|
Judge Kristena A. LaMar’s perspective is unique among her peers because she does not preside over trials, hearings, or motions. Rather she handles a variety of settlement conferences in the areas of both civil and domestic relations, helping to free her colleagues’ time for cases requiring a court decision. Judge LaMar grew up in Lafayette, Indiana. She attended Purdue University, where she graduated in 1970 with a degree in social sciences. Upon graduation, she entered the University of Michigan Law School and received her degree in 1973. After graduation, she left immediately for Portland, passed the bar, and went to work at the Family Law Center of Multnomah County Legal Aid as a VISTA attorney. After one year, she went into private practice, opening her own office, focusing primarily on family and juvenile law. In 1981, she worked as counsel to the Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee, and was appointed to the Multnomah County Juvenile Court as a referee. Unlike many judges Judge LaMar was not appointed to the bench. She was elected to the bench in 1984. Judge LaMar is involved in a variety of professional alternative dispute resolution activities. She writes and lectures on the topic, and teaches mediation to other judges at the National Judicial College, and in Oregon too. Judge LaMar originally became involved in dispute resolution when Judge Robert P. Jones asked for volunteers in 1987. It became a full-time job shortly thereafter. “I think I’ve helped mediation become an accepted tool of the legal profession in this area, and that bodes well for the future because newer judges have developed these skills, and law schools are offering more and more course work and training for new lawyers.” Advice to new lawyers? Find a good mentor, be sensitive to your courtroom presentation and how it affects people on a jury and/or the judge, and be creative when negotiating. Also, know the boundaries of your case, the law and your opponent. “I think the legal profession has an obligation to treat people with respect; we must not forget our humanity. Most attorneys do the best they can, and I think the most successful attorney is one who can empathize with the other party’s position, as well as that of their client. While specialization in the practice of law is the trend, we should never forget the people whose lives we impact.” Originally authored by Charles Coulter and printed in the June 1994 Multnomah Lawyer
|
|
Judge Kristena LaMar, Multnomah County Circuit Court, Chief Dispute Resolution Judge