36 Trial Lawyer • Spring 2024 form the Squires and Lopez Law Office. There I gained a reputation as a strong litigator. It didn’t take long for the state court administrator to offer me a contract for Spanish-speaking criminal defense. With the contract funding, we could hire five associate attorneys and a fully bilingual support staff. We represented people in both criminal and civil cases. We discovered there was a pressing need for Spanish-speaking representation and our firm was one of the first in Oregon to be bilingual. In order to deal with the stress of running a law firm and trying serious felonies, I needed to balance my life with community service. I volunteered for bar sections and committees, serving on the Multnomah County Library Board and the Oregon State Bar Board of Governors. Resiliance I was accustomed to being the only minority in the room. My challenge was to be heard. At a Bar meeting, we had a very dicey situation on our hands. I recall raising my had to contribute but not being called on. I spoke up with the suggestion that ultimately was adopted and resolved the issue. Years later, I attended diversity training where one of the presenters, also a minority, shared her experience of being looked past. She concluded this was not done out of malice but rather that human nature does not see what it does not expect to see. That same president who did not see me later encouraged my to run for Bar president. In 2001, I was elected to lead the Bar. During my tenure, I helped create the diversity section and the diversity CLE requirement. I believe these two programs help raised our prestige, both at home and abroad. It says that diversity and representing a diverse community should be more than just an aspiration. In reviewing the path of my education and career, I realized what I thought were setbacks were actually advantages. The fact that I am Spanish-speaking was a cornerstone of my success. That I was born into poverty and climbed the social ladder rung-by-rung make me approachable and able to relate to a broad spectrum of society. I was encouraged to seek the bench by many judges and, ultimately, the governor’s office. I became a judge in 2009. Again my personality and background made my judicial tenure joyous and rewarding. While I did meet with frustrating and sad days, I always kept my compass true by taking time to listen, prepare and make decisions I could sleep with at night. During my time on the bench, I made it clear I wanted a mix of civil as well as criminal cases so I could be the best judge possible. I was given civil motions, trials and settlement conferences. Since retiring, I have used my skill set as a mediator in English and Spanish-speaking cases. My mediations include heavy preparation, listening closely and working the case to help both sides get to “Yes.” I took my first job with the Oregon State Bar because I believe our justice system benefits by having lawyers with diverse backgrounds. I entered my legal practice, Bar politics and the bench largely for the same reason. Now I engage in mediation to help the Bar appreciate what mediators of color can bring to the table. In five years’ time, I hope to see mediators of color to be common. I hope that when people ask for a recommendation to a good mediator, they will think of the special skills that we bring to the table. One last thing about the song “Oye Como Va?” — I can play the percussion sections flawlessly. Senior Judge Angel Lopez retired from the bench in 2021. He has an active mediation practice and can be contacted at 7327 SW Barnes Rd., Ste. 522, Portland, OR 97225. He can also be reached at angel.lopez.or@ icloud.com or 503-250-1425. Oye Como Va Continued from p 35
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