The Constitution's Promise: Out of Many, One

The YLS Service to the Public Committee invites you to join us for three events in honor of Law Day 2025! Law Day is an annual commemoration held on May 1 to celebrate the rule of law and cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal system. All events are free and open to the public. Questions? Please contact lawdaypdx@gmail.com.

Oregon Judicial History Makers
Thursday, May 1, doors open at 6 p.m., panel begins at 6:30 p.m.
Oregon Historical Society, 1200 SW Park

Join us for a panel of trailblazing judges featuring US Magistrate Judge John Acosta (Oregon’s first Hispanic American federal judge), US Magistrate Judge Mustafa Kasubhai (the first Muslim federal judge in the nation), Oregon Supreme Court Justice Virginia Linder (the first openly lesbian member of any state supreme court in the US), and Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Chanpone P. Sinlapasai (the first Laotian judge in the nation). In addition to our speakers, the Oregon Historical Society will display a special exhibit on Oregon’s Landmark Legislation in honor of Law Day.

Legal Legacy of Japanese American Incarceration
Monday, May 5, doors open at 5:30 p.m., workshop begins at 6 p.m.
University of Oregon Portland Campus, 2800 NE Liberty Street

In this workshop, attorney Peggy Nagae, leader of the team that successfully fought to overturn Minoru Yasui’s conviction for violating Executive Order 9066 will discuss the legal history of Executive Order 9066 and her work to overturn Yasui’s conviction. This talk will be followed by an interactive discussion of Korematsu v. U.S., a 1944 Supreme Court decision upholding Japanese American incarceration, and Trump v. Hawaii, a 2018 Supreme Court decision that references Korematsu. Peggy Nagae will be joined by attorney Shiri Salehin who will assist in facilitating the workshop and historian Christa Graf who will curate a pop-up exhibit for this event.

What is Federalism and Why Does it Matter?
Wednesday, May 14, 12-1 p.m.
Portland State University Urban Building, 506 SW Mill, Parsons Gallery (Second Floor)

Join Professor Chris Shortell (director of the PSU Pre-Law Program), Justice Rebecca Duncan (whose presence on the Oregon Supreme Court marked the first time the Court was majority female), and Judge Maalik Summer (the first openly transgender man to be a judge in the country) for a special event at PSU. Professor Shortell will give a talk about his research on federalism, to be followed by Oregon Supreme Court Justice Duncan and Washington County Circuit Court Judge Summer who will speak about their respective roles in the state and county legal systems, as well as their own pathways to the bench. In addition, two traveling exhibits will be on display to celebrate the diversity of the Oregon Bar courtesy of Oregon Women Lawyers and the Oregon Judicial Department.