Jason Lee (Oregon judge)
Encyclopedia
Jason Dwight Lee was an American
politician and judge in the state of Oregon
. A controversial lawyer, he served on the Oregon Court of Appeals
and made an unsuccessful attempt at joining the Oregon Supreme Court
and was the defendant in several cases that made their way to the state’s highest court. His attorney records were the subject of a lawsuit that opened lawyer discipline records up for public scrutiny.
of the Methodist Mission
from Oregon’s pioneer history
. He married Dorothy B. Lee, and the two were divorced on July 17, 1969, with the couple having three children while married including Elizabeth Anne and David. The family resided in Salem, Oregon
, where Lee was an attorney.
by a 54.8% to 45.2% margin. In 1965, he was admonished for ethics violations and narrowly avoided being suspended from practicing law for one year.
In 1974, he won a primary election over incumbent judge Jacob Tanzer
for a seat on the Oregon Court of Appeals
. As of 2004, this was the last time an incumbent appellate judge in Oregon lost an election. Tanzer's campaign committee then sued claiming Lee had lied to voters in campaign statements in violation of Oregon’s election laws. Lee lost the jury trial, but the Oregon Supreme Court
reversed the decision and ordered the Secretary of State
to put him back on the fall ballot. He won the election as the only person on the ballot, defeating Tanzer who waged a write-in campaign. Tanzer won election to the court in 1976, and the two served on the court together until January 1980 when Tanzer was elevated to the Oregon Supreme Court.
(OSB). The OSB refused, even after the Oregon Attorney General
ordered the agency to release the files under Oregon’s public records disclosure law. Sadler then sued OSB, with a jury finding in the OSB’s favor, but the Oregon Supreme Court overturned the decision and ordered the release of the records in June 1976. Once released, the files contained many complaints, a letter of reprimand for improperly contacting a judge, and weighed a total of 15 pounds.
Meanwhile, in March 1976, Lee lost another decision in the Supreme Court with the court ruling he had misappropriated funds from his daughter’s trust fund. He then withdrew from the race for the Oregon Supreme Court. On February 19, 1980, Jason Lee died in office at the age of 64.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and judge in the state of 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...
. A controversial lawyer, he served on the Oregon Court of Appeals
Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is the state intermediate appellate court in the U.S. state of Oregon. Part of the Oregon Judicial Department, it has ten judges and is located in Salem...
and made an unsuccessful attempt at joining 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...
and was the defendant in several cases that made their way to the state’s highest court. His attorney records were the subject of a lawsuit that opened lawyer discipline records up for public scrutiny.
Early life
Lee was born on June 2, 1915, the son of Myrtle Lee. He was not related to the Jason LeeJason Lee (missionary)
Jason Lee , an American missionary and pioneer, was born on a farm near Stanstead, Quebec. He was the first of the Oregon missionaries and helped establish the early foundation of a provisional government in the Oregon Country....
of the Methodist Mission
Methodist Mission
The Methodist Mission was founded in Oregon Country in 1834 by the Reverend Jason Lee. The mission was started to educate the Native Americans in the Willamette Valley and grew into an important center for politics and economics in the early settlement period of Oregon.-Foundation:In 1831, several...
from Oregon’s pioneer history
Oregon pioneer history
Oregon Pioneer History is the period in the history of the U.S. state of Oregon when pioneers and mountain men, primarily of European descent, traveled west across North America to explore and settle the lands west of the Rocky Mountains and north of California...
. He married Dorothy B. Lee, and the two were divorced on July 17, 1969, with the couple having three children while married including Elizabeth Anne and David. The family resided in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, where Lee was an attorney.
Political career
A Democrat, Lee ran for Congress in 1956 to represent Oregon first congressional district. He won the Democratic Primary, but lost to incumbent A. Walter NorbladA. Walter Norblad
Albin Walter Norblad, Jr., was an American attorney and Republican politician in Oregon. He represented the U.S. state of Oregon's First District from January 18, 1946 until his death in the United States House of Representatives. His father was A. W. Norblad, Sr., a one-time Governor of...
by a 54.8% to 45.2% margin. In 1965, he was admonished for ethics violations and narrowly avoided being suspended from practicing law for one year.
In 1974, he won a primary election over incumbent judge Jacob Tanzer
Jacob Tanzer
Jacob B. Tanzer is an American attorney in the state of Oregon, United States. Prior to private practice Tanzer served as the 81st Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court...
for a seat on the Oregon Court of Appeals
Oregon Court of Appeals
The Oregon Court of Appeals is the state intermediate appellate court in the U.S. state of Oregon. Part of the Oregon Judicial Department, it has ten judges and is located in Salem...
. As of 2004, this was the last time an incumbent appellate judge in Oregon lost an election. Tanzer's campaign committee then sued claiming Lee had lied to voters in campaign statements in violation of Oregon’s election laws. Lee lost the jury trial, but 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...
reversed the decision and ordered the Secretary of State
Oregon Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of Oregon, an elected constitutional officer within the executive branch of government of the U.S. state of Oregon, is first in line of succession to the Governor. The duties of office are: auditor of public accounts, chief elections officer, and administrator of public...
to put him back on the fall ballot. He won the election as the only person on the ballot, defeating Tanzer who waged a write-in campaign. Tanzer won election to the court in 1976, and the two served on the court together until January 1980 when Tanzer was elevated to the Oregon Supreme Court.
Oregon Supreme Court
Jason Lee filed to run for an open seat on the Supreme Court in 1975. This led reporter Russell Sadler to request Lee’s disciplinary records from the Oregon State BarOregon State Bar
The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession. The public corporation is part of the Oregon Judicial Department...
(OSB). The OSB refused, even after the Oregon Attorney General
Oregon Attorney General
The Oregon Attorney General is a statutory office within the executive branch of the state of Oregon, and serves as the chief legal officer of the state, heading its Department of Justice with its six operating divisions. The Attorney General is chosen by statewide partisan election to serve a term...
ordered the agency to release the files under Oregon’s public records disclosure law. Sadler then sued OSB, with a jury finding in the OSB’s favor, but the Oregon Supreme Court overturned the decision and ordered the release of the records in June 1976. Once released, the files contained many complaints, a letter of reprimand for improperly contacting a judge, and weighed a total of 15 pounds.
Meanwhile, in March 1976, Lee lost another decision in the Supreme Court with the court ruling he had misappropriated funds from his daughter’s trust fund. He then withdrew from the race for the Oregon Supreme Court. On February 19, 1980, Jason Lee died in office at the age of 64.