2024 SPEAKER SERIES: Transition, purpose and value
Each calendar year, the Queen’s Bench monthly CLEs and events focus on a different theme. In 2024, the theme of Queen’s Bench monthly lunchtime CLE series is transition, purpose, and value. We’ll explore how to identify and pursue our purpose and our values, and how to find comfort in transition and growth.
Queen's Bench CLEs are now being held in-person at the Multnomah County Central Courthouse, and are also simulcast on FacebookLive, the second Tuesday of the month from noon until 1 PM.
To find the CLE in the Multnomah County Central Courthouse please go to the 13th floor, and you will then find us in Courtroom C.
Queen's Bench CLEs are now being held in-person at the Multnomah County Central Courthouse, and are also simulcast on FacebookLive, the second Tuesday of the month from noon until 1 PM.
To find the CLE in the Multnomah County Central Courthouse please go to the 13th floor, and you will then find us in Courtroom C.
QUEEN'S BENCH MONTHLY CLE SPEAKER SERIES
Tuesday, November 12, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Communication models and effective communication
Speaker Jill Long of Glassman Coaching
Multnomah County Courthouse, 1200 SW 1st Avenue Courtroom 13D, Portland (**NEW courtroom**) IN PERSON ONLY
No cost. Lunch will be provided to registered attendees. Register Online Here
Join us in November to conclude our monthly series of discussions focused on intentionally build a career that is both meaningful and sustainable. Do you believe that others communicate or see their roles the same way you do? Do requests from colleagues leave you feeling confused and unappreciated? Consider that we are not all the same and our communication flavors differ. Don’t let a communication gap keep you from feeling valued or effectively expressing what you need in your career.
Jill Long from Glassman Coaching will join us to facilitate an interactive workshop focused on improving communication. The workshop will use the framework of DISC, which is a communication model that examines how each of us relates to four primary communication styles. DISC helps individuals improve their communication skills and build better relationships by understanding the role of communication styles and preferences, understanding their own communication style, appreciating other communication styles, and learning how to skillfully work across difference.
To facilitate meaningful conversation and connection, this presentation will only be offered in person and will not be available via Zoom.
Jill Long has a deep background in the legal profession. A former partner at Lane Powell, Jill practiced law for almost 20 years before creating the firm’s first formal Director of Professional Development and Diversity position following a year-long fellowship with the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity. In this role, Jill became experienced in developing talent and increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Both at the firm and as a coach at Glassman, she has helped build mentoring circle programs, new partner programs, and professional development academies. Jill is trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Training with OHSU and she is a certified Integral Coach. If you ask her clients, Jill is also an amazing friend, guide, and human being.
Join us at noon in-person at the Multnomah County Central Courthouse, Courtroom 13C (go to the 13th floor, and then look for Courtroom C).
Register Here to through OWLS
Communication models and effective communication
Speaker Jill Long of Glassman Coaching
Multnomah County Courthouse, 1200 SW 1st Avenue Courtroom 13D, Portland (**NEW courtroom**) IN PERSON ONLY
No cost. Lunch will be provided to registered attendees. Register Online Here
Join us in November to conclude our monthly series of discussions focused on intentionally build a career that is both meaningful and sustainable. Do you believe that others communicate or see their roles the same way you do? Do requests from colleagues leave you feeling confused and unappreciated? Consider that we are not all the same and our communication flavors differ. Don’t let a communication gap keep you from feeling valued or effectively expressing what you need in your career.
Jill Long from Glassman Coaching will join us to facilitate an interactive workshop focused on improving communication. The workshop will use the framework of DISC, which is a communication model that examines how each of us relates to four primary communication styles. DISC helps individuals improve their communication skills and build better relationships by understanding the role of communication styles and preferences, understanding their own communication style, appreciating other communication styles, and learning how to skillfully work across difference.
To facilitate meaningful conversation and connection, this presentation will only be offered in person and will not be available via Zoom.
Jill Long has a deep background in the legal profession. A former partner at Lane Powell, Jill practiced law for almost 20 years before creating the firm’s first formal Director of Professional Development and Diversity position following a year-long fellowship with the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity. In this role, Jill became experienced in developing talent and increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Both at the firm and as a coach at Glassman, she has helped build mentoring circle programs, new partner programs, and professional development academies. Jill is trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Training with OHSU and she is a certified Integral Coach. If you ask her clients, Jill is also an amazing friend, guide, and human being.
Join us at noon in-person at the Multnomah County Central Courthouse, Courtroom 13C (go to the 13th floor, and then look for Courtroom C).
Register Here to through OWLS
Recent CLE events:
August 13, 2024 - We All Need Support Systems To Thrive
Support systems are one of the five essential elements needed to succeed at our work. Honestly, it doesn’t really matter what your job is. And regardless of success, we can all get to a point where we become burned out or too overwhelmed to function.
I mean… Do you feel overwhelmed daily, like there’s literally not enough time to get everything done?
Do you hope for help to appear but don’t have any idea what to ask for, let alone from whom?
Do you wish there was an easy button? Sad news. No easy button. BUT putting support systems into place in your life can make your life easier, run more smoothly, and give you what feels like more time back. Join us in August for a discussion with Sonya Sigler on what support systems are and how you can implement them in your life.
We will cover:
- What support systems are, with specific examples
- How to determine what support you need
- Which support system to put into place first
If you have an unshakable desire to thrive in your work and your home life, please join us!
Note: We will be in-person only this month to facilitate an informal, workshop format. All attendees will receive FREE access to Sonya’s Building Support Systems Meditation.
Speaker: As an in-house lawyer for over 25 years, Sonya has extensive experience as an operations and legal executive at businesses ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. She combines her business strategy consulting with her executive leadership coaching to create practical game plans for lawyer leaders looking to reinvent themselves or grow their practice. Sonya is in the confidence-building business and loves to help highly motivated women who feel stuck or frustrated in their personal or professional lives.
June 11, 2024
“Self-Care” hasn’t rightfully earned its bad reputation. Self-care is not about spa days (although those are great too). It’s about setting, and keeping, boundaries. Ask yourself:
Are you overwhelmed with everything you have to do?
Do you feel like each day you are getting further behind?
The good news is that there’s no one-size-fits all when it comes to setting boundaries and taking care of yourself. That’s also the bad news; self-care requires your active participation. Join Queen’s Bench on June 11 at noon for a robust discussion with speaker, author, and coach Sonya Sigler. We’ll cover practical, actionable thoughts that you can implement for yourself on:
How to do more of what energizes/motivates you
How to make a self-care plan unique to you and your happiness
Your health and well-being are important to your success and only you can choose and learn to take care of yourself.
As an in-house lawyer for over 25 years, Sonya has extensive experience as an operations and legal executive at businesses ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. She combines her business strategy consulting with her executive leadership coaching to create practical game plans for lawyer leaders looking to reinvent themselves or grow their practice. Sonya is in the confidence building business and loves to help highly motivated women (and enlightened, progressive men) who feel stuck or frustrated in their personal or professional lives.
April 9, 2024
"Embrace Your Inner Badass: Three Essential Ingredients Female Lawyers Need to Thrive"
As part of our series on values and purpose, Sari de la Motte will join us to share her encounter with examining her values and purpose. When an unexpected cancer diagnosis hit, Sari had to rethink everything. Known as a “badass” before cancer, she found that badassery actually has three surprising ingredients, ones she never would have guessed pre-cancer. In this presentation, she’ll share these three essential ingredients for female lawyers. More stand up than CLE, get ready to laugh, cry and learn how to embrace your inner badass.
Sari de la Motte is a nationally recognized trial consultant, speaker, and certified coach. She has trained extensively with an internationally recognized authority in nonverbal communication and is an expert in nonverbal intelligence. A sought-after keynote speaker, Sari is often asked to headline conferences across the United States. Her book, From Hostage to Hero: Captivate the Jury by Setting Them Free, was published by Trial Guides in the Fall of 2019 and is the first & only book to receive over 100 5-star reviews. Her podcast by the same name offers trial attorneys transformative advice on mindset shifts and innovative trial tips. Sari has spoken for, and works with, several members of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation-only group consisting of the top 100 trial attorneys in the United States. Her articles are regularly featured in state journals and other legal publications. She provides CLEs for various state associations of justice around the country. Because of her unique ability to help attorneys communicate their real selves, she has been dubbed "The Attorney Whisperer."
March 12, 2024
Join us in March to continue our discussion with Jill Long of Glassman Coaching as we explore how to intentionally build a career that is both meaningful and sustainable. If you were unable to attend the first half of this discussion, don’t let that keep you from joining us—this will be a time to personally assess your values, reflect on how well your career aligns with your values, and index your overall wellbeing.
