Darleen Ortega
Encyclopedia
Darleen Ortega is an American
attorney and judge in the state of Oregon
. A native of California
, she has served on the Oregon Court of Appeals
since 2003. She is the first woman of Hispanic heritage and the first woman of color to serve on that court.
, to a Caucasian father and Mexican-American mother. She grew up in the Los Angeles
area until age 10 when her family moved to Banks, Oregon
, west of Portland
. There she graduated from Banks High School
in 1980 as a valedictorian. She went on to college at George Fox College
(now George Fox University) in Newberg, Oregon
. Graduating in 1984, she earned a bachelor of arts degree in writing and literature while earning summa cum laude honors.
Ortega then married, becoming Darleen Darnall, and enrolled at the University of Michigan Law School
. She graduated in 1989 with her juris doctorate cum laude. After passing the bar, she entered private legal practice in Detroit, Michigan
, and lived in Michigan with her husband until 1992. In 1992, Ortega returned to Oregon
and began working at the Portland law firm of Bullivant Houser Bailey, remaining until 1995. She moved to another Portland firm, Davis Wright Tremaine
, in 1995 where she remained until 2003, becoming partner in 1998. In 2002, she took her maternal grandparents' last name, Ortega. She has been active in the Oregon State Bar
, served on the board of directors to the Oregon Adoption & Family Services as well as a center at Oregon Health & Science University
and on the board for the Oregon Women Lawyers group (OWLS).
appointed her to the Oregon Court of Appeals
to replace Rives Kistler
who had been elevated to the Oregon Supreme Court
. Ortega joined the court on October 13, 2003, and won election to a full six-year term on the court in 2004. She was the first woman of Hispanic heritage and the first woman of color to serve on the court. In 2005, she signed off on an opinion of the court that determined that under the Oregon Constitution
, law enforcement must obtain a search warrant prior to searching trash placed on the curb for pick-up.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and judge in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, she has served on the Oregon Court of Appeals
Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is the state intermediate appellate court in the U.S. state of Oregon. Part of the Oregon Judicial Department, it has ten judges and is located in Salem...
since 2003. She is the first woman of Hispanic heritage and the first woman of color to serve on that court.
Early life
Darleen Ortega was born Darleen Mock in Montebello, CaliforniaMontebello, California
Montebello is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, in the southwestern part of the San Gabriel Valley. It is located on of land just east of downtown Los Angeles. It is considered part of the Gateway Cities, and the city is a member of the Gateway Cities Council of...
, to a Caucasian father and Mexican-American mother. She grew up in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area until age 10 when her family moved to Banks, Oregon
Banks, Oregon
Banks is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,777 at the 2010 census. The community was named for settler Robert Banks and his father, John Banks.-Geography:...
, west of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. There she graduated from Banks High School
Banks High School
-History:During the Great Depression the Works Progress Administration paid for work on the school's athletic fields, with the project completed in 1936.-Academics:...
in 1980 as a valedictorian. She went on to college at George Fox College
George Fox University
George Fox University is a Christian university of the liberal arts and sciences, and professional studies located in Newberg, Oregon, United States. Founded as a school for Quakers in 1885, the private school has more than 3,400 students combined between its main campus in Newberg and its centers...
(now George Fox University) in Newberg, Oregon
Newberg, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 18,064 people, 6,099 households, and 4,348 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,599.4 people per square mile . There were 6,435 housing units at an average density of 1,282.2 per square mile...
. Graduating in 1984, she earned a bachelor of arts degree in writing and literature while earning summa cum laude honors.
Ortega then married, becoming Darleen Darnall, and enrolled at the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
. She graduated in 1989 with her juris doctorate cum laude. After passing the bar, she entered private legal practice in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and lived in Michigan with her husband until 1992. In 1992, Ortega returned to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and began working at the Portland law firm of Bullivant Houser Bailey, remaining until 1995. She moved to another Portland firm, Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is a national business and litigation law firm representing clients in the United States and in China. In 2008, the National Law Journal ranked the firm 98th largest in the United States based on attorney headcount. In 2008 , Davis Wright Tremaine ranked No...
, in 1995 where she remained until 2003, becoming partner in 1998. In 2002, she took her maternal grandparents' last name, Ortega. She has been active in the Oregon State Bar
Oregon State Bar
The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession. The public corporation is part of the Oregon Judicial Department...
, served on the board of directors to the Oregon Adoption & Family Services as well as a center at Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University is a public university in Oregon with a main campus, including two hospitals, in Portland and a smaller campus in Hillsboro...
and on the board for the Oregon Women Lawyers group (OWLS).
Political career
On August 4, 2003, Oregon Governor Ted KulongoskiTed Kulongoski
Theodore R. "Ted" Kulongoski is an American politician, who served as the 36th Governor of Oregon. A Democrat, he has served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, as the state Insurance Commissioner, the Attorney General, and an Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court.-Early...
appointed her to the Oregon Court of Appeals
Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is the state intermediate appellate court in the U.S. state of Oregon. Part of the Oregon Judicial Department, it has ten judges and is located in Salem...
to replace Rives Kistler
Rives Kistler
Rives Kistler is an American attorney and judge in the state of Oregon. After college and law school on the East Coast, he moved to Oregon where he worked in private practice before joining the Oregon Department of Justice...
who had been elevated to the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
. Ortega joined the court on October 13, 2003, and won election to a full six-year term on the court in 2004. She was the first woman of Hispanic heritage and the first woman of color to serve on the court. In 2005, she signed off on an opinion of the court that determined that under the Oregon Constitution
Oregon Constitution
The Oregon Constitution is the governing document of the U.S. state of Oregon, originally enacted in 1857. As amended the current state constitution contains eighteen sections, beginning with a bill of rights. This contains most of the rights and privileges granted in the United States Bill of...
, law enforcement must obtain a search warrant prior to searching trash placed on the curb for pick-up.