Fall 2005
ALUMNI PROFILE
as stewards of the environment and were reasonably successful at doing that, passing Oregon’s bottle bill, beach bill, greenway bill and significant land use planning legislation.”
As an administrator, Carson helped steer the Oregon Judicial Department through a staggering financial crisis by creating and serving on the department’s Budget Reduction Advisory Committee. This committee recommended significant cuts to stay within the evershrinking budget. The committee advised eliminating small claims cases, leaving court staff vacancies open and closing all Oregon courts on Fridays. Despite all his hard work, these cuts were disappointing to Carson in many respects. “When the judicial system shuts down, it is the shutting down of a crucial public service,” he explained.
By the end of his legislative years, Carson was devoted to serving in state government. In 1977, he moved to the Oregon judicial branch, accepting an appointment by Governor Robert Straub to the Marion County Circuit Court. Five years later, Carson was appointed by Governor Victor Atiyeh to the Oregon Supreme Court. He has had overwhelming public support in later judicial elections. After nine years on the Supreme Court, Carson also gained the support of his fellow justices, who elected him chief justice in 1991, 1997 and 2003. Carson has held the office of chief justice for 14 years — longer than any previous chief.
“I believe adamantly in the strength of all three branches [of government] and the value of the judicial system,” said Carson, who not only talks about this value, but also proves it in his actions. With more than 40 years of government work in all three branches of government, Carson has lived a life of public service — and will leave a great legacy for Oregon’s citizens.
“Serving as chief justice is a three-hat job,” he explained, “consisting of administration, work with judges and staff, and legal research and writing.” But Carson has risen to the challenge. Under his leadership, approximately 94 percent of the cases decided by the court have been unanimous decisions. “I see the usefulness of dissents or concurrences from the Court of Appeals because they showcase a split or turn of events,” added Carson. “But unanimous decisions by the Supreme Court provide Oregon with consistent law and, therefore, the law becomes more stable.”
— Jocelyn West Compton Jocelyn West Compton JD’04 serves as assistant to the dean.
Carson delights in the collegial spirit found among the Court’s justices. “Some of my best memories are of the Court meeting to discuss a case and ending with the group crafting an opinion,” Carson remarked. Even in this high-tech age, the entire Court still meets in person to discuss pending opinions, rather than relying on e-mail. With Carson’s help, the court has developed an analytical model for deciding new common law. “The court will only announce new common law if a principle of the law or some extraneous force has changed,” he said. “It will not change established law solely because the people on the Court have changed.”
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