Febuary 23, 2022
Page 7
Committed to
Diversity in Law
First Black justice
bestowed honor
Justice Adrienne C. Nelson of
the Oregon Supreme Court has
been honored by the American
Bar Association, the largest vol-
untary association of lawyers in
the world, for her commitment to
racial and ethnic diversity in law.
Nelson, the first Black justice
in the history of Oregon’s high-
est court, received the group’s
2022 Spirit of Excellence Award
during a Feb. 12 meeting. The
honor is for lawyers who work
to promote a more racially and
ethnically diverse legal profes-
sion and personify excellence on
the national, state or local level.
Nelson was named to the high
court in 2018. A former litigator,
she was appointed in 2006 to
the Multnomah County Circuit
Court, making her only the sec-
ond Black female judge in Ore-
gon history. Nelson is currently
one of eight Black female justices
in the country. Adrienne Nelson
High School was recently named
in her honor in Happy Valley.
“I am inspired by the work of
this year’s awardees,” said Mi-
Oregon Supreme Court Justice
Nelson, the court’s first Black
justice, is honored for her work
demonstrating a commitment
to racial and ethnic diversity in
the law.
chelle Behnke, chair of the ABA
Commission on Racial and Eth-
nic Diversity in the Profession.
“These awardees have blazed
trails and have encouraged and
supported others to succeed.
Most importantly, these awardees
highlight for the world that diver-
sity, equity and inclusion is not
mutually exclusive to excellence,
grit and determination.”
1022 NW Marshall Street #450 Portland OR | (503) 226-6361 | paulsoncoletti.com
Celebrating Black history
now and all year long
Through hard work, new
approaches, and dedication
to equity and inclusion
at our college and in East
Multnomah County
MHCC is honored to be the recipient of the
national 2021 Charles Kennedy Equity Award
Read more about the work we’re doing at
mhcc.edu/MHCC-National-Equity-Award