Jill will lead a discussion to help attendees gain a deeper understanding of their own career satisfaction, which will empower each to intentionally build a career (and a life!) that is full of more meaning and purpose. This is an interactive opportunity to examine what sustainability and satisfaction mean to you; you should come with an interest in self-reflection.
To facilitate meaningful conversation and connection, this presentation will only be offered in person and will not be available via Zoom.
Jill Long has a deep background in the legal profession. A former partner at Lane Powell, Jill practiced law for almost 20 years before creating the firm’s first formal Director of Professional Development and Diversity position following a year-long fellowship with the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity. In this role, Jill became experienced in developing talent and increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Both at the firm and as a coach at Glassman, she has helped build mentoring circle programs, new partner programs, and professional development academies. Jill is trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Training with OHSU and she is a certified Integral Coach. If you ask her clients, Jill is also an amazing friend, guide, and human being.
February 13, 2024
As part of the Queen’s Bench 2024 speaker series on identifying and focusing on your purpose and values, we will offer practical sessions to assist with eliminating distractions from our true goals.
Do you ever feel like you're running in too many different directions? Let's fix that. If your to-do list seems endless despite your best efforts, join us as we learn to change our approach to productivity. This workshop will provide practical insights to combat overwhelm—and the feelings of anxiety it can produce—and a framework to propel you towards efficiency. In this hands-on workshop you will learn:
1. Why productivity has nothing to do with time management and everything to do with energy management;
2. How to optimize your energy to increase productivity; and
3. How to get things off of your to-do list once and for all.
Please bring a copy of your calendar and to-do list to this interactive session.
Dr. Amanda Ryan Fear is a feminist leadership coach and the founder of Amanda Ryan Fear Coaching. Amanda helps professional women stop feeling overwhelmed, unfulfilled, and anxious so they can enjoy the lives they're working so hard to build. A former high school assistant principal, Amanda holds a doctoral degree in education methodology, policy, and leadership. When she isn’t working with clients you can find her running a 5-acre horse farm, riding her horse Petey, surfing on the Oregon Coast, climbing the occasional mountain and hanging out with her husband and their 12-year old daughter.
January 9, 2024 - Jill Long, Glassman Coaching
We welcome all to join us in January as we kick off our 2024 series with Jill Long of Glassman Coaching. Jill will offer an interactive space to begin the initial step in the journey towards exploring how to intentionally build a career that is both meaningful and sustainable. You will focus on identifying your values, reflecting on how well your career aligns with your values, and indexing your overall wellbeing. You will gain a deeper understanding of your own career satisfaction, which will empower you to intentionally build a career (and a life!) that is full of more meaning and purpose. This is an interactive opportunity to examine what sustainability and satisfaction mean to you; you should come with an interest in self-reflection.
To facilitate meaningful conversation and connection, this presentation will only be offered in person and will not be available via Zoom.
Jill Long has a deep background in the legal profession. A former partner at Lane Powell, Jill practiced law for almost 20 years before creating the firm’s first formal Director of Professional Development and Diversity position following a year-long fellowship with the Leadership Council for Legal Diversity. In this role, Jill became experienced in developing talent and increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Both at the firm and as a coach at Glassman, she has helped build mentoring circle programs, new partner programs, and professional development academies. Jill is trained in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Training with OHSU and she is a certified Integral Coach. If you ask her clients, Jill is also an amazing friend, guide, and human being.
January’s presentation is generously sponsored by Markowitz Herbold PC.
October 10, 2023 - “Work-Life Balance From the Perspective of a Workaholic”
Since graduating law school, there has never been a day that Ron has felt caught up with work. For every problem he resolved, two more would spring up in its place. How do we tackle the hydra that is the practice of law? Ron will admit, he can be a bit of a workaholic and he would say that his priorities are not always right. However, even though he hasn’t mastered the intersection between work and personal life, he feels he is a lot closer now than he was before. Ron looks forward to sharing five practical strategies that he has found to help create balance so that he is not just a good lawyer for his clients, but a good friend to his loved ones.
Ron K. Cheng is a plaintiff personal injury trial lawyer. He runs a small law firm in downtown Portland. Ron has tried over a dozen cases in his career and has briefed and argued cases at the Oregon Court of Appeals and the Oregon Supreme Court. He serves as a board member for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and the Lewis & Clark Law Alumni Board. He was recently honored with the Oregon State Bar President's Diversity & Inclusion Award.
September 12, 2023 - Ann McQueen and Ashley Cottingham
Please come join us in September as we hear from Ann McQueen and Ashley Cottingham on the topic of Advocating for Older or Disabled Clients.
Ashley Cottingham is Agency Deputy Director at the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman for the State of Oregon. Ashley has worked for the State of Oregon on behalf of seniors and people with disabilities since moving to Salem over seven years ago. Prior to that she worked in Washington, DC for two U.S. Senate Committees. Ann McQueen has worked for the Office of Aging and People with Disabilities within the Oregon Department of Human Services. Over her nine year tenure, she served as the Community Services and Supports Manager for the Long Term Services and Supports Program, the Administrator of Safety, Oversight and Quality (Long-Term Care Licensing) Unit, and as the program’s Research and Policy Integration Manager.
August 8, 2023 - Professor Suzanne Rowe, University of Oregon
Please come join us in August as we hear from Professor Suzanne Rowe from University of Oregon. In her presentation, “Inclusive Writing in Law Practice,” Professor Rowe will discuss how to use the singular “they” in legal documents to achieve both inclusivity and clarity.
Suzanne Rowe has taught legal writing at the University of Oregon School of Law since 2000. She created and writes a monthly column, "The Legal Writer", for the Oregon State Bar Bulletin, which takes a fresh look at writing issues.
June 13, 2023 - Building Inclusive Policies at Work and Beyond
Join Senior Policy Advisor Michelle Rodríguez and Deputy City Attorney Anne Milligan on June 13th at noon at the Multnomah County Courthouse or Facebook Live as they share their critical work building inclusive policies at the City of Portland. Learn about transformative changes in inclusive policies championed, passed, and in progress at City, including 2021’s landmark HRAR 6.08 revisions, which now provide paid chosen family bereavement and pregnancy loss leave to City employees, and a companion pair of proposed Sanctuary City Resolutions for Gender Affirming Healthcare and Reproductive Freedom.
Anne and Michelle will delve into the intricacies of building and implementing these policies, drawing from their extensive experience and successful collaboration. They will provide practical strategies and best practices that can be adapted to any workplace, empowering attendees to initiate positive change within their organizations and beyond. Now is the time to step up and take action. Join us for this empowering seminar and learn why building inclusive policies at work is not only important but a responsibility we all share.
Anne Milligan (she/her) is an employment litigator and advisor with the Portland City Attorney’s Office, as well as a co-drafter of Portland’s landmark paid chosen family bereavement and pregnancy loss leave policy, enacted in October 2021 to national attention. Before joining the Portland City Attorney’s Office, Anne was an attorney at one of the largest U.S. law firms representing management exclusively in the areas of labor, employment, and civil rights.
Michelle Rodríguez (she/her) is a Senior Policy Advisor in Commissioner Mingus Mapps’ Office, and a co-drafter of Portland’s landmark paid chosen family bereavement and pregnancy loss leave policy. She has worked in the non-profit and public sector for nearly two decades, centering her work on racial and social justice, focusing on under-resourced and disenfranchised communities, including serving as vice chair of the Latino Leadership Council of Washington County.
May 9, 2023 - We Help Others, Together
Volunteering can take different forms, but doing it, taking some step, helping in the way you can is what counts. Join us on May 9 to hear from Melissa Bobadilla. Lunch is available to be ordered from Fuego.
April 11, 2023 - Adaptive Technology
Washington County Circuit Court Judge Miranda Summer will join us to discuss her efforts in adding adaptive technology in the courtroom. Judge Summer, who has what she calls an "extremely rare disease" that caused her to have impaired hearing beginning six years ago, also chairs the Oregon Attor neys with Disabilities Association. Lunch is available to be ordered from Fuego.
March 14, 2023 - Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Queen's Bench!
Welcome speaker Trudy Allen! Trudy Allen first joined the OWLS Foundation Board as Historian in 1999 and is also now the Secretary. She served on the Queen’s Bench Board for 11 years (President twice) and on the OWLS Board for 7 years (Historian for 5 years).She has retired from the practice of law, where most recently she was General Counsel of U.S. Bank Equipment Finance, a division of U.S. Bank. In addition to her current volunteer service for the OWLS Foundation, she is doing volunteer work for the Oregon Women Judges project, a joint effort between Oregon Women Lawyers and the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society to compile information on all the women who have served as judges in Oregon. She received her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1982 and her B.S. from Penn State in 1972.
