Richard Unis
Richard Unis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 89th Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
| In office 1990–1996 | |
| Appointed by | Neil Goldschmidt |
| Preceded by | Hans A. Linde |
| Succeeded by | Ted Kulongoski |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 11, 1928 Portland, Oregon |
| Died | February 10, 2016 (aged 87) Gresham, Oregon |
| Spouse | Gloria Lenore Schuster |
Richard L. Unis (June 11, 1928 – February 10, 2016) was an American attorney in the state of Oregon. He was the 89th justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Previously he was a judge for the city of Portland, a judge at the county level, and a state circuit court judge.
Early life
[edit]Richard Unis was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, attending Franklin High School.[1][2] After high school he attended and graduated from the University of Oregon on a basketball scholarship.[1][2] On March 23, 1952, he married Gloria Lenore Schuster in Portland.[3] In 1953, Unis graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law in Eugene, Oregon.[4] After law school he began working at the city attorney's office in Portland.[1]
Judicial career
[edit]In 1968 Unis began serving as a municipal court judge for Portland, remaining at that position until 1971.[5] That year the court was merged with the county district court where Unis would serve until 1976.[5] Beginning in 1969 he began teaching at the Northwestern College of Law, while also teaching at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada.[5] In January 1977 Richard Unis was appointed to the state circuit court.[5]
On February 1, 1990, Unis was appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court by Governor Neil Goldschmidt to replace the retiring Hans A. Linde.[6][7] Unis then won a full six-year term later in 1990, but resigned on June 30, 1996 before completing that term.[7] He retired from the Supreme Court in order to take a position overseeing the settlement of a class action lawsuit against Louisiana-Pacific for problems with their siding material.[8] Unis was appointed by United States District Judge Robert E. Jones.
Later life and family
[edit]Unis was awarded the Herbert Harley Award in October 1999 for his "outstanding efforts and contributions that substantially change and improve the administration of justice in their states."[4] This national award is presented by the American Judicature Society.[4] In October 2003, Unis helped finalize the settlement in the Louisiana-Pacific siding lawsuits as a special master appointed by the court.[9]
Unis died on February 10, 2016, at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham, Oregon, at the age of 87.[2] He had lived in Clackamas County along the Sandy River for more than thirty years at his death.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Leeson, Fred. New justices seen as moderate, progressive thinkers. The Oregonian, February 7, 1990.
- ^ a b c d Hammond, Betsy (February 20, 2016). "Richard Unis, former Oregon Supreme Court justice, 'ideal' trial judge, dead at 87". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
- ^ "Richard Louis Unis (1928 - 2016)". Obituaries & Guestbooks. OregonLive. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
- ^ a b c Former Supreme Court Judge Unis Honored With Harley Award. Oregon Lawyer, Spring 2000.
- ^ a b c d Leeson, Fred. Graber, Unis chosen for high court. The Oregonian, January 31, 1990.
- ^ Oregon State Archives: Governor's Records Guides. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
- ^ a b Oregon Blue Book: Earliest Authorities in Oregon - Supreme Court Justices of Oregon. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
- ^ Church, Foster. Justice will leave state high court early to oversee L-P case. The Oregonian, June 13, 1996.
- ^ Rivera, Dylan. LP wrapping up payments on inner-seal siding claims. The Oregonian, October 7, 2003.