Eugene attorney Martha Lee Walters was excited and thrilled last week when she picked up the phone, hearing Gov. Ted Kulongoski on the other end.
He called to say he had selected her as the newest member of the Oregon Supreme Court.
A 1977 graduate of the University’s law school, Walters applied for the position thinking she could do something “to contribute to the state.” When she takes her oath of office on Oct. 9, Walters will become the only woman on the seven-member court.
Walters will replace Justice R. William Riggs, who has served on the court since 1998 and is stepping down Sept. 30.
She interviewed for the position as one of 13 applicants and was chosen from a field of five finalists.
“Ms. Walters is a passionate and dedicated lawyer with an intense intellectual interest in the law,” Kulongoski said in a press release. “She comes to this position with a keen intellect, ideal temperament and an outstanding reputation in the legal community.”
Walters, whose experience deals in civil litigation, labor law and municipal law, was part of a legal team that represented Casey Martin, a disabled professional golfer and current University men’s golf coach who sued the PGA Tour over its refusal to allow him to use a golf cart under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Although Walters didn’t argue before the Supreme Court, she sat in the front row during the Supreme Court hearing and was “ecstatic” when the court ruled 7-2 in Martin’s favor.
“At the argument, we didn’t think we’d win,” Waters said. “You try to see what you can tell from the questions that justices ask you, and from the questions they were asking, we were worried.”
Martin said Walters represented him in the trial court and appellate court and that she remained involved with the case all the way to the high court.
“She obviously knew her stuff,” Martin said. “She took down the PGA, which is a very rich organization with lots of experienced lawyers working for them.”
Walters previously argued in front of the Oregon Supreme Court in a lawsuit that dealt with the validity of government contracts in regards to the construction of a nuclear power plant. She lost that case.
Walters said she will step down as president of the Eugene-based Walters Chanti & Zennaché law firm when she becomes a member of the court, although she will miss representing individuals.
“I think she’ll do a great job, and I’m proud she was able to represent me,” Martin said.
Walters said she plans to bring her experience as a trial lawyer to the court. She said she also plans to run for the position in 2008.
“I’m just looking to do the best job I can and try to remember that the law affects real people, and the decisions we make will have an effect on the people who work within the judicial system,” Walters said.
While a first-year law student at the University, Walters interviewed for a summer law clerk position at Kulongoski’s former law firm with Robert Durham, a current Oregon Supreme Court Justice. She was turned down, and today, Walters says Kulongoski doesn’t remember the incident.
Walters has lived in Eugene since she graduated, and is married with two grown children.
Contact the city, state politics reporter at [email protected]