Trudy has spoken about the history of Queen's Bench for its 50th and 60th anniversaries, and we are honored to have her share about the history of our chapter for its 75th anniversary.
Join us on March 14, 2023 at noon in-person at the Multnomah County Central Courthouse, Courtroom 13C (go to the 13th floor, and then look for Courtroom C).
February 14, 2023 - Speaker: Jovita Wang
Jovita T. Wang is a partner at the Portland law firm, Richardson Wang LLP. Jovita’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and trust and estate litigation. In 2019, she was selected as one of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s “Best Lawyers Under 40.” In 2022, she was also recognized by Portland Business Journal’s Forty under 40. Jovita is dedicated to giving back to our community and improving the legal profession through her various board involvement. She is the immediate past president of the Multnomah Bar Association, is a past president of the Oregon Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and has served as an Oregon delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates since 2015. Jovita currently serves as a board member and chair of the publicity committee for the Oregon Women Lawyers Foundation.
October 11, 2022 - Big Ideas: Speaker Kelley Rhoades, Multnomah County DA's Justice Integrity Unit
Senior Deputy District Attorney Kelley Rhoades' presentation will focus on the meaning of justice integrity, the various functions of MCDA's JIU, and why JIU's are a critical component of the criminal justice system.
February 8, 2022 - Big Ideas: Alternatives to the Bar Exam
Judge Darleen Ortega, Jennifer Reger, and Joanna Perini-Abbott will join us for a panel discussion about Oregon State Bar initiatives to explore and implement alternative paths to attorney licensing that go beyond the traditional bar examination. The discussion will be moderated by Miriam Wainwright.
January 11, 2022 - Big Ideas: Licensing Paralegals to Prepare Family Law and Landlord-Tenant Filings
Join us for our first 2022 Queen's Bench Monthly Lunch CLE for a discussion about Paraprofessionals Licensing program with Hon. Kirsten Thompson, Chair of the Paraprofessional Licensing Implementation Committee. Judge Thompson will discuss what the program is, its objectives, and unmet legal needs it aims to meet. As always, registration is free.
November 9, 2021: Phoenixes Rising: Featuring Chief Boone
Beginning with her work to win domestic partnership benefits for faculty and students at the University of Washington in the mid-1990s, Tina Kotek has worked hard to change the world and to empower people to be part of that change. In 2013, Tina became the first openly lesbian speaker of any state house in the nation. Now the longest-serving House Speaker in Oregon history, Tina Kotek has led the charge for positive change here in Oregon. Most recently, she helped lead the state to pass critical funding and policies to support pandemic relief and wildfire recovery, address the housing crisis, improve our behavioral health system, and push for more equitable policing and a fairer criminal justice system. This is in addition to bills that will transition Oregon to 100% clean electricity, expand eligibility for the Oregon Health Plan, respond to the state’s child care crisis and more.
Oregon’s statewide Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle was elected in May 2018 on a platform of protecting workers’ rights and enforcing our state’s civil rights laws. Previously, she was a State Representative and House Majority Leader. Hoyle spent 25 years working in the bicycle industry in domestic and international trade. Before Commissioner Hoyle became the State’s Labor Commissioner, she worked closely with Speaker Kotek in the Oregon Legislature.
Hear these two colleagues in conversation with one another on November 9 for the final regular month of the 2021 Queen’s Bench Monthly Speaker Series: how they got their starts in politics, how they overcame any political setbacks, leading through the pandemic and what gives them hope for the future, followed by a general Q&A.
October 12, 2021: Phoenixes Rising: Featuring Chief Boone
How do you rise from the ashes? At every phase in life or pivotal decision point, people hesitate or fall back into doubt, fear, and insecurity, which paralyses their growth, opportunities, or progress. Many people make decisions based on their reaction to fear. Fear of making the wrong decision, fear of humiliation, or the fear of failing. In order to rise, you have to learn from your failures. Sometimes in our darkest hours we turn away from our greatest strength, our resilience. If I ever wanted to determine my destiny, step into a leadership role, or have a voice at the table, I had to learn to validate my feelings instead of masking my pain. It was the only way I could connect with my purpose.
- Chief Boone
Fire Chief Sara Boone is a Portland native and a 24-year Portland Fire & Rescue veteran. In 1995, Chief Boone became the first African-American female firefighter to enter the ranks of Portland Fire & Rescue since its inception in 1883 and she is its first Black Fire Chief.
Chief Boone, who is deeply respected by her colleagues, is considered a collaborative and team-oriented leader who champions the selfless service of others. Chief Boone’s extensive experience and success in the fire service has been recognized through the Fire Chief’s Certification of Appreciation and Portland’s Exceptional Wonder Woman (DEEP) Diverse and Empowered Employees of Portland Award.
Throughout Chief Boone’s career, she has remained heavily involved in community service, outreach, and education. The work she chooses to do is intentional and with purpose to help inspire, shape, and support the future generation of service leaders and improve the resiliency of our communities.
September 14, 2021: Phoenixes Rising: Featuring Victoria Blachly
Victoria Blachly will be speaking about the creation of the Summit of Awesomeness, an informal (in all sense of the word) group of women who all worked at one of Portland's big firm at one time or another, who meet irregularly, but quite regularly stay in touch to check in and offer support, congratulations on achievements, and share their thoughts on the world via text. Since 2014, she has been recognized as an Oregon Super Lawyer in the areas of Trust and Estate Litigation. In 2014, she was appointed to the Governor’s Commission on Senior Services, and in 2016, Blachly was appointed to the Uniform Law Commission. Blachly has been writing for and lecturing at national and state legal seminars pertaining to trusts and estates since 2001, and she has engaged in state and national lobbying for updating laws for fiduciaries and vulnerable adults.
August 10, 2021: Phoenixes Rising: Featuring Ebony Clarke
Stepping Into Your Healing. In 2018, after 19 years as a clinician and manager of behavioral health services, Ebony Clarke took over the very agency that supported her mother’s choice to change. What she learned throughout her upbringing shaped the way Clarke leads — with a deep faith in God, an ingrained sense of responsibility, a passion for equity, and a willingness to be vulnerable, take risks and carry on. “If you listen, communicate, build trust and cultivate relationships, you can do anything,” Clarke said. “It’s about creating a level platform where everyone has a voice.” Come and hear how Clarke leverages lived experience to support others who are stepping into their journey of healing, hope, and recovery.
Learning Objectives
1. Understanding and learning how to leverage the role and influence of culture when providing care.
2. Understanding what it means to serve the whole person through an integrated lens in the behavioral health arena.
3. Practitioners will learn how to utilize lived experience to engage, activate, and support their clients to sustain wellness and recovery.
4. Practitioners will learn the foundational concepts of how to integrating peer roles within an organizational model.
Ebony Clarke, Interim Director of Multnomah County Health Department, and previous Multnomah County Behavioral Health Director, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has 24 years of experience working in both the publicly funded and non-profit behavioral health arena developing services and supports, providing leadership, organizational development, people management, and equity and inclusion. Ebony joined Multnomah County in 2010, stepping-in as the Senior Manager of Direct Clinical Services. Before joining the county, she worked as a Service Director of Child and Family Services at Lifeworks NW. In that role, she oversaw child and family outpatient mental health, prevention, and culturally-specific adult mental health and addiction services.
Ebony earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oregon in Community and Human Services in 1999 and earned her Master's Degree in Social Work from Portland State University in 2001. In October of 2020, Ebony was appointed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown to the Oregon Health Policy Board. In April 2013, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber appointed Ms. Clarke to the Oregon State Board of Licensed Social Workers, where she served two terms. She also volunteered her time on the Lake Oswego School District Board Appointed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee serving as one of the Co-Chairs. Ebony’s mission is to build and support a continuum of care that yields equitable and quality services to promote individual, family, and community healing and wellbeing. During her off time, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 18 years Matt, and their two son’s Matteo and Miles ages 14 and 9.
July 13, 2021: Phoenixes Rising: Featuring Anne Milligan
Deputy City Attorney Anne Milligan is a first-generation professional who grew up in project housing in Kansas City, Missouri with a mentally ill, single mother and the specter of an absentee addict father. After her mother remarried, the newly blended family began a religious journey that culminated in her mother and step-father joining a millennial end of times cult, pulling her out of school for religious re-education, and Ms. Milligan ultimately running away from home the last day of her junior year of high school, never to return. But Ms. Milligan was championed and encouraged by friends, college professors, and ultimately the Oregon Women Lawyers community to overcome and after years of struggle, to finally thrive. Please join us for the July Queen’s Bench CLE on July 13 at noon (Zoom) and hear Anne Milligan’s story of resiliency.
