Edwin J. Peterson
Encyclopedia
Edwin J. Peterson is an American jurist in the state of Oregon
. He was the 39th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
, serving from 1983 to 1991, and is currently a Distinguished Jurist in Residence at Willamette University College of Law
in Salem, Oregon
.
in music from the University of Oregon
in 1951. While at school he planned to become a Congressman by the age of 35, and attended the Republican National Convention in 1952. He entered the United States Air Force
the following year, attaining the rank of first lieutenant and serving until 1954. Peterson then returned to school and earned his Bachelor of Laws
(LLB) degree in 1957 from Oregon's
law school
. He enjoyed the law, and dropped his ambitions for Congress.
for over 20 years with the firm Tooze, Kerr, Peterson, Marshall & Shenker. Following private practice, Edwin Peterson joined the Oregon Supreme Court
in 1979 when he was appointed May 15 by Governor Vic Atiyeh. He then was re-elected in 1980, 1986, and 1992. In 1983 he was elected as Chief Justice of the court by his fellow justices, serving until 1991.
In 1989, Peterson was awarded the University of Oregon Law’s Meritorious Service Award, and the following year was the recipient of the Oregon State Bar
Association's Award of Merit. While on the court he focused on improving the efficiency of the courts and to integrate all the courts of the Oregon Judicial Department
. As part of these efforts, the time to trial in Oregon dropped almost in half to about one year, and he helped create the rules for trial courts. He was awarded the American Judicature Society's Herbert Harley Award in September 1992 for his efforts to improve administration of the courts in Oregon. While on the court he led efforts to study and eliminate racial and ethnic biases in the courts. This included serving as the chairman of a task force on bias in the Oregon courts. Peterson resigned from the court effective December 31, 1993.
’s Lewis F. Powell Jr. Award for Professionalism and Ethics. Peterson has, in the past, been a member of the Salem Pops Orchestra, where he played French Horn.
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...
. He was the 39th Chief Justice of 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...
, serving from 1983 to 1991, and is currently a Distinguished Jurist in Residence at Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
.
Education
Edwin Peterson received his undergraduate bachelor of scienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in music from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in 1951. While at school he planned to become a Congressman by the age of 35, and attended the Republican National Convention in 1952. He entered the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
the following year, attaining the rank of first lieutenant and serving until 1954. Peterson then returned to school and earned his Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(LLB) degree in 1957 from Oregon's
University of Oregon School of Law
The University of Oregon School of Law is a public law school in the U.S. state of Oregon. Housed in the Knight Law Center, it is Oregon's only state funded law school. The school, founded in 1884, is located on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, on the corner of 15th and Agate streets,...
law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
. He enjoyed the law, and dropped his ambitions for Congress.
Legal career
Practiced law in Portland, OregonPortland, 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...
for over 20 years with the firm Tooze, Kerr, Peterson, Marshall & Shenker. Following private practice, Edwin Peterson joined 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...
in 1979 when he was appointed May 15 by Governor Vic Atiyeh. He then was re-elected in 1980, 1986, and 1992. In 1983 he was elected as Chief Justice of the court by his fellow justices, serving until 1991.
In 1989, Peterson was awarded the University of Oregon Law’s Meritorious Service Award, and the following year was the recipient of 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...
Association's Award of Merit. While on the court he focused on improving the efficiency of the courts and to integrate all the courts of the Oregon Judicial Department
Oregon Judicial Department
The Oregon Judicial Department is the judicial branch of government of the state of Oregon in the United States. The chief executive of the branch is the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Oregon’s judiciary consists primarily of four different courts: the Oregon Supreme Court, the Oregon...
. As part of these efforts, the time to trial in Oregon dropped almost in half to about one year, and he helped create the rules for trial courts. He was awarded the American Judicature Society's Herbert Harley Award in September 1992 for his efforts to improve administration of the courts in Oregon. While on the court he led efforts to study and eliminate racial and ethnic biases in the courts. This included serving as the chairman of a task force on bias in the Oregon courts. Peterson resigned from the court effective December 31, 1993.
Later years
After leaving the court he was given the University of Oregon’s Distinguished Service Award, and the Oregon State Bar Association's President’s Award for Affirmative Action in 1995. The University of Oregon's alumni association gave Peterson their Distinguished Alumni Award in 1996, and in 1998 he earned the National Inns of CourtInns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
’s Lewis F. Powell Jr. Award for Professionalism and Ethics. Peterson has, in the past, been a member of the Salem Pops Orchestra, where he played French Horn.
External links
- Retired Supreme Court chief justice's long fight to destroy racial discrimination in Oregon's legal system. Deirdre Steinberg, The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon.