Street roots., August 17, 2012, Image 1

WWW.
AUGUST 17, 2012
P H O T O BY JA K E T H O M A S
Big expectations await Oregon’s new attorney general
BY JAKE THOMAS
voters on medical marijuana. Regardless, the
enthusiasm and money she drew from medical
llen Rosenblum had some high-profile shoes
marijuana advocates helped catapult her to victory.
to fill when she was sworn in as Oregon’s
Rosenblum comes to the job after 49 state
first female attorney general earlier this
attorneys general reached a settlement with five of
summer. She completes the term of John Kroger,
the country’s largest lending institutions. The -
the Enron-trial hero, author and publicity heavy
agreement addressed mortgage loan servicing and
who resigned the post to become president of
fraud by the banks that caused a wave of
Reed College.
foreclosures across the country. The lawsuit
But Rosenblum brings her own set of legal chops
produced a $25 billion settlement, as well as new
to the state’s top law office. Rosenblum’s long legal
protections for homeowners that Rosenblum will
career in Oregon includes representing author Ken
have a hand in implementing.
Kesey in a dispute over the film adaptation of “One
Street Roots spoke to Rosenblum about how she
Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” as well as a 14-year
plans to uphold civil liberties in an age of
stint as a federal prosecutor and 22 years as an
increasing government surveillance, what
appellate and trial judge.
marijuana legalization might mean for her office,
While running against Dwight Holton in the
difficulties in keeping distressed homeowners in
Democratic primary for the office, Rosenblum
their homes, the high cost of incarceration and
became an unexpected hero for advocates of
how she hopes to improve some of the little-
liberalized marijuana laws after she took positions
noticed services her office provides. We began our
that put her in sharp contrast to her opponent, a
conversation with one of the more controversial
former U .S . attorney who had been at the forefront
issues in Portland’s law enforcement practices.
of the federal crackdown on medical cannabis.
Although Rosenblum said she would make
Jake Thom as: Do you agree with your predecessor
enforcement actions against pot a low priority as
that Portland should have rejoined the Joint
attorney general and would stand up for the state’s
Terrorism Task Force (a partnership between various
U S . law enforcement agencies that has been criticized
medical marijuana law in the face of federal
opposition, she never fully embraced her branding
for violating the First Amendment rights of activists)?
as a champion of cannabis. She claimed she merely
E llen R osenblum : Not necessarily. I was
wanted to make sensible use of limited law
perfectly comfortable with us having not joined it,
enforcement resources and respect the will of the
S T A F F W R IT E R
E
and I never understood what the considerations
were in rejoining it.
I have a lot of concerns about civil liberties. I
met yesterday with representatives from the
American Civil Liberties Union to hear their
issues. That was not one of their issues that they
raised with me. So I haven’t put that on my table
with my issues. When I heard we were rejoining, I
had some of the same concerns that the city had
when they decided not to.
J.T.: What were your concerns?
E.R.: I just want to make sure that our local
governments, and not so much our federal
government, are in charge of our public safety.
That when we collaborate with the federal
government, we do it appropriately. I have a close
relationship with Amanda Marshall, our U .S.
attorney. I want to work well with her, but when it
comes to our city and state government, our local
leaders should make those decisions, and not the
be pressured by the federal government. Even
though it seemed like we were in control, I had
concerns that federal oversight would make that
difficult.
J.T.: Oregon has strong laws in place that prohibit
law enforcement from spying on the political and
See ROSENBLUM, page 8
Inside
Religious fervor
Toni Tortorilla
Rhythm of
What's at stake in
the Vatican's
crackdown o f women
religious' leadership
H er story o f
fu lfillin g her lifelong
calling to the
priesthood
paradise
Page 3
Page 5
Portland musician
Okaidja Afroso
launches his third
album, “Messenger.
Page 7