Welcome
The Oregon State Bar Litigation Section includes civil, criminal and specialty practice litigators within the Oregon State Bar. The Section is the largest within the Bar, and provides services to its members through periodic CLE presentations (including the annual Litigation Institute and Retreat at Skamania Lodge and the biennial practical skills CLE, Fundamentals of Oregon Civil Trial Procedure), as well as publication of the Litigation Journal three times a year. The Litigation Journal provides timely articles and case notes of interest to Oregon litigators. The Litigation Section is committed to professional education, development and collegiality. An annual highlight is presentation of the Owen M. Panner Professionalism Award at the Institute and Retreat. This award is given to a member of the bench or bar who exemplifies the highest professional standards and values. Membership in the Section is open to any Bar member with an interest in litigation. Annual dues are $35.
If you'd like to join the Litigation Section, contact Sarah Hackbart at the Oregon State Bar, 503-620-0222 (or 800-452-8260), extension 385, or email her at shackbart@osbar.org.
11th Annual Owen M. Panner Professionalism Award
The Litigation Section's Executive Committee is pleased to announce the selection of Carl Burnham, Jr., Yturri Rose LLP, Ontario, as recipient of the 11th Annual Owen M. Panner Professionalism Award. This Award recognizes and honors the personal and professional qualities, reputation and conduct that make Carl such a wonderful role model for other attorneys.
The Professionalism Award will be presented to Carl at the 15th Annual Litigation Institute and Retreat held at Skamania Lodge on March 7 and 8, 2008. We encourage you to attend the Litigation Institute, including the Friday evening dinner and Professionalism Award presentation. Seminar speakers include the dynamic Michael Tiger, returning to discuss The Nine Principles of Litigation (and Perhaps of Life...), along with accomplished attorneys David Markowitz and Peter Richter, the Honorable Donald C. Ashmanskas, and a panel of distinguished state court judges. A seminar brochure is in the mail, and you can also download a brochure by clicking on the following link: http://www.osbarcle.org/LI08.pdf. Dinner tickets are $60 each and can be ordered by using the Institute registration form.
Please join us on March 7 to congratulate Carl Burnham, Jr. as he receives the 11th Annual Owen M. Panner Professionalism Award.
Sincerely,
Litigation Section Executive CommitteeThe Council on Court Procedures
Where do the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure come from and how are they changed? If a particular rule is not effective or has been rendered obsolete by technology, or by practice, how may it be amended? The Council on Court Procedures was formed by the Legislature in 1977 to draft and to systematically update the Oregon Rules of Civil Procedure (ORCP). The enabling legislation is found at ORS 1.725 through ORS 1.760. Well-crafted, fair, and balanced procedural rules for the filing, prosecution, and defense of civil disputes ensure that all Oregonians have a forum in which to seek redress of private grievances fairly and equitably.
By statute the Council is composed of lawyers, judges, and at least one public member. The lawyers are further sub-divided into two equally numbered groups: one drawn from the ranks of the “plaintiffs’ bar” who routinely represent those seeking redress; and one drawn from the “defense bar” who routinely defend cases. The judges are drawn from the trial courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. All members of the Council are volunteers who serve without compensation.
The Council meets once each month during the years between legislative sessions. Meetings are on Saturdays and usually begin at 9:30 a.m. Committees and task forces established by the Council meet at various times during the month, depending upon the work load and the schedules of individual members. The Council votes to publish proposed amendments to the ORCP at the September meeting in even numbered years and votes to promulgate amendments to the ORCP at the December meeting in even numbered years. The Council’s promulgated rules or amendments are submitted to the Legislature and take effect in January of the following, odd-numbered, year, unless the Legislature votes to amend, repeal, or supplement any promulgation.
The Council’s meetings are open to the public. Meetings are held at various locations around the State. The next meeting is Saturday, November 10, 2007, at the Oregon State Bar offices. The Oregon State Bar provides meeting space at no cost to the Council. The Council also meets in other locations and for the most part receives in-kind contributions of the cost of meeting space.
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Now Online!
The Oregon State Bar is among the many public and private organizations across the state and across party lines opposing Constitutional Measure 40. The out of state interests sponsoring this measure are well-heeled and aggressive; we need lawyers' help to defeat it. Here is a letter many firms have sent to their clients. Feel free to download [or copy-- whichever the technology will support] and send to your clients and contacts. For further information, or to make a contribution, go to www.protectoregoncourts.com.
Click here to download Sample Letter Opposing Constitutional Measure 40.
Real Life Studies in Political Correctness or are Real Lawyers Sensitive? by Hon. Alex Sanders. Read for yourself this powerful presentation from our March 2004 Litigation Institute and Retreat.
- More back issues of The Litigation Journal!
- New State of Washington links!
Ethics and Conflicts Help Here!
Check out our "Columns" link for the latest insights on ethics and conflicts from expert Peter Jarvis. Have a question for Peter? You can submit it online, too.