Page 2 - OWLS AdvanceSheet Winter 2017

President’s Message

hen I are just 36% of the legal profession and
Wgradu- only 30% of all state court judges.” In
ated from another finding, the study reports that
law school white men are 30% of the population but
in 1991 (and make up 58% of all state judges; white
law school women (31% of the population) make
President enrollment up another 22% of the state judiciary,
Laura Craska Cooper was already leaving just 20% of the remaining seats
Vice President, President-Elect more than to be apportioned between men and
Angela Franco Lucero
Secretary 40% wom- women of color. Men of color make up
Hon. Allison Boomer en!), I was nearly a fifth—19%—of the population
Treasurer Laura Craska Cooper sure that but only 12% of the state judiciary, and
Amber Hollister within 25 women of color, who make up 20% of
Historian years, we would be beyond feminism the population, occupy a measly 8% of
Megan Burgess and the need to push for equality. I the state bench.
Board Members thought that by now we would all have The study’s findings are worrying
Jacqueline Alarcón roughly equal representation in the seats because without representation on the
Maya Crawford
Sara Kobak of power. I was certain that organizations farm team, it seems unlikely that women
Katharine Lozano like OWLS would have lived past their and minorities will have much chance to
Hon. Valeri Love usefulness. How sadly wrong I was. move into the big leagues any time soon.
Aruna Masih
Banafsheh Violet Nazari Two of seven. Five of thirteen. Two And make no mistake, the “big
Jennifer Nicholls of eleven. Twelve of thirty-five. Three leagues” are ripe for realignment.
Yumi O’Neil of nine. President-elect Trump is inheriting 103
Susan Pitchford
Adele Ridenour Those are, respectively, the numbers unfilled judicial vacancies from President
Kristin Sterling of women justices/judges at the Oregon Obama, who made nominations, but
Amanda Thorpe Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, couldn’t get them past a Senate con-
Val Tomasi
Gloria Trainor U.S. District Court for the District of Ore- trolled by the opposing party. Mr. Trump
Jim Yocom gon, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth will not face that problem. To put that
Past Presidents Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court. number in context, President Obama
Elizabeth Tedesco Milesnick 50.32% inherited only 54 vacancies from the
Kendra Matthews
Kathleen Rastetter That’s the percentage of women now outgoing Bush administration. Who will
Megan Livermore enrolled in U.S. law schools, as reported fill those seats remains to be seen, but it
Heather L. Weigler in December. For the first time ever, that is not encouraging that President-elect
Concetta Schwesinger
Gwyneth McAlpine number has crossed the 50% threshold. Trump’s list of 21 potential Supreme Court
Heather Van Meter How much difference will that make? nominees includes only three women,
Laura Caldera Taylor History to date is discouraging. and only three minorities, and none of
Kellie Johnson
Norma S. Freitas Women have been roughly at the 50% them are minority women.
Kate A. Wilkinson threshold in law school for over two Why it is so difficult to shatter that
Jennifer K. De Wald decades. Despite that, a massive first- ceiling is something we talk about all
Sarah J. Crooks
Elizabeth Schwartz of-its-kind study of the demographics the time. Many of us have heard the war
Lori E. Deveny of the states’ judiciaries recently found stories of the toll taken on any woman
Debra Pilcher Velure
Marilyn E. Litzenberger a huge gap in representation by women or minority who has ever attempted to
Teresa M. Kraemer and minorities on the bench versus the assault the judicial heights.
Patricia L. Heatherman population. Entitled The Gavel Gap: Who Oregon Women Lawyers exists be-
Julie Levie Caron
Phylis Chadwell Myles Sits in Judgment on the State Courts?, cause of data like these. Our mission “to
Helle Rode the study was conducted by a pair of transform the practice of law and ensure
Diana Craine researchers at Vanderbilt University and justice and equality by advancing women
Kathryn M. Ricciardelli
Agnes Sowle the University of Toronto and released and minorities in the legal profession” is
Katherine H. O’Neil in June 2016. It is depressing. as relevant as it has ever been. And yet,
Executive Director Among the study’s findings, as re- one of the most astonishing findings of
Linda Tomassi ported by the American Constitution the Gavel Gap study was that despite
executivedirector@
oregonwomenlawyers.org Society, under whose auspices the study the underrepresented status of women,
Editor was prepared: “Women are 51% of the Oregon ranks first among the states for
Elise Gautier population, and have been about 50% representation of women on the state
elise.gautier@comcast.net of law students for two decades, but Continued on next page
www.oregonwomenlawyers.org

Our mission is to transform the practice of law and ensure justice
and equality by advancing women and minorities in the legal profession.

OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS AdvanceSheet 2 WINTER 2017