Page 1 - OWLS AdvanceSheet Spring 2017
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            Published Quarterly by Oregon Women Lawyers                              Volume 28, No. 2    Spring 2017
                                   OWLS Honors Judge Frantz, Kasia Rutledge


                                                                   By Brie Bridegum
                                         he 25th                                                      her privilege.
                                         Roberts                                                      That  makes
                                  T& Deiz                                                             her an asset
                                  Awards Dinner                                                       to the legal
                                  was held at the                                                     community
                                  Portland Art                                                        and  her  or-
                                  Museum on Fri -                                                     ganization,”
                  In This Issue   day, March 10.                                                     Photo: Dreams in Bloom Photography  Roberta said.
                                  OWLS was                                                              Kasia then
              Roberts & Deiz Awards   pleased to be-                                                  took the
                President’s Message  stow on Judge                                                    stage to a
                                  Julie Frantz the                                                    chorus  of
         GrOWLS: OWLS’ New Chapter  Justice Betty                                                     cheers from
                                  Roberts Award          Judge Julie Frantz (left) and Kasia Rutledge  her many sup-
             Upcoming OWLS Events
                                  and on Kasia                                                        porters in the
              Mary Leonard Chapter   Rutledge the Judge Mercedes Deiz Award.  audience, many of whom brought cardboard
                                    The Judge Mercedes Deiz Award is given an-  cutouts of her face, which they waved in the air
                 OWLS Foundation   nually to a person who has made an outstanding   during her speech.
                                  contribution to the promotion of minorities in   Kasia spoke about the tremendous honor she
             Flynn to Supreme Court
                                  the legal profession and the community. Kasia   feels to work as a public defender, noting that she
         R&D Dinner Sponsors, Photos  Rutledge, an attorney with Metropolitan Public   gets to help people tell their stories. She pointed
                                  Defender Services, received the award based on   out that the law has never been a leader in social
                 The Judges’ Forum  her history of support and advocacy for people   change and that each person has a responsibility
                   OFALA Founded  of color, from law students to other lawyers to   to help ensure progress.
                                  her own clients.                           During her remarks, Kasia said:
       Thank you, Laura Craska Cooper   Each award recipient was introduced by a   The space I often find myself in in the law
                                  video that featured comments by some of the   is not made for me. My voice is often not
        100 Years of Counting Women
                                  many people who supported her nomination.   welcome, or  is  not  valued. These  spaces
       We Still Have a Long Way to Go  On the first video, law student Alvin T. Clavon II   have traditionally and are currently filled by
                                  said, “Kasia is there, and she is always there in   the same people who have filled them for
            Meet Judge Bethany Flint  full force supporting each student and being   the past two hundred years. And if I, as a
                 Meet Aruna Masih  very passionate about what needs to be done.   straight, cis, non-disabled, privileged citizen
                                  She helps students breaking into a culturally   white woman experience this feeling, it is
            U.S. District Court Update  homogenous profession.”              hard to imagine how stifling it is for queer,
                                    Judge Darleen Ortega spoke in the video about   disabled, non-citizen, or lawyers of color in
         OWLS Members Lead OL4GG   the professional impact Kasia has had, and she   those same court rooms, classrooms, and
       OWLS Workplace Leader Award  noted that Kasia’s experience as a public defender   board rooms. To continue moving in those
                                  has enabled her to educate the bench and bar   spaces as someone who doesn’t get the
        Book Review: Judge Jane Bolin  on how race affects the criminal process. Judge   presumption of being entitled to one’s own
                                  Ortega also noted Kasia’s strong history of men-  air is an every day act of bravery. To endure
            More R&D Dinner Photos
                                  torship, and that she hosts an annual “orphan   sting after sting of microagressions, hearing
             1917 Newspaper Article  Thanksgiving” to provide a welcoming holiday   “Where are you from?” knowing that means
                                  experience for those without family in Portland.  “You don’t belong here” is bravery. . . . It’s
                                    Roberta Phillip-Robbins also mentioned Kasia’s   our responsibility to make room for those
                                  professional success, noting that she is one of   not currently at the table.
                                  only a handful of public defenders in Oregon to   Judge Julie Frantz of the Multnomah County
                                  obtain an acquittal on a murder charge.  Circuit Court received the Justice Betty Roberts
                                    “Kasia is aware of her privilege and is willing   Award. The award is given annually to a person
                                  to create safe spaces for people who don’t share                Continued on page 6

            OREGON WOMEN LAWYERS AdvanceSheet                 1                                           SPRING 2017
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