June 8, 2021: Phoenixes Rising: Featuring Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson
Jessica Vega Pederson has served as a Multnomah County Commissioner since January 2017. As Commissioner, she led the work on Preschool for All, which voters approved in November 2020 to provide universal preschool for all 3 and 4 year old children in Multnomah County. She sits on several regional transportation committees and champions legislation on environmental justice, climate, and air quality. Before being elected as county commissioner, Jessica served as a State Representative in the Oregon legislature, where she was the first Latina elected to the House.
Commissioner Vega Pederson is passionate about creating opportunities for Black, Indigenous and people of color, women, and working parents to thrive. In high school and on the campaign trail, Commissioner Vega Pederson experienced bias about her identities as a Latina and as a mother. These experiences did not deter her from seeking leadership positions, whether that be as a student activist, a state representative, or a County commissioner. Instead, they propelled her into roles where she can serve as a leader in her community and create meaningful policy.
May 11, 2021: Phoenixes Rising: Featuring Secretary of State Shemia Fagan
Secretary of State Shemia Fagan is mom to two young children and a proud lifelong Oregonian. Secretary Fagan was raised by her dad and two older brothers in small towns in Wasco County. She has always been open with Oregonians about the challenges her family overcame—Fagan’s dad struggled as a single parent and her mom battled addiction and homelessness during her childhood. But Secretary Fagan was encouraged by loving members of her community and the dedicated educators who would not give up on her. Please join us for the May Queen’s Bench CLE on May 11 and hear Secretary Fagan’s story of resiliency and her passion for serving Oregonians.
April 13, 2021: Phoenixes Rising: Featuring Ebony Clarke
In 2018, after 19 years as a clinician and manager of behavioral health services, Clarke took over the very agency that supported her mother’s choice to change. What she learned throughout her upbringing shaped the way Clarke leads — with a deep faith in God, an ingrained sense of responsibility, a passion for equity, and a willingness to be vulnerable, take risks and carry on. Come and hear how Clarke leverages lived experience to support others who are stepping into their journey of healing, hope, and recovery.
March 9, 2021 - Phoenixes Rising: Featuring Rebecca Marshall
Rebecca Marshall was one of those rare kids who always knew what she wanted to do when she grew up. When asked by the teacher in 9th grade what do you want to be, she raised her hand and said "I want to be a newscaster. I want to be the next Jane Pauley."
She interned at radio stations in high school, took broadcasting and journalism courses in college. She graduated and pursued that newscaster dream in radio for the next 30 years. This included a reporter position at KSL in Salt Lake City, a morning show position in Detroit, Michigan with former child star and actor Danny Bonaduce (Danny Partridge) and through the years some appearances on PBS TV to host pledge drives. She moved to Portland to work on the "Gina, Cort and Rebecca Show" in 1998 and then went back to her news roots at FM News 101 KXL where she was the morning anchor and News Director for 20 years.
But what happens when that dream is no longer a dream and when it's time to make a change? What awaits a person leaving a lifelong career in news and broadcasting? Can you teach an old dog new tricks? At the age of 52, she was about to find out. Trial by fire took on a whole new meaning, literally.
February 9, 2021 - Phoenixes Rising
Mikki Gilette is the Major Gifts Officer at Basic Rights Oregon. She was born transgender at a time when that word didn't exist. When she transitioned in adulthood as a public school teacher, parents led an effort to have her fired, which involved television news stories asking whether she should be allowed to keep her job. From trying moments like these, Mikki discovered a resilience and a passion for advocating for others. Please join us for the February Queen’s Bench (Zoom) Lunchtime Series on February 9, 2021, at noon, to hear her story of rising as a phoenix from the ashes.
January 12, 2021 - Phoenixes Rising: From Sudden Hearing Loss, to Hearing Cases as a Judge
In late 2016, Miranda Summer experienced a sudden and traumatic onset of an autoimmune disease that resulted in severe hearing loss, along with other short- and long-term effects. It was a huge blow. She had to relearn how to litigate cases in a world that suddenly didn’t feel built for her while also working on restoring her self-confidence. Please join us on the January Queen’s Bench (Zoom) Lunchtime Series on January 12, 2021, at noon, to hear her story of rising from that sudden and shocking transformation of her life to becoming the newest Associate Judge on the Beaverton municipal Court.
December 8, 2020 – Holiday Lunch Honoring Women Judges
This year will be different from every other holiday luncheon honoring women judges in history, so please join us and build yet another "only in 2020" memory that you will be sure to treasure for years.
November 10, 2020 – Self-represented Parties: a View from the Bench
Please join Queen’s Bench on November 10, 2020 at noon for three different judges’ perspectives on handling pro se litigants in and outside the courtroom. Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Patricia McGuire, Oregon Tax Court Judge Robert Manicke, and Magistrate Allison Boomer will discuss the complexities of decision making when pro se litigants appear before the court, as well as the judges’ top tips for what the lawyers representing the opposition should know and do in every case involving a pro se litigant.
CLE Handout Materials Here
October 13, 2020 – Mult. Co. Circuit Court Judge Kelly Skye
Multnomah Co. Circuit Court Judge Kelly Skye will discuss how she has approached difficult legal decisions over the course of her 11-year judicial career.
September 8, 2020 – IT’S YOUR TURN
What happens when you feel your assigned judge won’t be able to fairly adjudicate your case? U.S.D.C Magistrate Judge Youlee You and Ret. Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Jean Maurer will discuss what happens when difficult decisions hit the other side of the bench. Please join Queen’s Bench on September 8, 2020 at noon for a necessary conversation about judicial and litigant demeanor and how it affects the decision-making process.
Handout
Procedural Fairness Video
ABA Article on Influencing and Challenging Judges and their Decisions in Child Welfare Cases
August 11, 2020 – DEADLY SPEECH
Against the backdrop of a rash of violence against abortion providers in the early 1990s, Portland-based American Coalition of Life Activists published a “Deadly Dozen” poster featuring 13 abortion providers and their home addresses, declaring they were “GUILTY OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.” Was the “Deadly Dozen” poster protected First Amendment speech, or a “true threat”? Senior U.S.D.C. Judge Robert Jones (judge on the case), U.S.D.C. Michael H. Simon (then-amicus counsel for ACLU Foundation of Oregon), and Carol J. Bernick (then counsel for Planned Parenthood; now Of Counsel, Davis Wright Tremaine) will discuss Planned Parenthood, et al. v. American Coalition of Life Activists.
July 14, 2020 – COURTS IN CRISIS
Every judge faces difficult decisions, but for immigration judges—who are employees of the U.S. Department of Justice rather than lifetime or term appointees (or electeds)—the decision-making process is interrupted and informed by unique complications ranging from high case quotas, waning decisional independence, DOJ policy directives, and the complex vicarious trauma that comes from hearing petitioners' stories of rape, genocide, and religious and political persecution.
Please join Queen’s Bench on July 14, 2020 at noon for a critical conversation with retired immigration Judge Andrea Sloan about the state of the U.S. immigration judiciary.
June 9, 2020
Thinking about joining the protests? Curious about how to become a certified legal observer? Please join Queen’s Bench for a timely Know Your Rights and Intro to Legal Observer Training with ACLU of Oregon Interim Director Kelly Simon on June 9th at noon on the Zoom platform. Link to join will automatically be given upon registration.
Register Here
Your Rights as a Protester Handout 1
Your Rights as a Protester Handout 1
ACLU Raiford Amicus
State v. McNally
May 12, 2020 – DEATH WITH DIGNITY
"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" as laid out in the United States Declaration of Independence are just three examples of the "unalienable Rights" with which all people are endowed. They form a moral standard that, as a country, we believe is worth striving for. But what happens at the end of life? Do we have a liberty interest in choosing the timing and manner of our death?
Join QB on May 12, 2020 at noon at the federal courthouse, where Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Bushong and Barbara Coombs Lee—lawyer, physician assistant, and President Emerita of Compassion & Choices—will discuss one of the most difficult decisions of all, Death with Dignity. Our esteemed panelists will discuss their involvement in the drafting and passing of Oregon’s 1994 Death with Dignity Act, as well as the litigation of Lee v. Oregon (1997) (the first challenge to medical aid in dying in the U.S.), and Gonzales v. Oregon (2006) (access to controlled substances for medical aid in dying).
