Portland observer., February 19, 2014, Special Edition, Page 4, Image 4

Page 4
The
Portland Observer
Black History Month
Pacific
University '
Oregon
Pacific University Celebrates
Black History Month & Black Student Union
► Who I Am : Celebrating Me, a black history play
(free event, tickets required)
Thursday, Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m. | Taylor-Meade Performing Arts Center | Forest Grove Campus
► Poetry Slam w ith T. Miller
Friday, Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. | La Hacienda Ballroom, 2020 Main St. Forest Grove
► An Evening w ith Angela Davis
(reschedule from February due to inclement weather)
Friday, April 18, 7:30 p.m. | Stoller Center | Forest Grove Campus
More information
Yashica Island, director o f Student Academic Inclusion
503-352-2715 or yisland@pacificu.edu
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.
We
IVe
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Martin Luther
i t._
ARTS & SCIENCES | OPTOMETRY
—
Y. ..
King K. I&J
EDUCATION I HEALTH PROFESSIONS | BUSINESS
877-772-8648 I pacificu.edu
W E CAN A ll MAKE A
0MMUNITY CONTRIBUTION
R emembering
Martin Luther
King, Jr.
R O O K S S T A F F IN G
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February 19, 2014
Drawing to a
Final Verdict
Clinton nominated Haggerty to
the federal bench,
yellow” of his alma mater for
Congress eventually ac-
the scarlet and gold uniform of cepted the President’s nomi-
the Marine Corps that same nation as the year came to a
year. It was here where he close. While that decision, 20
would develop his love for jus- years ago broke another racial
tice.
glass ceiling, in Haggerty’s
Haggerty remembers during mindset, it was no different
his time in the military how fel- than his experience of being a
low officers would call on each racial minority in school,
other for representation in mili-
“It’s just the circumstances
tary court.
of my getting the position and
A lieutenant, Haggerty in- being African American at the
tensely studied the code of mili- same time,” he s.aid. “Obvi-
tary justice. He soon became ously I’m glad that it did hap-
one of the members of his pla- pen, but I don’t even think
toon to help service members about.”
who were facing charges for a
Reflecting on the many final
breach of military discipline.
decisions he’s had to hand down
“I was comfortable with do- over time, Haggerty says he is
ing that, and I had some sue- comfortable with the great bulk
cess,” he said.
of them because he always goes
As his accomplishes as a for the “right verdict.”
counsel under military law be-
“Some decisions are easy,
gan to total up, his achieve- some are hard, it all depends
ments got noticed by higher- on what facts perk up in the
ups. Haggerty was soon pro- case,” he said,
moted as a member of the
Though he says he is not a
Court Marshall Panel where big follower of statistics, when
he could no longer represent asked, he acknowledged the
anyone accused of an offense, racial disparities that have come
“You actually had hardly any through his courtroom, but said
voice at that level,” Haggerty he does not allow that factor
remembers.
into his decision-making when
Despite his newfound posi- considering a verdict, only the
tion, at night, Haggerty says he facts.
would still often find himself
“We have to look at reach­
helping people on both sides of ing the correct result regard-
a case.
less of what politics may enter
After serving three years as into it. We just push those things
a Marine, Haggerty sank his aside,” he said,
feet into a trail that would see
Haggerty also was asked
him rise to the top of the legal about a bill passed by the Or-
profession.
egon Legislature last year that
His career began by enroll- requires lawmakers to examine
ing in Hastings College of Law any proposed legislation for its
of the University of California, potential to disproportionately
In 1973, he took the bar exam, affect certain minority groups,
passing on his first attempt.
He said it was important to evalu-
He then returned to Port- ate whether the justice system
land and worked as a public works for everyone,
defender for a sum total of
For this Vanport survivor,
four years. Then he went into however, the intricacies of
private practice for over a de- making rulings on the law will
cade doing litigation. In 1989, soon be past,
he becam e a M ultnom ah
With multiple decades of
County District Court Judge, time clocked on the business
One year later, he was elected of justice, 69-year-old Judge
Circuit Court Judge, also in Ancer L. Haggerty is calling
Multnomah County.
2014 his last go-around on the
Again, his risings did not go bench.
unnoticed by his higher ups.
“I’m not gonna become a
But this time, it was the Presi­ ski bum ,” he jokes, “but I’m
dent of the United States.
gonna retire and drift into the
In 1993, P resident Bill sunset.”
continued
from front