 1992. Chief judge 1981–1992.
W. Michael Gillette1977–1986Appointed by governor in 1977. Elected in 1978 & 1984. Resigned in 1986.
Betty Roberts1977–1982Appointed by governor in 1977. Elected in 1978. Resigned in 1982.
J. R. Campbell1979–1980Appointed by governor in 1979. Elected in 1980. Resigned in 1980.
John C. Warden1980–1988Appointed by governor in 1980 & 1981. Elected in 1982. Resigned in 1988.
Edward H. Warren1980–1999Appointed by governor in 1980. Elected in 1980, 1986 & 1992. Resigned in 1999.
George Van Hoomissen1981–1988Elected in 1980 & 1986. Resigned in 1988.
Thomas F. Young1981–1988Appointed by governor in 1981. Elected in 1982. Died in office on January 3, 1988.
Kurt C. Rossman1982–1994Appointed by governor in 1982. Elected in 1982 & 1988. Resigned in 1994.
Jonathan Uhry Newman1983–1991Elected in 1982 & 1988. Resigned in 1991.
Mary J. Deits1986–2004Appointed by governor in 1986. Elected in 1986, 1992, & 1998. Chief judge 1997–2004.
R. William Riggs1988–1998Appointed by governor in 1988. Elected in 1988 & 1994. Resigned in 1998.
Susan P. Graber1988–1990Appointed by governor in 1988. Elected in 1988. Resigned in 1990.
Walter I. Edmonds Jr.1989–2009Appointed by governor in 1989. Elected in 1990, 1996, 2002, and 2008.
Paul De Muniz1990–2000Appointed by governor in 1990. Elected in 1990 & 1996. Resigned in 2000.
Robert D. Durham1991–1994Appointed by governor in 1991. Elected in 1992. Resigned in 1994.
Jack L. Landau1993–2010Appointed by governor in 1992. Elected in 1994, 2000, & 2006.
Susan M. Leeson1993–1998Appointed by governor in 1992. Elected in 1994. Resigned in 1998.
Rick Haselton1994–2015Appointed by governor in 1994. Elected in 1994, 2000, & 2006.
Rex Armstrong1995–presentElected in 1994, 2000, & 2006.
Virginia L. Linder1999–2007Appointed by governor in 1997. Elected in 1998 & 2004. Resigned in 2007.
Robert D. Wollheim1998–2014Appointed by governor in 1998. Elected in 1998 & 2004.
David V. Brewer1999–2013Appointed by governor in 1999. Elected in 2000 & 2006. Chief judge 2004–2012.
Rives Kistler1999–2003Appointed by governor in 1999. Elected in 2000. Resigned in 2003.
David Schuman2001–2013Appointed by governor in 2001. Elected in 2002 and 2008.
Darleen Ortega2003–presentAppointed by governor in 2003. Elected in 2004.
Ellen Rosenblum2005–2011Appointed by governor in 2005. Elected in 2006.
Timothy Sercombe2007–2017Appointed by governor in 2007. Elected in 2008.
Rebecca Duncan2010–2017Appointed by governor in 2010.
Lynn Nakamoto2011–2016Appointed by governor in 2010.
Erika L. Hadlock2011–2019Appointed by governor in 2011.
James C. Egan2013–presentElected in 2012.
Joel DeVore2013–presentAppointed by governor in 2013.
Erin C. Lagesen2013–presentAppointed by governor in 2013.
Douglas L. Tookey2013–presentAppointed by governor in 2013.
Chris Garrett2014–2018Appointed by governor in 2014.
Scott A. Shorr2016–presentAppointed by governor in 2015.
Roger J. DeHoog2016–presentAppointed by governor in 2015.
Steven Powers2017–presentAppointed by governor in 2017.
Bronson James2017–presentAppointed by governor in 2017.
Robyn Aoyagi2017–presentAppointed by governor in 2017.
Josephine Mooney2019–presentAppointed by governor in 2019.
Jacqueline Kamins2020–presentAppointed by governor in 2020.

