Robert D. Durham
Encyclopedia
Robert D. Durham (born ca. 1948) is a current Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Previously Durham was a judge for the Oregon Court of Appeals
and a lawyer in private practice.
located in Whittier, California
. At Whittier he played first base on the baseball team and was a lineman on the football team. He graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Justice Durham then attended the University of Santa Clara School of Law, graduating with his J.D.
in 1972. After graduation he served as a law clerk to Oregon Supreme Court justice Dean F. Bryson
from 1972 to 1974. Lastly, he earned an LL.M. in 1998 from the University of Virginia School of Law
.
and Eugene
. He served as chairperson of the Oregon State Bar
's labor law section in 1984, and as chairperson of the Oregon Commission on Administrative Hearings from 1989-1990. He is a partner in Bennett & Durham in Portland, previously the firm was known as Kulongoski
, Durham, Drummonds & Colombo.
. Also in 1992, he served as a faculty at the National Judicial College. From 1992 to 1994 and again from 1996 through 2005 Durham was a member on the Oregon Council on Court Procedures.
Justice Durham was appointed by Oregon
Governor Barbara Roberts
to the Oregon Supreme Court
to replace the retiring Edwin J. Peterson
.
His appointment on January 4, 1994, made him the 91st justice since Oregon became a territory in 1848. Durham was then elected to a full six-year term in 1994 and re-elected in 2000 and 2006. While on the court Durham served as a member of the Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure Committee from 1994-2001, president of the Oregon Appellate Judges Association from 1996-1997, and twice as chairperson of the Oregon Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Rule 4 (1995-1996 & 2002-2005).
, the Multnomah County and Marion County Bar Associations, and a master at the Willamette Valley American Inns of Court
, Master. He serves as an instructor of Judicial Ethics, Judicial Campaign Practices and Transition Issues. Durham also volunteers for the Classroom Law Project and as a mentor at Willamette University College of Law
.
Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is the state intermediate appellate court in the U.S. state of Oregon. Part of the Oregon Judicial Department, it has ten judges and is located in Salem...
and a lawyer in private practice.
Education
Durham’s post-secondary education began at Whittier CollegeWhittier College
Whittier College is a private liberal arts college in Whittier, California. As of January 2009, the college has approximately 1540 enrolled students.-Overview:...
located in Whittier, California
Whittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
. At Whittier he played first base on the baseball team and was a lineman on the football team. He graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Justice Durham then attended the University of Santa Clara School of Law, graduating with his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1972. After graduation he served as a law clerk to Oregon Supreme Court justice Dean F. Bryson
Dean F. Bryson
Dean F. Bryson was an American attorney in the state of Oregon, United States. He was the 77th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court...
from 1972 to 1974. Lastly, he earned an LL.M. in 1998 from the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
.
Legal career
Robert Durham was in private practice in Oregon from 1974-1991 working in PortlandPortland, 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...
and 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...
. He served as chairperson of the Oregon State Bar
Oregon State Bar
The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession. The public corporation is part of the Oregon Judicial Department...
's labor law section in 1984, and as chairperson of the Oregon Commission on Administrative Hearings from 1989-1990. He is a partner in Bennett & Durham in Portland, previously the firm was known as Kulongoski
Ted Kulongoski
Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski is an American politician, who served as the 36th Governor of Oregon. A Democrat, he has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as the state Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General, and an Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court.-Early...
, Durham, Drummonds & Colombo.
Judicial career
Robert Durham’s career in the judiciary began when he was appointed to the Oregon Court of Appeals by the governor on November 19, 1991. Subsequently he was elected to a full term in 1992, but resigned from the court before the end of his term upon his appointment to the state supreme courtSupreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
. Also in 1992, he served as a faculty at the National Judicial College. From 1992 to 1994 and again from 1996 through 2005 Durham was a member on the Oregon Council on Court Procedures.
Justice Durham was appointed by 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...
Governor Barbara Roberts
Barbara Roberts
Barbara Kay Roberts is an American politician from the state of Oregon. A native of the state, she served as the 34th Governor of Oregon from 1991 to 1995. She is the first and, to date, only woman to be elected to that office. A Democrat, Roberts was also the first woman to serve as majority...
to the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
to replace the retiring Edwin J. Peterson
Edwin J. Peterson
Edwin J. Peterson is an American jurist in the state of Oregon. He was the 39th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving from 1983 to 1991, and is currently a Distinguished Jurist in Residence at Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon.-Education:Edwin Peterson received his...
.
His appointment on January 4, 1994, made him the 91st justice since Oregon became a territory in 1848. Durham was then elected to a full six-year term in 1994 and re-elected in 2000 and 2006. While on the court Durham served as a member of the Oregon Rules of Appellate Procedure Committee from 1994-2001, president of the Oregon Appellate Judges Association from 1996-1997, and twice as chairperson of the Oregon Supreme Court Committee on Judicial Rule 4 (1995-1996 & 2002-2005).
Other
Robert Durham is a member of the Board of Directors for Oregon Law Institute of Lewis & Clark Law SchoolLewis & Clark Law School
Lewis and Clark Law School is a private American law school located in Portland, Oregon. In the last ten years, L&C's Environmental Law program has been the highest-rated in the United States eight times....
, the Multnomah County and Marion County Bar Associations, and a master at the Willamette Valley American Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
, Master. He serves as an instructor of Judicial Ethics, Judicial Campaign Practices and Transition Issues. Durham also volunteers for the Classroom Law Project and as a mentor at Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
.