Thomas A. Balmer
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" A. Balmer is an American jurist in Oregon
, United States
. A native of Washington, he has served as an Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
since 2001. He was re-elected to a new six-year term on the bench in 2008.
, a community located on the Columbia River
and the border of Oregon
.
He attended and graduated from high school in Portland, Oregon
.
Balmer’s college career began at Oberlin College
in the Ohio
town of the same name. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree and earned High Honors, graduating in 1974. Balmer then attended law school, graduating from the University of Chicago Law School
in 1977 with a law degree
.
from 1983-1984, and again from 1990-1992 as an adjunct professor. From 1986 to 1987 he was the chairperson of the Oregon State Bar
antitrust law section, and in 1992-1993 he was chairperson of the Multnomah County Legal Aid Service’s Board of Directors.
Later he served as a deputy attorney general for the state of Oregon from 1993 to 1997. While there he worked for the Oregon Attorney General
, Ted Kulongoski
. Balmer is a former partner of Ater Wynne LLP, focusing on antitrust law, government regulations, and commercial litigation. In 1997, he became a member of the board of directors for Classroom Law Project, and from 2000 to 2001, he served as an adjunct professor of political science
at Lewis & Clark College
, 2000-2001.
On September 20, 2001 Balmer was selected for the Oregon Supreme Court, becoming the 96th justice. Governor John Kitzhaber
appointed Balmer to replace Ted Kulongoski (who Balmer worked for at the Oregon Department of Justice
) after Kulongoski resigned to campaign for governor, which he then won the election to replace Kitzhaber. Balmer was then elected to a full six-year term in 2002 and re-elected to a new term in 2008. In 2005, he joined the board of directors to the Oregon Law Institute. Balmer is currently a member of the US District Court’s Indigent Representation Committee. He won re-election to a new six-year term in 2008. In July 2009, he was named one of five finalists for two open positions on the federal court in 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A native of Washington, he has served as an Associate Justice of 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...
since 2001. He was re-elected to a new six-year term on the bench in 2008.
Early life
Justice Balmer was born on January 31, 1952, in Longview, WashingtonLongview, Washington
Longview is a city in Cowlitz County, Washington, United States. It is the principal city of the "Longview, Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area", which encompasses all of Cowlitz County. Longview's population was 36,648 at the time of the 2010 census and is the largest city in Cowlitz County...
, a community located on the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
and the border 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...
.
He attended and graduated from high school 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...
.
Balmer’s college career began at Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
in the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
town of the same name. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree and earned High Honors, graduating in 1974. Balmer then attended law school, graduating from the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
in 1977 with a law degree
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...
.
Legal career
Justice Balmer began his public legal career as a trial lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice from 1979 to 1980. Working in Washington, D.C., he was part of the Antitrust Division. Balmer taught at 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....
from 1983-1984, and again from 1990-1992 as an adjunct professor. From 1986 to 1987 he was the 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...
antitrust law section, and in 1992-1993 he was chairperson of the Multnomah County Legal Aid Service’s Board of Directors.
Later he served as a deputy attorney general for the state of Oregon from 1993 to 1997. While there he worked for the Oregon Attorney General
Oregon Attorney General
The Oregon Attorney General is a statutory office within the executive branch of the state of Oregon, and serves as the chief legal officer of the state, heading its Department of Justice with its six operating divisions. The Attorney General is chosen by statewide partisan election to serve a term...
, Ted 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...
. Balmer is a former partner of Ater Wynne LLP, focusing on antitrust law, government regulations, and commercial litigation. In 1997, he became a member of the board of directors for Classroom Law Project, and from 2000 to 2001, he served as an adjunct professor of political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College is a private institution of higher learning located in Portland, Oregon. Made up of an undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences, a School of Law, and a Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Lewis & Clark is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges with athletic...
, 2000-2001.
On September 20, 2001 Balmer was selected for the Oregon Supreme Court, becoming the 96th justice. Governor John Kitzhaber
John Kitzhaber
John Albert Kitzhaber is the 37th Governor of Oregon. He served as the 35th Governor of Oregon from 1995 to 2003 and became the first person to be elected to the office three times when he was re-elected to a non-consecutive third term in 2010...
appointed Balmer to replace Ted Kulongoski (who Balmer worked for at the Oregon Department of Justice
Oregon Department of Justice
The Oregon Department of Justice , headed by Attorney General John Kroger, is the main legal branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The DOJ is part of Oregon's executive branch, and most of its employees work in Oregon's capital, Salem...
) after Kulongoski resigned to campaign for governor, which he then won the election to replace Kitzhaber. Balmer was then elected to a full six-year term in 2002 and re-elected to a new term in 2008. In 2005, he joined the board of directors to the Oregon Law Institute. Balmer is currently a member of the US District Court’s Indigent Representation Committee. He won re-election to a new six-year term in 2008. In July 2009, he was named one of five finalists for two open positions on the federal court in 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...
.
Select Publications
- Co-author of: Conflicts Between State Law and the Sherman Act, 44 U. Pitt. L. Rev. 1 (1982).
- Co-author of: AntitrustAntitrustThe United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
Review of Proposed Administrative Actions, 61 B.U. L. Rev. 90 (1981).