June 2023
Multnomah
Lawyers associated for justice, service, professionalism, education and leadership for our members and our community
Lawyer
Est. 1906
Looking Back and Looking Forward by Tim Resch MBA Past President I write this month’s article with a new title - MBA Past President. I am humbled to join the ranks of past lawyers who have served in this role. As I look back on this past year (and really my three years on the MBA Board) I am grateful for the opportunity to have served our community in this role. Service was the topic of my first column in September of last year. I am inspired by the examples of service to our community I have witnessed during my term. From the MBA committee members meeting and doing the important committee work, to the members of our judiciary who are true public servants advancing the cause of justice in every ruling, order, or discrete comment to litigants in their courtrooms. The opportunity to be MBA President has been another example for me of how service can be personally and professionally rewarding. My term of service on the MBA Board began on June 1, 2020. Sarah Radcliffe had finished her term as president, and Valerie Colas was our new president. Our community - and much of the rest of the world – was coming to grips with COVID-19. Sure, we had read about the 1918 Spanish Flu, but a global pandemic wasn’t on my list of worries in early 2020. A few months into life transitioning into our new remote/Zoom reality, there was an overwhelming sense of unknown. Would this all pass, and we’d be back in the office after the Fourth of July holiday? Would we get Covid and die? When would we return to our offices to work in person? It would be over a year before I met many of my MBA Board colleagues in person. Like many others, we pivoted to the new reality of living through a pandemic and meeting via Zoom. The MBA continued its programs, albeit remotely, as best we could. One group that was particularly helpful for me was the Partners Roundtable. Before the pandemic we would meet quarterly, to discuss issues like technology, insurance, real estate, or succession planning. Beginning in April 2020, our group started meeting weekly. For me personally, this became a hugely valuable support group. We exchanged ideas about transitioning to remote work and how to manage morale during times of extreme uncertainty and anxiety. The bonds that were forged during those times are lasting and deep, and I am grateful to my colleagues and the MBA for having the roundtable as a resource during those early pandemic days. Looking more at the past year, a few moments stood out for me. One was the opportunity to be present for and speak on behalf of the MBA at the investiture for Judge Chanpone Sinlapasai. Because of the pandemic it had been a while between investiture ceremonies, and Judge Sinlapasai and her family put on a spectacular event. It was an honor for me to be there and have the opportunity to see the “behind the scenes” interaction of our local judges as they were preparing for the ceremony. They too had not had much opportunity to see each other in person, and the reconnecting that occurred before the ceremony was inspiring. Many of our Multnomah County judges reached out and offered their assistance during this past year - we are fortunate to have such an active and engaged local judiciary. MULTNOMAH BAR ASSOCIATION 620 SW FIFTH AVE., SUITE 1220 PORTLAND, OREGON 97204
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The MBA has also been active in helping address the public defense crisis in our state. MBA Treasurer John Robb wrote about this issue in January 2023, and more recently, Judge Cheryl Albrecht wrote about the challenges locally due to the lack of criminal defense lawyers. While this is certainly a state-wide issue, the lack of public defense lawyers impacts our courts and our community. I am thankful for all of the lawyers and law firms in our community who have volunteered to participate in the OPDS Supervised Civil Bar Attorney Program. Our state legislature certainly needs to come up with a longer-term plan to address the systemic challenges facing the criminal defense bar. To the extent those of us with the ability to help out in the short term can do so, we are at least answering the call from our local court to help out where we can. As I wrap up this month’s article - and my term as MBA President - I remain optimistic about our community. The authorities have declared the emergency portion of the COVID-19 pandemic over. Our city and community at large have suffered during the pandemic, and our local and state leaders have plenty of pressing issues to address. The activity at the Multnomah County Courthouse is finally returning to a new normal. By the time you are reading this, hopefully the MBF’s signature program - CourtCare - will be up and running in its new space in the courthouse. Some of the plywood boards protecting the windows of the courthouse have come down, and it feels like we may be emerging from the pandemic into our new reality. I remain ever grateful for the opportunity to serve with my colleagues on the MBA Board. I want to thank my MBA Board class of 2023 colleagues Renata Gowie, John Robb and Gloria Trainor for their service. I want to welcome new MBA Board members Justice Brooks, Amanda Nadell, Tania Manners, and Emery Wang to the board. I am also grateful for the leadership of our immediate Past President Jovita Wang, and Judge Jackie Alarcón who succeeded Jovita. I wish nothing but the best for our incoming MBA President Terry Wright. The MBA is in very capable hands, with Terry and new officers Shalini Vivek as Secretary and Sherisa Davis-Larry as Treasurer. Finally, I need to recognize the MBA staff, who do a wonderful job of running our organization and programs. Guy Walden, Kathy Modie, Pamela Hubbs, Ryan Mosier, and Pao Vang work hard and efficiently to do the work of the MBA. They deserve our thanks and recognition for persevering through these past three years with grace and professionalism.
mba EVENT Portland Pickles Event Friday, June 16 7:05 p.m. Walker Stadium, 4727 SE 92nd Ave., Portland Join the MBA Events Committee on Friday, June 16 for the Portland Pickles vs Gresham GreyWolves game. A block of seats has been reserved for our group in the Pickle Party Plaza on the first base line. Gather your lawyer friends, legal staff and family members for this evening of fun. It’s Goonies night (get some Goonies themed treats!) and a local band will play before the game. Gates open: 6 p.m. Game time: 7:05 p.m.
June 2023 Volume 69, Number 6
mba CLE
All seminars are ONLINE ONLY unless otherwise listed. To register for a CLE seminar, please see p. 3 or visit www.mbabar.org/cle and input your OSB number to register at the member rate.
JUNE 6.1 Thursday The Intersection of Title VI, Title IX and Title VII Johnathan Smith 6.7 Wednesday Advising and Serving on a Nonprofit Board: Navigating the Rules and Avoiding the Traps Michele Wasson Heather Weigler 6.22 Thursday Artificial Intelligence in the Law: The Use of Predictive Coding in Discovery Brad Harris Dan Nichols
JULY 7.19 Wednesday Senate Bill 48 and Oregon Bail Reform Mae Lee Browning Aaron Knott 7.25 Tuesday Paid Leave Oregon: 2023 Updates and Implementation Strategies Anne Milligan
In This Issue Calendar ������������������������������������������ 2 CLE �������������������������������������������������� 3 Announcements ������������������������������� 5 Ethics Focus ������������������������������������� 5 Around the Bar ��������������������������������� 6 News From the Court ������������������������ 8 Tips From the Bench ������������������������� 8 MBA Board Officers �������������������������� 9 Profile: Judge Rima Ghandour ����������� 9 YLS �������������������������������������������������10 Member Resource Center �����������������14 Classifieds ��������������������������������������16
Multnomah Bar Association 620 SW 5th Ave Suite 1220 Portland, Oregon 97204 503.222.3275 www.mbabar.org
Cost: $25 for MBA members and non-members
Register at www.mbabar.org
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