CLE Outline Materials
April 14, 2020 – COVID-19 IN THE COURTS
Few things have disrupted the judiciary in such a widespread manner as the current pandemic of COVID-19. Multnomah County Circuit Court, the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, and Oregon Supreme Court Justice Martha Walters have issued different orders and supplemental directives on the ongoing operation of the courts in light of this unprecedented development. Join Multnomah County Circuit Court Presiding Judge Stephen Bushong and U.S.D.C. Chief Judge Marco Hernandez at noon on April 14, 2020 at noon on the Zoom platform for an update on the impact of COVID-19 on the operations of Oregon courts.
March 10, 2020 – WHO OWNS THE EMBRYO?
A wealthy man and woman meet, date, and decide to combine their genetic material to create a child through IVF. The man proclaims he only wants male embryos; the woman agrees to take any leftover female embryos, dreading their destruction. Contracts solidifying the arrangement are signed—or not signed depending on who you ask. A surrogate carries the baby boy to term; meanwhile, the wealthy man and woman have broken up. The new father rushes to the courthouse to have a judge determine whether he is the sole legal parent of his new son. Who wins?
Please join Queen’s Bench at the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse (Portland) on March 10, 2020 at noon for a fascinating conversation about Cory Noel Sause v. Jordan Schnitzer between two of the three Multnomah County Circuit Court judges in that case, Judge Katherine Tennyson and Judge Beth Allen.
Supplementary Materials
Dahl v. Angle
In re Registered Domestic P'ship of Madrone
Leckie v. Voorhies
McIntyre v. Crouch
Shineovich v. Shineovich
Weaver v. Guinn
February 11, 2020 – DIFFICULT DECISIONS OVER 28 YEARS with JUDGE ANNA BROWN
Only four women have served as a U.S. District Court (i.e., Article III) judge since the court’s founding in 1859. U.S.D.C. Judge Anna Brown—the third woman to be appointed to the federal District Court bench—will discuss how she has approached making difficult decisions over the course of her 28-year judicial career, from her first state court appointment in 1992 to her appointment as an Article III judge for the District of Oregon in 1999.
January 14, 2020 – THE LEGALIZATION OF SAME SEX MARRIAGE
Forty-three years after litigation for same-sex marriage first began in the United States, Deanna Geiger and Janine Nelson, a lesbian couple, sued Governor Kitzhaber and other state government officials in federal court seeking to overturn Oregon's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The following year, on May 19, 2014, U.S.D.C. Judge Michael McShane granted the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, resulting in the immediate issuance of same-sex marriage licenses in Oregon.
Judge McShane noted that he anticipated that “a large number of Oregonians, perhaps even a majority,” would have religious or moral objections to his ruling. “Where will this all lead? I know that many suggest we are going down a slippery slope that will have no moral boundaries. To those who truly harbor such fears, I can only say this: Let us look less to the sky to see what might fall; rather, let us look to each other ... and rise.” Geiger v. Kitzhaber, 994 F. Supp. 2d 1128, 1147 (D. Or. 2014).
Please join Queen’s Bench at the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse (Portland) on January 14, 2020 at noon for a very special conversation about Geiger between Judge McShane and Multnomah County Judge Katherine von ter Stegge, counsel for Multnomah County in that case.
November 12, 2019 - Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum’s Criminal Justice Legislative Priorities. Aaron Knott, Legislative Director for the Office of the Attorney General
Race, Bigotry and the Law: A Legislative Overview. In recent years, the Oregon Attorney General and Oregon legislature have become ever more aware of chronic disparities in the impact of the criminal justice system on Oregon’s diverse communities, and have responded with legislation governing profiling by law enforcement, the prosecution of hate crimes, and more. Aaron Knott is the Legislative Director for the Oregon Attorney General and former counsel for the House and Senate Judiciary Committees at the Oregon legislature. He will provide an overview of recent legislation attempting to address disproportionality throughout the criminal justice system, and outline paths forward on the work remaining to be done.
October 8, 2019 - Multnomah County DA's Approach to Criminal Justice and Crime Victims in the Age of Criminal Justice Reform
Please join Queen's Bench on October 8th at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave) for a presentation by Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill and Meg Garvin, Executive Director of the National Crime Victim Law Institute. DA Underhill will discuss his office's approach to criminal justice and Meg Garvin, who is a Clinical Professor of Law at Lewis and Clark, will discuss crime victim rights in the age of criminal justice reform.
Presentation Slides - Rod Underhill
Presentation Slides - Meg Garvin
September 10, 2019 - Criminal Law and Immigration
Please join Queen's Bench on September 10th at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave) for a presentation on Criminal Law and Immigration by Erin Pettigrew with the Oregon Judicial Department, and Whitney Phelps, Padilla attorney at Multnomah Public Defenders. Erin will discuss ICE arrests at courthouses and legislative changes that impact immigration, while Whitney will examine the intersection of immigration law and criminal law.
Handout - Presentation
Handout - Additional Materials
August 13, 2019 - Criminal Justice Reform
Queen's Bench is honored to welcome Oregon House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson, who is a leading advocate for criminal justice reform, to our Queen's Bench Luncheon on August 13th at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave). Please join us to hear Representative Williamson speak about her work in sentencing reform for adult and juvenile offenders, Grand Jury recordation, Oregon State Hospital admissions for low level offenders, unanimous verdicts and more.
July 9, 2019 - Juvenile Justice Reform
Please join Queen's Bench on July 9th at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave) for a presentation by Trevor Walraven, Youth Justice Project Director of Public Education and Outreach for the Oregon Justice Resource Center. Mr. Walraven is a formerly incarcerated youth who served almost 18 years in correctional facilities starting at age 14. In 2016 he successfully proved outstanding rehabilitation and was released under Oregon's "Second Look" statute. He will share his efforts to reform Oregon's juvenile justice system and will discuss Senate Bill 1008.
Prior to attending this luncheon, we encourage you to gain some background through the following materials:
ORS 420A.203
2019 Legislative Session SB 1008
June 11, 2019 - Opioids: Prevention, Enforcement and Treatment
Please join Queen’s Bench on June 11 at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave, Portland) for a presentation by members of the US Attorney’s office on efforts by the US Department of Justice to respond to the opioid epidemic. According to the some of the latest national statistics, more than 60% of the 70,237 drug overdose deaths in 2017 were opioid related. Oregon has one of the highest rates of opioid prescriptions and opioid misuse in the country averaging three deaths every week from prescription opioid overdose. Increasingly, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are implicated in overdose deaths. AUSA Suzanne Hayden, AUSA Adrian Brown and AUSA Donna Maddux will discuss efforts by US Attorney’s office to reduce the number of deaths and other public health and safety impacts from opioids with a focused strategy of prevention and outreach, treatment and enforcement.
May 14, 2019 - BAIL REFORM AND RE-ENTRY PROGRAMS
Please join Queen’s Bench on May 14th at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave, Portland) to welcome Portland Freedom Fund founders Gina Spencer and Amanda Trujillo. According to the Harvard Law School Criminal Justice Policy Program, 75% of inmates jailed pretrial have been charged with only drug or property crimes and many cannot afford bail. Portland Freedom Fund pays bail for jail inmates in the Portland metro area who are jailed pretrial. Re-entry programs are important in breaking the cycle of recidivism. Laura Locker of Mercy Corp NW and Tonia Closson of Oregon Women Lawyers will discuss their efforts to assist incarcerated individuals in successfully transitioning back to their communities when they are released.
Portland Freedom Fund Presentation Handout
April 9, 2019 - ELDER JUSTICE
Please join Queen's Bench at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave, Portland) on April 9, 2019 for a panel presentation on Elder Justice as part of the Crime and Punishment speaker series. Every year, thieves and con artists cheat thousands of Oregonians out of their hard-earned money and valuable personal information. During this panel presentation, you will hear how state and federal agencies work to stop the fraud before it starts and hold offenders accountable from three speakers: Ellen Klem, Director of Consumer Outreach and Education for the Oregon Department of Justice; Daniel Norris, Elder Abuse Resource Prosecutor, Oregon Department of Justice; and Donna Maddux, Assistant United States Attorney and Elder Justice Coordinator for the District of Oregon. CLE credit pending.
Prior to attending this luncheon, we encourage you to gain some background through the following materials:
Handout: Six Signs It Is A Scam
Handout: Just Hang Up The Phone on Imposter Scams!
Biography for Ellen Klem, Director of Consumer Outreach and Education for the Oregon Department of Justice
March 12, 2019 Bill of Rights for Children of Incarcerated Parents
It’s movie time! Please join Queen’s Bench on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at noon at the federal courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland) room 9A for a screening featuring acclaimed local filmmaker Brian Lindstrom’s documentaries, “Mothering Inside” and “Like a Shield”. “Mothering Inside” follows incarcerated mothers and their children who are part of the Family Preservation Project at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville. The film was used in Oregon to help enact a bill of rights for children of imprisoned parents; the first state law of its kind. “Like a Shield” is Mr. Lindstrom's new documentary that is the culmination of many hours of interviews with mothers who had participated in the Family Preservation Project. Jessica Katz, Family Preservation Project Director, and Ashley Dorety, Kendra Wright and Ebony Howard, alumnae of the project, will present following the screening. We are excited to welcome Brian Lindstrom as our special honored guest!
