Berkeley Lent
Encyclopedia
Berkeley "Bud" Lent was an American politician and jurist in the state of Oregon
. He was the 38th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
, serving from 1982 to 1983. Elected to the court in 1976, Lent remained until 1988. Previously, the native Oregonian also was elected to both branches of the Oregon legislature, including time as the Senate Majority Leader, and was a county circuit court judge
. Lent also served as a mediator and senior judge in Oregon
.
. Raised in the Lents neighborhood
of southeast Portland, Berkeley earned his primary education there, graduating from Franklin High School. After high school he moved to Los Angeles, California
where he attended Occidental College
from 1944 to 1945. Also in 1944, he married Dorothy Welch. Lent joined the United States Navy
that year. Lent then returned to Portland where he attended Reed College
, graduating in 1948.
He then went on to law school
at Willamette University College of Law
where he graduated with his juris doctorate in 1950 and was president of his class his final year. After law school Lent moved to San Francisco, California
and worked for Bancroft-Whitney Law Publishing Company as an editor. He then returned to Portland and worked for the Bonneville Power Administration
as a staff attorney. After practicing law in Coos Bay, Oregon
, Lent returned again to Portland and began working at the law firm of Peterson & Pozzi beginning in 1953.
as a Democrat from Portland, serving at the 1957 session. He remained in the House through 1965, and that year serving as the Minority Whip. He then served in the state senate from 1967 to 1971. During the 1971 legislative session Lent was selected as the Senate Majority Leader after losing the Senate Presidency when a rural conservative Democrat, himself a former Senate President, joined Republicans to deny Lent the Senate Presidency. The defection caused a 15-15 deadlock that lasted for 12 days and through 54 ballots before being broken. Later that year Lent was appointed as a county circuit court judge in Multnomah County
remaining at that post until 1977.
Lent was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court
in November 1976 to replace the outgoing Kenneth O’Connell. Justice Lent was then re-elected to another six-year term in 1982. On the court his fellow justices elected him as Chief Justice in July 1982, serving until resigning the position in August 1983. Justice Lent then resigned from the bench on September 30, 1988. George Van Hoomissen
was elected in May of that year to replace Lent.
as an arbitrator and mediator, as well as a senior judge for the state of Oregon. He divorced his first wife Dorothy in 1961 and re-married in 1968 to Joan Burnett, with the family moving to Las Vegas, Nevada
, after Lent's retirement. He had two sons, Eric and Scott, and four daughters, Terry, Deirdre, Suzanne, and Patricia . Berkeley Lent died of a heart attack in Las Vegas on November 11, 2007.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He was the 38th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
, serving from 1982 to 1983. Elected to the court in 1976, Lent remained until 1988. Previously, the native Oregonian also was elected to both branches of the Oregon legislature, including time as the Senate Majority Leader, and was a county circuit court judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. Lent also served as a mediator and senior judge in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Early life
On September 22, 1921, Lent was born in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. Raised in the Lents neighborhood
Lents, Portland, Oregon
The Lents neighborhood in the Southeast section of Portland, Oregon is bordered by SE Powell Blvd. on the north, the Clackamas County line or City of Portland line on the south , SE 82nd Ave. to the west, and roughly SE 112th on the east. The NE corner overlaps with the Powellhurst-Gilbert...
of southeast Portland, Berkeley earned his primary education there, graduating from Franklin High School. After high school he moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
where he attended Occidental College
Occidental College
Occidental College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1887, Occidental College, or "Oxy" as it is called by students and alumni, is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges on the West Coast...
from 1944 to 1945. Also in 1944, he married Dorothy Welch. Lent joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
that year. Lent then returned to Portland where he attended Reed College
Reed College
Reed College is a private, independent, liberal arts college located in southeast Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1908, Reed is a residential college with a campus located in Portland's Eastmoreland neighborhood, featuring architecture based on the Tudor-Gothic style, and a forested canyon wilderness...
, graduating in 1948.
He then went on to law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
at Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
where he graduated with his juris doctorate in 1950 and was president of his class his final year. After law school Lent moved to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and worked for Bancroft-Whitney Law Publishing Company as an editor. He then returned to Portland and worked for the Bonneville Power Administration
Bonneville Power Administration
The Bonneville Power Administration is an American federal agency based in the Pacific Northwest. BPA was created by an act of Congress in 1937 to market electric power from the Bonneville Dam located on the Columbia River and to construct facilities necessary to transmit that power...
as a staff attorney. After practicing law in Coos Bay, Oregon
Coos Bay, Oregon
Coos Bay is a city located in Coos County, Oregon, United States, where the Coos River enters Coos Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The city borders the city of North Bend, and together they are often referred to as one entity called either Coos Bay-North Bend or the Bay Area...
, Lent returned again to Portland and began working at the law firm of Peterson & Pozzi beginning in 1953.
Political career
Berkeley Lent began his political life in the state houseOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
as a Democrat from Portland, serving at the 1957 session. He remained in the House through 1965, and that year serving as the Minority Whip. He then served in the state senate from 1967 to 1971. During the 1971 legislative session Lent was selected as the Senate Majority Leader after losing the Senate Presidency when a rural conservative Democrat, himself a former Senate President, joined Republicans to deny Lent the Senate Presidency. The defection caused a 15-15 deadlock that lasted for 12 days and through 54 ballots before being broken. Later that year Lent was appointed as a county circuit court judge in Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
remaining at that post until 1977.
Lent was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
in November 1976 to replace the outgoing Kenneth O’Connell. Justice Lent was then re-elected to another six-year term in 1982. On the court his fellow justices elected him as Chief Justice in July 1982, serving until resigning the position in August 1983. Justice Lent then resigned from the bench on September 30, 1988. George Van Hoomissen
George Van Hoomissen
George Albert Van Hoomissen is an American attorney in the state of Oregon, United States. He previously served as the 87th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court and served on the Oregon Court of Appeals...
was elected in May of that year to replace Lent.
Later life and family
After leaving the court and political office, Lent worked in alternative dispute resolutionAlternative dispute resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution includes dispute resolution processes and techniques that act as a means for disagreeing parties to come to an agreement short of litigation. ADR basically is an alternative to a formal court hearing or litigation...
as an arbitrator and mediator, as well as a senior judge for the state of Oregon. He divorced his first wife Dorothy in 1961 and re-married in 1968 to Joan Burnett, with the family moving to Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, after Lent's retirement. He had two sons, Eric and Scott, and four daughters, Terry, Deirdre, Suzanne, and Patricia . Berkeley Lent died of a heart attack in Las Vegas on November 11, 2007.