Paul DeMuniz

Paul DeMuniz

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Nonpartisan

Prior offices

Oregon Supreme Court Position 2

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Education

Bachelor's

Portland State University, 1972

Law

Williamette University College of Law, 1975

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Paul J. DeMuniz was a justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. He served as the court's the first Hispanic Chief Justice. He was elected on November 7, 2000, and elected as Chief Justice in 2006

DeMuniz did not seek re-election at the end of his term in January 2012, stepped down from chief justice on May 1, 2012, and retired in January 2013.

Education

DeMuniz received his B.S. degree in Sociology from Portland State University in 1972 and his J.D. degree from Willamette University College of Law in 1975.

Military service

DeMuniz served in the Air Force before earning his degrees, from 1966 to 1970. His service included a tour in Vietnam, from 1968 to 1969.

Career

DeMuniz began his legal career in 1975 as a deputy public defender for the state of Oregon. He joined the law firm Garret, Seideman, Hemann, Robertson & De Muniz, P.C. in 1977. He practiced law in this capacity until 1990. In 1988, he also worked as a special prosecutor in Douglas County. He joined the Oregon Court of Appeals in 1990. In 1997, he became the Presiding Judge of Department One of this court and he worked in this capacity until his election to the Supreme Court in 2000.

Awards and associations

• 1998-2002: Member, Judicial Fitness and Disability Commission
• 2006-present: Member, Board of Trustee, Williamette University
• 1995-present: Member, Board of Visitors, Williamette University College of Law's Board of Visitors
• 1997: Mentor of the Year, Williamette University College of Law
• 1985-1990: Member, Oregon Criminal Justice Council
• 1980-1983: Member, Board of Bar Examiners, Oregon State Bar
• 1980 Chair: Oregon State Bar's Criminal Law Section

Elections

2006

DeMuniz was retained by voters on May 16, 2006.

Political ideology

See also: Political ideology of State Supreme Court Justices

In October 2012, political science professors Adam Bonica and Michael Woodruff of Stanford University attempted to determine the partisan ideology of state supreme court justices. They created a scoring system in which a score above 0 indicated a more conservative-leaning ideology, while scores below 0 were more liberal.

DeMuniz received a campaign finance score of -0.87, indicating a liberal ideological leaning. This was less liberal than the average score of -1.00 that justices received in Oregon.

The study was based on data from campaign contributions by the judges themselves, the partisan leaning of those who contributed to the judges' campaigns, or, in the absence of elections, the ideology of the appointing body (governor or legislature). This study was not a definitive label of a justice, but an academic summary of various relevant factors.

External links

• Oregon Supreme Court, The Honorable Paul J. De Muniz (dead link)
• Project Vote Smart, Chief Justice Paul J. De Muniz (OR)
• PSU Alumni Association, "Profile: Passing judgment in Oregon's top court
• The Heartland Institute, "Oregon Supreme Court Upholds Law Protecting Property Rights," April 1, 2006