Prior to attending this luncheon, we encourage you to gain some background through the following materials:
Children of imprisoned parents get Oregon bill of rights
ORS 423.160 - Bill of rights of children of incarcerated parents - 2017 Oregon Revised Statutes
What is the Family Preservation Project?
Please join Queen’s Bench on May 14th at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave, Portland) to welcome Portland Freedom Fund founders Gina Spencer and Amanda Trujillo. According to the Harvard Law School Criminal Justice Policy Program, 75% of inmates jailed pretrial have been charged with only drug or property crimes and many cannot afford bail. Portland Freedom Fund pays bail for jail inmates in the Portland metro area who are jailed pretrial. Re-entry programs are important in breaking the cycle of recidivism. Laura Locker of Mercy Corp NW and Tonia Closson of Oregon Women Lawyers will discuss their efforts to assist incarcerated individuals in successfully transitioning back to their communities when they are released.
Portland Freedom Fund Presentation Handout
April 9, 2019 - ELDER JUSTICE
Please join Queen's Bench at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave, Portland) on April 9, 2019 for a panel presentation on Elder Justice as part of the Crime and Punishment speaker series. Every year, thieves and con artists cheat thousands of Oregonians out of their hard-earned money and valuable personal information. During this panel presentation, you will hear how state and federal agencies work to stop the fraud before it starts and hold offenders accountable from three speakers: Ellen Klem, Director of Consumer Outreach and Education for the Oregon Department of Justice; Daniel Norris, Elder Abuse Resource Prosecutor, Oregon Department of Justice; and Donna Maddux, Assistant United States Attorney and Elder Justice Coordinator for the District of Oregon. CLE credit pending.
Prior to attending this luncheon, we encourage you to gain some background through the following materials:
Handout: Six Signs It Is A Scam
Handout: Just Hang Up The Phone on Imposter Scams!
Biography for Ellen Klem, Director of Consumer Outreach and Education for the Oregon Department of Justice
March 12, 2019 Bill of Rights for Children of Incarcerated Parents
It’s movie time! Please join Queen’s Bench on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at noon at the federal courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland) room 9A for a screening featuring acclaimed local filmmaker Brian Lindstrom’s documentaries, “Mothering Inside” and “Like a Shield”. “Mothering Inside” follows incarcerated mothers and their children who are part of the Family Preservation Project at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville. The film was used in Oregon to help enact a bill of rights for children of imprisoned parents; the first state law of its kind. “Like a Shield” is Mr. Lindstrom's new documentary that is the culmination of many hours of interviews with mothers who had participated in the Family Preservation Project. Jessica Katz, Family Preservation Project Director, and Ashley Dorety, Kendra Wright and Ebony Howard, alumnae of the project, will present following the screening. We are excited to welcome Brian Lindstrom as our special honored guest!
Prior to attending this luncheon, we encourage you to gain some background through the following materials:
Children of imprisoned parents get Oregon bill of rights
ORS 423.160 - Bill of rights of children of incarcerated parents - 2017 Oregon Revised Statutes
What is the Family Preservation Project?
February 12, 2019 EXONERATED!
Please join Queen's Bench at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave, Portland) on February 12, 2019 to hear about the Oregon Innocence Project's first exoneration! Steve Wax, Legal Director of the Oregon Innocence Project, and Brittney Plesser, Oregon Innocence Project staff attorney, will join us to present the fascinating case of Josh Horner: a Redmond man who was convicted of child sex abuse and sentenced to 50 years in prison only to be exonerated after the Oregon Innocence Project took his case.
Please join Queen's Bench at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave, Portland) on February 12, 2019 to hear about the Oregon Innocence Project's first exoneration! Steve Wax, Legal Director of the Oregon Innocence Project, and Brittney Plesser, Oregon Innocence Project staff attorney, will join us to present the fascinating case of Josh Horner: a Redmond man who was convicted of child sex abuse and sentenced to 50 years in prison only to be exonerated after the Oregon Innocence Project took his case.
January 8, 2019 CRACKED... NOT BROKEN
Please join Queen's Bench at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave, Portland) on January 8, 2019 for the first presentation in our Crime and Punishment speaker series. Kristin Tierney is the author of the recently released memoir, "Cracked... Not Broken". It is the story of her epic journey- losing everything due to a life-destroying, crack-cocaine addiction; resorting to felony criminal activity and prostitution to survive; and eventually, the spiritual surrender that led her out of the darkness. Kristin's story is a glorious illustration of accountability and authenticity. Faith and forgiveness. Grace and gratitude. She now serves as a mentor for the District of Oregon's Federal Re-entry Court program and works with underserved communities. Her book, "Cracked... Not Broken" is available on Amazon.
Please join Queen's Bench at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW 3rd Ave, Portland) on January 8, 2019 for the first presentation in our Crime and Punishment speaker series. Kristin Tierney is the author of the recently released memoir, "Cracked... Not Broken". It is the story of her epic journey- losing everything due to a life-destroying, crack-cocaine addiction; resorting to felony criminal activity and prostitution to survive; and eventually, the spiritual surrender that led her out of the darkness. Kristin's story is a glorious illustration of accountability and authenticity. Faith and forgiveness. Grace and gratitude. She now serves as a mentor for the District of Oregon's Federal Re-entry Court program and works with underserved communities. Her book, "Cracked... Not Broken" is available on Amazon.
November 13 BEHIND THE VEIL - A MUSLIM PERSPECTIVE
Please join Queen's Bench at noon on Tuesday, November 13 at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW Main St) for our last luncheon CLE of the season, Behind the Veil - A Muslim Perspective, with Sefana Wilde, Wafa Almaktari and Nura Elmaghbari. Hijab - often thought of as head scarves or even cloaks - is actually an Islamic concept of modesty and privacy that happens to be most often expressed in women's clothing. Public expression of hijab is extremely controversial, from France's ban on hijab in 2010 to the backlash and praise of Nike's 2018 pro hijab, designed for Muslim female athletes. A hijab is a personal and cultural concept, as well as an act of worship among Muslim women, and each of our November speakers wear or have worn hijab. They will share what it means to them living in Oregon, in their own words.
Ms. Wilde is the owner of Moon Dance Wellness - Holistic Healing for Women. She studied theater with "The American Academy of Dramatic Arts" and danced with the Pacific Festival Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater and Do Jump Theater. Ms. Wilde also studies other forms of dance including modern, tap, aerial, and studies yoga.
Ms. Almaktari is the Menasa Initiative Student Coordinator at Portland State University. She has also served as the Equity Ambassador and Political Organizer for Portland Community College. She has a web based series called "The Immigrant Story," and she created a video project regarding the 2017 fatal Hollywood MAX stabbings.
Ms. Elmaghbari is the Director of the Board for Portland Refugee Support Group. She has focused on educating and speaking out on the public on myths and stereotypes regarding Muslim culture, specific to women and hijabs. Ms. Elmaghbari is a speaker on issues related to the plight of refugees from around the world as well as in Portland.
CLE credit is being sought.
Please join Queen's Bench at noon on Tuesday, November 13 at the Federal Courthouse (1000 SW Main St) for our last luncheon CLE of the season, Behind the Veil - A Muslim Perspective, with Sefana Wilde, Wafa Almaktari and Nura Elmaghbari. Hijab - often thought of as head scarves or even cloaks - is actually an Islamic concept of modesty and privacy that happens to be most often expressed in women's clothing. Public expression of hijab is extremely controversial, from France's ban on hijab in 2010 to the backlash and praise of Nike's 2018 pro hijab, designed for Muslim female athletes. A hijab is a personal and cultural concept, as well as an act of worship among Muslim women, and each of our November speakers wear or have worn hijab. They will share what it means to them living in Oregon, in their own words.
Ms. Wilde is the owner of Moon Dance Wellness - Holistic Healing for Women. She studied theater with "The American Academy of Dramatic Arts" and danced with the Pacific Festival Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater and Do Jump Theater. Ms. Wilde also studies other forms of dance including modern, tap, aerial, and studies yoga.
Ms. Almaktari is the Menasa Initiative Student Coordinator at Portland State University. She has also served as the Equity Ambassador and Political Organizer for Portland Community College. She has a web based series called "The Immigrant Story," and she created a video project regarding the 2017 fatal Hollywood MAX stabbings.
Ms. Elmaghbari is the Director of the Board for Portland Refugee Support Group. She has focused on educating and speaking out on the public on myths and stereotypes regarding Muslim culture, specific to women and hijabs. Ms. Elmaghbari is a speaker on issues related to the plight of refugees from around the world as well as in Portland.
CLE credit is being sought.
October 9 Woman in Law: What does it mean to be feminine?
Sep 11 SITE VISIT - A WOMEN'S SHELTER
Please join Queen’s Bench on September 11th for a unique experience visiting Jean’s Place, a 60-bed short term, housing focused residential program for women. The program provides case management, life-and job-skills training, and support services. This program provides dedicated beds to women involved in the Multnomah County community justice system and U.S. Military Veterans. Abstinence from alcohol and drugs is expected of residents.
Jean’s Place celebrated 20 years of service in 2017 and was named after Jean DeMaster, a long time housing advocate in Portland. Jean’s Place provided over 20,000 bed nights in this last fiscal year. (2017-2018). There were 342 unduplicated participants had a safe place to sleep at Jean’s Place this latest fiscal year with 111 participants moved into permanent, stable housing.
Even with unique and dedicated programs like Jean’s Place, houselessness continues to rise in Portland. Multnomah County has a shortage of over 25,000 affordable housing units. People who are considered chronically houseless are twice
The tour will be led by Leanne Sliva, Jean’s Place Manager since 2016. Leanne started working with people experiencing houselessness in college in 1993, volunteering at Bread and Roses in Olympia, Washington. She obtained a BA in Community Development and went on to work as a Peace Corps Volunteer and consultant for a non-government organization in Lesotho, Africa. Leanne worked as a case manager at Jean’s Place from 2001-2004. She then moved to Maui and continued working with survivors of domestic violence as well as the reintegration of prisoners into the community; but Leanne’s primary experience comes from working as an outreach case manager for people living with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness for 10 years. Leanne was honored to be chosen as Jean’s Place manager in 2016. She brings ample experience working with people experiencing houselessness and is extremely focused on ensuring the program has a trauma-informed approach.
August 14 RED MEANS HELP - VICTIMS OF LABOR TRAFFICKING
Please join us Tuesday, August 14th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland (lunch tickets available here) or via FacebookLive on the Queen’s Bench Facebook page for "Red Means Help - Victims Of Labor Trafficking" with Michael Encke (Gonzales, Gonzales & Gonzales Immigration Law Offices) and former refugee, Portland Police Bureau Officer Natasha Haunsperger.
The Red Means Help campaign launched in April 2017 to stop human labor trafficking in the Portland metro area. Labor trafficked individuals are brought to the U.S. from other countries under a false promise of a good job; instead, they wind up being forced to perform labor for free.
The Red Means Help campaign reaches out to victims in their own languages through signage on public transit and other high traffic areas. It lets them know that the Portland Police want to help and that they have rights, regardless of the lies, threats, misinformation, or coercion from their traffickers. CLE credit is being sought.
Please watch the following 30-minute film in preparation for the lunch: Reclaiming Their Lives.
July 10, 2018 WARRIOR MOMS - FIGHTING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Please join us Tuesday, July 10th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland or via FacebookLive on the Queen’s Bench Facebook page for “Warrior Moms - Fighting For Children With Disabilities” with Heather Decker (former attorney and current business management coach); Beth Farnum; former high school teacher and current education litigator and disability rights advocate Elizabeth Polay (Wiscarson Law); and disability rights litigator Laurie Zwingli (Law Office of Laurie H. Zwingli, LLC).
Historically, people with disabilities have faced invisibility, institutionalization, abuse and neglect; often, they have been denied fundamental civil rights including but not limited to access to appropriate education, healthcare, and reasonable accommodations. The last century marked the beginning of a sea change with the passage of landmark federal legislation that changed the lives of people experiencing intellectual, developmental, or other disabilities and their families. Despite these great strides, however, many obstacles still stand in the way of authentic, comprehensive inclusion. In the absence of an attorney, a parent—in particular, mothers—is often their child’s best advocate. At the July Queen’s Bench lunch, we will hear from mothers and litigators who have served in that role for their children or clients.
Please join Queen’s Bench on September 11th for a unique experience visiting Jean’s Place, a 60-bed short term, housing focused residential program for women. The program provides case management, life-and job-skills training, and support services. This program provides dedicated beds to women involved in the Multnomah County community justice system and U.S. Military Veterans. Abstinence from alcohol and drugs is expected of residents.
Jean’s Place celebrated 20 years of service in 2017 and was named after Jean DeMaster, a long time housing advocate in Portland. Jean’s Place provided over 20,000 bed nights in this last fiscal year. (2017-2018). There were 342 unduplicated participants had a safe place to sleep at Jean’s Place this latest fiscal year with 111 participants moved into permanent, stable housing.
Even with unique and dedicated programs like Jean’s Place, houselessness continues to rise in Portland. Multnomah County has a shortage of over 25,000 affordable housing units. People who are considered chronically houseless are twice
The tour will be led by Leanne Sliva, Jean’s Place Manager since 2016. Leanne started working with people experiencing houselessness in college in 1993, volunteering at Bread and Roses in Olympia, Washington. She obtained a BA in Community Development and went on to work as a Peace Corps Volunteer and consultant for a non-government organization in Lesotho, Africa. Leanne worked as a case manager at Jean’s Place from 2001-2004. She then moved to Maui and continued working with survivors of domestic violence as well as the reintegration of prisoners into the community; but Leanne’s primary experience comes from working as an outreach case manager for people living with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness for 10 years. Leanne was honored to be chosen as Jean’s Place manager in 2016. She brings ample experience working with people experiencing houselessness and is extremely focused on ensuring the program has a trauma-informed approach.
August 14 RED MEANS HELP - VICTIMS OF LABOR TRAFFICKING
Please join us Tuesday, August 14th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland (lunch tickets available here) or via FacebookLive on the Queen’s Bench Facebook page for "Red Means Help - Victims Of Labor Trafficking" with Michael Encke (Gonzales, Gonzales & Gonzales Immigration Law Offices) and former refugee, Portland Police Bureau Officer Natasha Haunsperger.
The Red Means Help campaign launched in April 2017 to stop human labor trafficking in the Portland metro area. Labor trafficked individuals are brought to the U.S. from other countries under a false promise of a good job; instead, they wind up being forced to perform labor for free.
The Red Means Help campaign reaches out to victims in their own languages through signage on public transit and other high traffic areas. It lets them know that the Portland Police want to help and that they have rights, regardless of the lies, threats, misinformation, or coercion from their traffickers. CLE credit is being sought.
Please watch the following 30-minute film in preparation for the lunch: Reclaiming Their Lives.
July 10, 2018 WARRIOR MOMS - FIGHTING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Please join us Tuesday, July 10th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland or via FacebookLive on the Queen’s Bench Facebook page for “Warrior Moms - Fighting For Children With Disabilities” with Heather Decker (former attorney and current business management coach); Beth Farnum; former high school teacher and current education litigator and disability rights advocate Elizabeth Polay (Wiscarson Law); and disability rights litigator Laurie Zwingli (Law Office of Laurie H. Zwingli, LLC).
Historically, people with disabilities have faced invisibility, institutionalization, abuse and neglect; often, they have been denied fundamental civil rights including but not limited to access to appropriate education, healthcare, and reasonable accommodations. The last century marked the beginning of a sea change with the passage of landmark federal legislation that changed the lives of people experiencing intellectual, developmental, or other disabilities and their families. Despite these great strides, however, many obstacles still stand in the way of authentic, comprehensive inclusion. In the absence of an attorney, a parent—in particular, mothers—is often their child’s best advocate. At the July Queen’s Bench lunch, we will hear from mothers and litigators who have served in that role for their children or clients.
June 12, 2018 INTERRUPTING RACISM - GROUNDING AN ALLY
Please join us Tuesday, June 12th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland (lunch tickets available here) or via FacebookLive on the Queen’s Bench Facebook page for "Interrupting Racism – Grounding An Ally" with Kasia Rutledge, recipient of the 2017 Judge Mercedes Deiz Award and Capitol Defense Attorney at Kasia Rutledge Law (formerly of Metropolitan Public Defenders) and Rakeem Washington, Executive Director of The Portland Observer (the oldest continuous African-American owned publication in the State of Oregon), Adjunct Professor at Portland State University, and Director of the Opening Doors Grant at Portland Community College. CLE credit pending.