Federal district court

Upon Oregon's entry into the Union, the federal government created the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, a federal trial level court. At first there was a single judge, but currently there are six judgeships. Those who have served as the chief judge are listed in italics.
OrderNameYears on the CourtNotes
1.Matthew Deady1859–1893
2.Charles B. Bellinger1893–1905
3.Charles E. Wolverton1905–1926
4.Robert S. Bean1909–1931
5.John H. McNary1927–1936
6.James A. Fee1931–1954Chief judge from 1948 to 1954.
7.Claude C. McColloch1937–1959Chief judge from 1954 to 1958.
8.Gus J. Solomon1949–1987Chief judge from 1958 to 1971.
9.William G. East1955–1985
10.John Kilkenny1959–1969
11.Robert C. Belloni1967–1999Chief judge from 1971 to 1976.
12.Alfred Goodwin1969–1971
13.James M. Burns1972–2001Chief judge from 1979 to 1984.
14.Otto R. Skopil Jr.1972–1979Chief judge from 1976 to 1979.
15.Helen J. Frye1980–2011
16.Owen M. Panner1980–2018Chief judge from 1984 to 1990.
17.James A. Redden1980–presentChief judge from 1990 to 1995.
18.Edward Leavy1984–1987
19.Malcolm F. Marsh1987–present
20.Robert E. Jones1990–present
21.Michael R. Hogan1991–2012Chief judge from 1995 to 2002.
22.Ancer L. Haggerty1994–2014Chief judge from 2002 to 2009.
23.Ann Aiken1998–presentChief judge from 2009 to 2016.
24.Garr King1998–2019
25.Anna J. Brown1999–present
26.Michael W. Mosman2003–presentChief judge from 2016 to present.
27.Marco A. Hernandez2011–present
28.Michael H. Simon2011–present
29.Michael J. McShane2013–present
30.Karin Immergut2019–present

Other federal

Judges from Oregon who have served on federal courts other than the District Court of Oregon. This includes judges who have been assigned to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' duty station at the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland, Oregon.
NameCourtYearsNotes
William A. EkwallUnited States Customs Court1942–1956Nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
James Alger FeeNinth Circuit Court of Appeals1954–1959Nominated by President Eisenhower
William Ball GilbertNinth Circuit Court of Appeals1892–1931Nominated by President Harrison
Alfred GoodwinNinth Circuit Court of Appeals1971–presentChief judge of the court from 1988 to 1991.
Susan P. GraberNinth Circuit Court of Appeals1998–presentPresident Bill Clinton nominated Graber on July 30, 1997.
Bert Emory HaneyNinth Circuit Court of Appeals1935–1943Nominated by Franklin Roosevelt
John KilkennyNinth Circuit Court of Appeals1969–1971Assumed senior judge status in 1971.
Edward LeavyNinth Circuit Court of Appeals1987–presentAssumed senior status on the court in 1997.
Wallace McCamantNinth Circuit Court of Appeals1925–1926Served as a recess appointment, never confirmed by Senate.
Diarmuid O'ScannlainNinth Circuit Court of Appeals1986–presentNominated by President Ronald Reagan on August 11, 1986.
Nicholas J. SinnottUnited States Court of Claims1928–1929Nominated by President Calvin Coolidge on July 20, 1929.
Otto Richard Skopil Jr.Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals1979–1986Nominated by President Jimmy Carter on June 14, 1979.

Oregon Tax Court

In 1962, the state of Oregon created a specialized court to handle state tax cases. The Oregon Tax Court consists of a single state-wide elected judge.
NameYearsNotes
Peter M. Gunnar1962–1965Appointed by governor in 1962. Elected in 1962. Resigned in 1965.
Edward H. Howell1965–1970Appointed by governor in 1965. Elected in 1966. Resigned in 1970.
Carlisle B. Roberts1970–1983Appointed by governor in 1970. Elected in 1970 & 1976.
Samuel B. Stewart1983–1985Elected in 1982. Died in office on February 25, 1985.
Carl N. Byers1985–2001Appointed by governor in 1985. Elected in 1986, 1992, & 1998. Retired in 2001.
Henry C. Breithaupt2001–2017Appointed by governor in 2001. Elected in 2002, 2008 & 2014. Retired at the end of 2017.
Robert T. Manicke2018–presentAppointed by governor in January 2018. Elected to full six-year term in November 2018.