While Trump’s wreaking havoc on the federal judiciary, there’s much to celebrate when it comes to state courts, at least in Oregon.
The Oregon Supreme Court has a black judge for the first time in its 170-year history.
Gov. Kate Brown announced on Tuesday the appointment of Adrienne Nelson, a trial judge in Multnomah County.
“Judge Nelson will be the first African-American to serve on an appellate court in Oregon and the second woman of color to serve on the Oregon Supreme Court,” said the governor, who in 2015 appointed an Asian-American woman, Lynn Nakamoto, to the court, making her the first woman of color on the high court.
“I am overjoyed and grateful the governor has chosen me,” Nelson said in a telephone interview.
Brown has had the opportunity to make four supreme court appointments. All four have been women. With Nelson’s addition, the court will be composed of five women, two of whom are of color, and two men.
The governor’s choices put me in mind of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s view of gender balance in the judiciary.
The 81-year-old Supreme Court justice, who has attained somewhat of a cult following for her stance on gender equality, told a gathering of law students Wednesday that people often ask her when she thinks there will be enough women on the court.
“And my answer is when there are nine,” she said, as if the question even needed to be asked.
It’s no surprise that Oregon continues to prove a leader when it comes to diversity in government. Of the twelve LGBTQ people who’ve been state supreme court justices, three served in Oregon. And of course Brown, who is bisexual, is the United States’ first openly LGBTQ governor.
See Ilyrwich’s post for further discussion.