Please join us Tuesday, June 12th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland (lunch tickets available here) or via FacebookLive on the Queen’s Bench Facebook page for "Interrupting Racism – Grounding An Ally" with Kasia Rutledge, recipient of the 2017 Judge Mercedes Deiz Award and Capitol Defense Attorney at Kasia Rutledge Law (formerly of Metropolitan Public Defenders) and Rakeem Washington, Executive Director of The Portland Observer (the oldest continuous African-American owned publication in the State of Oregon), Adjunct Professor at Portland State University, and Director of the Opening Doors Grant at Portland Community College. CLE credit pending.
May 08 GOOD TOKEN / BAD TOKEN - A TOKEN'S PERSPECTIVE
Please join us Tuesday, May 8th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland (lunch tickets available here) or via FacebookLive on the Queen's Bench Facebook page for "Good Token/Bad Token – A Token’s Perspective" with one of our favorite public speakers and litigators, Banafsheh Violet Nazari, of Nazari Law and Ryan Newby of the Victim Rights Law Center.
Tokenism is the policy or practice of making only a symbolic effort to include one or a few members of a minority in a workplace or group, usually without the “token” minority having authority or power equal to that of the other group members. Consciously or unconsciously, we expect the “token” to represent or speak for their entire group--whether female, a person of color, transgender, or any other marginalized group. Tokenism comes with many costs, but one is the presumption that the token does not truly deserve their position or job, thus the token should be grateful and “behave” to maintain their unearned role.
What does a “good” token look like? And what happens when a token is “bad”?
CLE credit pending.
Please join us Tuesday, May 8th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland (lunch tickets available here) or via FacebookLive on the Queen's Bench Facebook page for "Good Token/Bad Token – A Token’s Perspective" with one of our favorite public speakers and litigators, Banafsheh Violet Nazari, of Nazari Law and Ryan Newby of the Victim Rights Law Center.
Tokenism is the policy or practice of making only a symbolic effort to include one or a few members of a minority in a workplace or group, usually without the “token” minority having authority or power equal to that of the other group members. Consciously or unconsciously, we expect the “token” to represent or speak for their entire group--whether female, a person of color, transgender, or any other marginalized group. Tokenism comes with many costs, but one is the presumption that the token does not truly deserve their position or job, thus the token should be grateful and “behave” to maintain their unearned role.
What does a “good” token look like? And what happens when a token is “bad”?
CLE credit pending.
Apr 10 THE PATH TO HEALING - RED LODGE TRANSITIONS
Did you know that Native Americans represent less than 2% of Oregon’s population, yet they comprise almost 4% of the Oregon prison population? Connecting those exiting the prison system or rehab with housing, employment, legal identification, transportation, food, and emotional support is critical to preventing recidivism and forming lasting community healing.
Please join us Tuesday, April 10th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland or via FacebookLive on the Queen's Bench Facebook page for "The Path to Healing" with Trish Jordan from Red Lodge Transition Services, a Native American-led organization that provides a culturally-focused transition for women recently released from jail, prison or treatment, back into the community.
CLE credit pending.
Did you know that Native Americans represent less than 2% of Oregon’s population, yet they comprise almost 4% of the Oregon prison population? Connecting those exiting the prison system or rehab with housing, employment, legal identification, transportation, food, and emotional support is critical to preventing recidivism and forming lasting community healing.
Please join us Tuesday, April 10th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland or via FacebookLive on the Queen's Bench Facebook page for "The Path to Healing" with Trish Jordan from Red Lodge Transition Services, a Native American-led organization that provides a culturally-focused transition for women recently released from jail, prison or treatment, back into the community.
CLE credit pending.
Mar 13 DARE TO BE POWERFUL - WOMEN OF COLOR IN POLITICS
In 1987, women held just 4.7% of all seats in the U.S. Congress; as of 2017, it is still only 19.4%. A far smaller percentage are women of color: 38 women of color served in the 115th Congress, alongside four delegates. Although many strides have been made since the first African American woman won election to the Congress in November 1968, the work of equity and inclusion is far from done. Among many other issues, no Native woman has ever been elected or served in the U.S. Congress.
Come and be inspired at "Dare To Be Powerful - Women Of Color In Politics" by two incredible women on Tuesday, March 13th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland or via FacebookLive on the Queen's Bench Facebook page. Our speakers include the impressive Tawna Sanchez (the first Native American to represent Portland in the state Legislature) and Joann Hardesty (who served in the Oregon House of Representatives from January 1995 – June 2000 and is currently running for Portland City Council).
CLE credit is being sought.
In 1987, women held just 4.7% of all seats in the U.S. Congress; as of 2017, it is still only 19.4%. A far smaller percentage are women of color: 38 women of color served in the 115th Congress, alongside four delegates. Although many strides have been made since the first African American woman won election to the Congress in November 1968, the work of equity and inclusion is far from done. Among many other issues, no Native woman has ever been elected or served in the U.S. Congress.
Come and be inspired at "Dare To Be Powerful - Women Of Color In Politics" by two incredible women on Tuesday, March 13th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland or via FacebookLive on the Queen's Bench Facebook page. Our speakers include the impressive Tawna Sanchez (the first Native American to represent Portland in the state Legislature) and Joann Hardesty (who served in the Oregon House of Representatives from January 1995 – June 2000 and is currently running for Portland City Council).
CLE credit is being sought.
Feb 13 BEING VISIBLE - STORIES OF OUR ATTORNEYS WITH DISABILITIES
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed 28 years ago with the promise of comprehensive protection for people with disabilities in work and public life, national statistics still show that historical barriers persist for individuals with disabilities, leading to low employment rates and salaries. Approximately 6.87% of American Bar Association members self-report as having a disability, in comparison to the national rate of 19%. To close the gap, attorneys must be willing to consider and confront the ways their colleagues have been marginalized, and how we can change things moving forward.
Please join us Tuesday, February 13th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland or via FacebookLive on the Queen's Bench Facebook page for "Being Visible - Stories of Our Attorneys with Disabilities" with the wonderful speakers Gabrielle Richards of Martin and Richards and Miranda Summers of Summer Family Law.
Jan 9 TWO SUITCASES - STORIES OF OUR REFUGEE SISTERS
When refugees leave the lives they have built in their home countries to escape persecution, war, violence, or natural disaster, U.S. Immigration and Customs allows the lucky few who are granted admission to the UNITED STATES to come—with just two suitcases. Imagine if the two bags you took on your last flight or trip were all you were allowed to bring with you into a new life in a new country—what would that look like?
Please join us at the Federal Courthouse in Portland, Oregon at noon this Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at the first Queen’s Bench Luncheon of the year where 2018 Roberts & Deiz award recipient Chanpone Sinlapasai, Marandas & Sinlapasai and Adina Matasaru, Matasaru Law, will enlighten us about the refugee experience in America, from journeys of hardship and violence to places of peace and restoration.
We begin our ongoing conversation about voices from the margins with a short introduction to Intersectionality by Banafsheh Violet Nazari, Nazari Law.
CLE Credit Approved.
Although the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed 28 years ago with the promise of comprehensive protection for people with disabilities in work and public life, national statistics still show that historical barriers persist for individuals with disabilities, leading to low employment rates and salaries. Approximately 6.87% of American Bar Association members self-report as having a disability, in comparison to the national rate of 19%. To close the gap, attorneys must be willing to consider and confront the ways their colleagues have been marginalized, and how we can change things moving forward.
Please join us Tuesday, February 13th at noon at the federal courthouse in Portland or via FacebookLive on the Queen's Bench Facebook page for "Being Visible - Stories of Our Attorneys with Disabilities" with the wonderful speakers Gabrielle Richards of Martin and Richards and Miranda Summers of Summer Family Law.
Jan 9 TWO SUITCASES - STORIES OF OUR REFUGEE SISTERS
When refugees leave the lives they have built in their home countries to escape persecution, war, violence, or natural disaster, U.S. Immigration and Customs allows the lucky few who are granted admission to the UNITED STATES to come—with just two suitcases. Imagine if the two bags you took on your last flight or trip were all you were allowed to bring with you into a new life in a new country—what would that look like?
Please join us at the Federal Courthouse in Portland, Oregon at noon this Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at the first Queen’s Bench Luncheon of the year where 2018 Roberts & Deiz award recipient Chanpone Sinlapasai, Marandas & Sinlapasai and Adina Matasaru, Matasaru Law, will enlighten us about the refugee experience in America, from journeys of hardship and violence to places of peace and restoration.
We begin our ongoing conversation about voices from the margins with a short introduction to Intersectionality by Banafsheh Violet Nazari, Nazari Law.
CLE Credit Approved.
Do you have a suggestion for a speaker or topic for a luncheon? Email the planning committee.
