Martha Lee Walters

Martha Lee Walters (born October 23, 1950) is an American labor attorney and the 43rd Chief Justice of Oregon. She became the first female justice on the state's highest court in three years when she was appointed in 2006 and the first female Chief Justice when she was elected by her fellow justices in 2018. A native of Michigan, she worked on the Casey Martin lawsuit against the PGA Tour while in private legal practice.

Martha Walters
43rd Chief Justice of Oregon
Assumed office
July 1, 2018
Preceded byThomas A. Balmer
Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
Assumed office
October 9, 2006
Appointed byTed Kulongoski
Preceded byR. William Riggs
Personal details
Born (1950-10-23) October 23, 1950
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Spouse(s)John VanLandingham
EducationUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor (BA)
University of Oregon (JD)

Early years

Walters was born on October 23, 1950,[1] in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she grew up.[2] After high school she attended the University of Michigan, where she graduated in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.[2] Walters earned her J.D. degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in Eugene, Oregon, graduating in 1977 and earning Order of the Coif.[3] Walters is married to John VanLandingham IV,[4] a low-income housing advocate and mobile home-housing specialist.[5] The couple has two children, John VanLandingham V, a graduate of the University of Chicago, and Cassady Walters, a graduate of Whitman College.

Walters was the founder and president of the Eugene law firm of Walters, Chanti & Zennache.[3] In 1998, she was given the Public Justice Award by the Oregon Trial Lawyers.[3] She served as a delegate to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and as a member of the American Law Institute.[3] While in private practice, she was a specialist in employment and labor law.[6] She represented disabled golfer Casey Martin in his lawsuit against the PGA Tour to allow Martin to use a golf cart during tournaments.[7]

She was appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court by Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and was sworn into office on October 9, 2006, to replace Justice R. William Riggs who had retired.[8] Walters was the first female justice on the court since 2003 when Susan M. Leeson left the court.[9] In 2007, Walters was elected as the president of the Uniform Law Commission, becoming that organization's first female president.[7] Walters won election to a full six-year term on the court in 2008, and was re-elected in 2014.[9][10]

In June 2018, Walters was elected as Chief Justice of Oregon by her colleagues on the Supreme Court, and replaced Thomas A. Balmer in that role effective July 1, 2018.[11]

References
  1. The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. 1 (Oregon, Pennsylvania ed.). Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, Inc. 1998. p. 364. ISBN 978-1-56160-324-4.
  2. "The Honorable Martha L. Walters". Oregon Judicial Department. 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2010.
  3. "Class Notes" (PDF). Oregon Lawyer. University of Oregon School of Law. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-04-21. Retrieved 2007-01-06.
  4. Taking her seat; Courts. The Register-Guard, October 10, 2006.
  5. Upcoming CDC Events. Archived 2007-10-30 at the Wayback Machine Association of Oregon Community Development Organizations. Retrieved December 9, 2007.
  6. Green Ashbel. Labor lawyer joins state's high court. The Oregonian, September 19, 2006.
  7. Martha Walters Elected President of ULC. Archived October 31, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Uniform Law Commission. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  8. "Governor appoints Oregon Supreme Court justice". Portland Business Journal. September 18, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2007.
  9. "Oregon Supreme Court Justices". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  10. "Members of the Oregon Supreme Court". Oregon Blue Book. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  11. Vanderhart, Dirk (June 4, 2018). "Oregon Supreme Court Elects First-Ever Female Chief Justice". NW News Network. Salem, Oregon. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
Legal offices
Preceded by
R. William Riggs		 Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
2006–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Thomas A. Balmer		 Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
2018–present
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