(From left) Setsy Larouche, Justice Lynn R. Nakamoto, Marleen Ikeda Wallingford and Chip Larouche. Photo courtesy of Chip Larouche
Salem, ORE. — Membership Chair Setsy Larouche, President Marleen Ikeda Wallingford and Treasurer Chip Larouche from Portland JACL attended the Investiture of Lynn R. Nakamoto to the Oregon Supreme Court as an Associate Justice on Jan. 25 in Salem, Ore.
Justice Nakamoto was appointed to the Court of Appeals in 2011 by Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski before being recently appointed by current Gov. Kate Brown as the first Japanese American and Asian American to serve on Oregon’s highest court.
Nakamoto replaces Justice Virginia L. Linder, who has retired. The Oregon Supreme Court is comprised of seven elected justices, and Nakamoto will run for election in 2016.
Previously, Nakamoto was a managing shareholder at Markowitz Herbold, a Portland law firm focusing on business litigation for more than 20 years, where she gained valuable experience in litigating appeals. She was also the vice chair of the Oregon Board of Bar Examiners in 2001 and chair of the Oregon State Bar Affirmative Action Committee in 2006. From 1985-87, she worked at Bronx Legal Services in New York City.
Justice Nakamoto was the Portland JACL chapter president from 1996-97. The Portland Chapter is very proud to have one of its active members now sitting on the bench of Oregon’s Supreme Court.
— Chip Larouche and Setsy Larouche, Portland JACL
