Helen J. Frye
Encyclopedia
Helen Jackson Frye was an American
judge and attorney in the state of Oregon
. Born in Southern Oregon
, she served as an active federal district court judge in Portland, Oregon
, for 15 years and as a judge for the Oregon Circuit Court for nine years. At the time of her death she was a senior judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
.
, in the south-central portion of the state on December 10, 1930. Growing up on a potato and grain farm in Klamath County
, her father died when she was three and was raised by her maternal grandparents from age three to nine as her mother and sibling recovered from tuberculosis. Her mother then remarried and they moved from the family farm.
After high school she attended the University of Oregon
in Eugene
where she graduated in 1953 with a bachelor’s of arts degree in English and served as class president of her sophomore class. To pay for school, Frye worked her way through at jobs such as babysitter and waitress. She was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She then taught in public schools. In 1961, Frye earned a masters degree at the school, and then graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law
in 1966 with a juris doctorate degree. Between degrees she had three children with her first husband Bill Frye, including filmmaker E. Max Frye
. The couple's other children were Karen and Heidi.
in 1966 she entered private legal practice in Eugene, and worked for her husband, who was the district attorney
for Lane County
. In 1971, Frye left private practice and became a judge for the Oregon Circuit Court’s second district covering Lane County. Oregon Governor Tom McCall
appointed her to the position, and she became the first female judge of the Oregon Circuit Courts. Helen and Bill divorced in 1975, with Helen remarrying to Perry Holloman. She remained on that court after winning election to a full term and re-election until 1980, when she became a judge for a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
In 1973, as circuit court judge Frye she presided over the trial of Dayton Leroy Rogers
, who was found not guilty by reason of mental defect. Rogers was sent to the Oregon State Hospital
, was released on December 12, 1974, and then went on to kill several woman before being sent to death row
.
Nominated on December 3, 1979, by U.S. President Jimmy Carter
, she was confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 20, 1980, and received her federal commission that same day. She was the first woman on Oregon's only federal court. While on the court, she presided over the case that voided the incorporation of the community of Rajneeshpuram
in Central Oregon
. She also dismissed a case concerning the protection of the Northern Spotted Owl
from logging in 1989. In 1992, she was the trial court level judge for Kyllo v. United States
, an unlawful search case that made it to the United States Supreme Court in 2001. On December 10, 1995, she assumed senior status on the court and is no longer a full-time judge for the court.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
judge and attorney in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Born in Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon south of Lane County and generally west of the Cascade Range, excluding the southern Oregon Coast. Counties include Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, and Josephine. It includes the Southern Oregon American Viticultural Area, which consists of the...
, she served as an active federal district court judge in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, for 15 years and as a judge for the Oregon Circuit Court for nine years. At the time of her death she was a senior judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
.
Early life
Helen Jackson was born in Klamath Falls, OregonKlamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
, in the south-central portion of the state on December 10, 1930. Growing up on a potato and grain farm in Klamath County
Klamath County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge* Crater Lake National Park * Deschutes National Forest * Fremont National Forest * Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge* Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge...
, her father died when she was three and was raised by her maternal grandparents from age three to nine as her mother and sibling recovered from tuberculosis. Her mother then remarried and they moved from the family farm.
After high school she attended the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
where she graduated in 1953 with a bachelor’s of arts degree in English and served as class president of her sophomore class. To pay for school, Frye worked her way through at jobs such as babysitter and waitress. She was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She then taught in public schools. In 1961, Frye earned a masters degree at the school, and then graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law
University of Oregon School of Law
The University of Oregon School of Law is a public law school in the U.S. state of Oregon. Housed in the Knight Law Center, it is Oregon's only state funded law school. The school, founded in 1884, is located on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, on the corner of 15th and Agate streets,...
in 1966 with a juris doctorate degree. Between degrees she had three children with her first husband Bill Frye, including filmmaker E. Max Frye
E. Max Frye
Eric Max Frye, is an American screenwriter from Oregon. His mother was Helen J. Frye, a federal judge. Born in Oregon and raised in Eugene, Frye directed and wrote the film Amos & Andrew. He attended Lewis & Clark College in Portland for one year before moving to Europe where he lived in Paris and...
. The couple's other children were Karen and Heidi.
Legal career
After passing the barBar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1966 she entered private legal practice in Eugene, and worked for her husband, who was the district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for Lane County
Lane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
. In 1971, Frye left private practice and became a judge for the Oregon Circuit Court’s second district covering Lane County. Oregon Governor Tom McCall
Tom McCall
Thomas Lawson McCall was an American politician and journalist in the state of Oregon. A Republican, he was the 30th Governor of Oregon from 1967 to 1975. A native of Massachusetts, he grew up there and in Central Oregon before attending the University of Oregon...
appointed her to the position, and she became the first female judge of the Oregon Circuit Courts. Helen and Bill divorced in 1975, with Helen remarrying to Perry Holloman. She remained on that court after winning election to a full term and re-election until 1980, when she became a judge for a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
In 1973, as circuit court judge Frye she presided over the trial of Dayton Leroy Rogers
Dayton Leroy Rogers
Dayton Leroy Rogers is a serial killer presently residing on Oregon's death row at the Oregon State Penitentiary for six murders....
, who was found not guilty by reason of mental defect. Rogers was sent to the Oregon State Hospital
Oregon State Hospital
Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon, United States, is the primary state-run psychiatric hospital in the state of Oregon since Dammasch State Hospital closed in 1995. The facility is best known as the filming location for the Academy Award-winning film based on Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over...
, was released on December 12, 1974, and then went on to kill several woman before being sent to death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
.
Nominated on December 3, 1979, by U.S. President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, she was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on February 20, 1980, and received her federal commission that same day. She was the first woman on Oregon's only federal court. While on the court, she presided over the case that voided the incorporation of the community of Rajneeshpuram
Rajneeshpuram
Rajneeshpuram, Oregon was an intentional community in Wasco County, Oregon, briefly incorporated as a city in the 1980s, which was populated with followers of the spiritual teacher Osho, then known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.- History :...
in Central Oregon
Central Oregon
Central Oregon is a geographic region in the U.S. state of Oregon and is traditionally considered to be made up of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Other definitions include larger areas, often encompassing areas to the north towards the Columbia River, eastward towards Burns, or south...
. She also dismissed a case concerning the protection of the Northern Spotted Owl
Spotted Owl
The Spotted Owl, Strix occidentalis, is a species of true owl. It is a resident species of forests in western North America, where it nests in tree holes, old bird of prey nests, or rock crevices. Nests can be between 13 and 66 yards high and usually contain two eggs...
from logging in 1989. In 1992, she was the trial court level judge for Kyllo v. United States
Kyllo v. United States
Kyllo v. United States, , held that the use of a thermal imaging device from a public vantage point to monitor the radiation of heat from a person's home was a "search" within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment, and thus required a warrant...
, an unlawful search case that made it to the United States Supreme Court in 2001. On December 10, 1995, she assumed senior status on the court and is no longer a full-time judge for the court.