OTLA Trial Lawyer Fall 2022

4 Trial Lawyer • Fall 2022 By Judge David Rees Multnomah County Circuit Court In 1994, as a new lawyer, I needed to figure out the best way to commute every workday to my office. As anyone who works in downtown Portland knows, parking is expensive. In the beginning, I rode the bus. But as a young lawyer pressed for time, I was too impaView From The Bench Hon. David Rees Empathy on the road tient to wait the long slow bus ride to and from work. My wife, another young lawyer working downtown, suggested we start riding our bikes. I remember first hearing her suggestion and thinking it to be absurd. How will I manage my lawyer wardrobe (back then formal dress was mandatory). Doesn’t it rain a lot in Portland? What if I need to work late? I discovered that all of these problems have solutions. I set up a portable wardrobe in the basement of my law firm’s building. I bought good rain gear and some very bright lights. And my commuting problem was solved. Although there are lots of good reasons to commute by bike, the truth is my commuting by bike was born out of a stubborn unwillingness to pay for parking or wait for buses. But the benefits I have discovered

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