10 Trial Lawyer • Spring 2024 they’ve been seen, heard and understood. Those things should not be reserved for any class of person. Instead, those of us entrusted with the privilege of serving in the legal field must ensure that everyone regardless of gender, race, wealth or education, receives this experience in the law. I believe we do that in Oregon. One of the things I love most about being a member of the legal community in Oregon is that access is a priority. From the state bar to the Supreme Court to the law schools and local bars around the state, we have incredible people who share a desire to make the legal system more accessible. I have personally benefitted from programs like Opportunities for Law in Oregon (OLIO) and the OTLA Leadership Academy. These programs take law students and young lawyers and introduce them to a network of people and professionals who are willing mentors. I often describe the Oregon Bar as a gigantic law firm in that when you need guidance on an issue, you can often pick up the phone and call a colleague who is 400 miles away just as easily as you can walk 40 feet down the hall to one of the partners in your firm. I haven’t practiced in any other states, but I imagine the connectivity of our bar is rare and I hope we protect it with all that we have. See themselves If you were to walk into my chambers, you’d see a wall filled with things I love and care about. You’d see my family, artifacts from Disneyland, pictures of me with friends, a map of the state of Oregon, pictures of my dogs, and a section reserved for Kobe Bryant memorabilia. Just a few days ago, my judicial assistant asked me why I hadn’t hung up any of my accomplishments on my wall. I told her that people already know that I’m a judge and have accomplished things. What they don’t necessarily know is that I, like them, have heroes, love my dachshunds, and enjoy riding rollercoasters. I don’t want them to see me, I want them to see themselves. After all, access is one of the cornerstone concepts of our profession and while we continue to make efforts to increase access to justice, it remains a challenge. However, understanding this is half the battle because as long as we recognize that there is more work to do, we can continue to scrutinize our contributions to this incredible profession in an effort to make sure that everyone has access to justice. Hon. Robert Johnson is a Circuit Court Judge in Douglas County located at 1036 SE Douglas, Roseburg OR 97470 He is a former member of OTLA Guardians and graduated from the OTLA Leadership Academy. Before taking the bench, Judge Johnson was a partner at Dole Coalwell in Roseburg. He can be reached at 541-9572419, ext. 70973 or robert.b.johnson@ojd. state.or.us. In Our Voices Continued from p 9
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