32 Trial Lawyer • Spring 2024 Victor Mercado Negro By Victor Mercado Negro I was once told a story about Roosevelt Robinson during a lunch with my former boss, Judge Ed Jones. Decades ago, Jones was the defense attorney on a murder case, and Roosevelt was the prosecutor. The prosecution’s key witnesses had testified before the grand jury once, but then disappeared for years. Once found (arrested), this witness testified for the grand jury a second time. Jones told me on our walk that day that Roosevelt Robinson contacted him after the second appearance to reveal certain inconsistencies in the testimony. If Roosevelt had not said anything, no one would have discovered the inconsistencies, and risking a murder case was no minor matter. But to borrow from the well-known saying, integrity is what a person does when no one is looking. Maybe it was an easy call for Robinson to make, but easy or hard, it’s the kind of integrity that is hard not to admire, and at times in the legal profession, to long for. It’s a story that predates my connections to Portland by many years, but I’m glad to say that both men went on to be judges in Multnomah County, much to the benefit of the community. Judge Robinson was only the fourth Black judge in Oregon history when he took the bench in 1990. During his legal career, Robinson worked as a defense attorney, a prosecutor, a member of the parole board and a judge. Of his transition from defense attorney to prosecutor he was heard to say “at least now my mistakes don’t go to jail.” That observation and Judge Jones’ anecdote have, over the years, set in my mind the idea that Judge Robinson was a man of considerable integrity, professionalism and compassion. And the more I learn of him, the more certain I become of that assessment. An honor The first time I saw the name Roosevelt Robinson it was just a name before the word “scholarship” among a list of scholarships offered at the law school. The alliteration of the name was inspired. Roosevelt Robinson. I was in my second year of law school and, as I vacillated between intellectual curiosity and despair, moving from one pot of coffee to the next pint of beer, I knew I needed some additional financial and moral support. I was a middling law student at best. Even entertaining the idea of applying for a scholarship set off the panic of imposter syndrome. But eventually I sat down and applied. My personal statement included the line “where I come from Mexicans don’t go to school…” a reflection that in my journey to higher education as a first generation Mexican-American I had longed for role models that reflected my experience. I was awarded the Roosevelt Robinson Scholarship that year to my great surprise. The award made my steps a little lighter and the weight of the law school experience a little less burdensome. It also planted a seed in my heart that maybe, just maybe, I did belong in this profession. I’ve had the honor of serving on the Roosevelt Robinson Scholarship Committee now for almost a decade. In that time, we have seen those same values Judge Robinson exemplified in the many candidates who have applied. In 2020, Bruce Myers was awarded the Roosevelt Robinson Scholarship. Myers is a softspoken attorney of sharp intellect and great kindness. His manner is gentle, and his demeanor communicates he is intent on listening deeply to what you have to say. He currently represents indigent defendants on appeal as an appellate atthrough a lens of empathy THE ROOSEVELT ROBINSON SCHOLARSHIP
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