For other people with a similar name, see Jason Lee.
Jason Dwight Lee (June 2, 1915 – February 19, 1980) was an American politician and judge in the state of Oregon. A controversial lawyer, he served on the Oregon Court of Appeals and made an unsuccessful attempt at joining the Oregon Supreme Court and was the defendant in several cases that made their way to the state's highest court. His attorney records were the subject of a lawsuit that opened lawyer discipline records up for public scrutiny.
Lee was born on June 2, 1915, the son of Myrtle Lee.[1] He was not related to the Jason Lee of the Methodist Mission from Oregon's pioneer history.[2] He married Dorothy B. Lee, and the two were divorced on July 17, 1969,[1] with the couple having three children while married including Vena Patricia, Elizabeth Anne and David.[3] The family resided in Salem, Oregon, where Lee was an attorney.[4]
Political careeredit
A Democrat, Lee ran for Congress in 1956 to represent Oregon first congressional district.[4] He won the Democratic Primary, but lost to incumbent A. Walter Norblad by a 54.8% to 45.2% margin.[4] In 1965, he was admonished for ethics violations and narrowly avoided being suspended from practicing law for one year.[2][5]
In 1974, he won a primary election over incumbent judge Jacob Tanzer for a seat on the Oregon Court of Appeals.[2] As of 2004, this was the last time an incumbent appellate judge in Oregon lost an election.[6] Tanzer's campaign committee then sued claiming Lee had lied to voters in campaign statements in violation of Oregon's election laws.[2][7] Lee lost the jury trial, but the Oregon Supreme Court reversed the decision and ordered the Secretary of State to put him back on the fall ballot.[2] He won the election as the only person on the ballot, defeating Tanzer who waged a write-in campaign.[2][8] Tanzer won election to the court in 1976, and the two served on the court together until January 1980 when Tanzer was elevated to the Oregon Supreme Court.[2][8]
Oregon Supreme Courtedit
Jason Lee filed to run for an open seat on the Supreme Court in 1975.[2] This led reporter Russell Sadler to request Lee's disciplinary records from the Oregon State Bar (OSB).[2] The OSB refused, even after the Oregon Attorney General ordered the agency to release the files under Oregon's public records disclosure law.[9] Sadler then sued OSB, with a jury finding in the OSB's favor, but the Oregon Supreme Court overturned the decision and ordered the release of the records in June 1976.[9] Once released, the files contained many complaints, a letter of reprimand for improperly contacting a judge, and weighed a total of 15 pounds.[2]
Meanwhile, in March 1976, Lee lost another decision in the Supreme Court with the court ruling he had misappropriated funds from his daughter's trust fund.[2][3] He then withdrew from the race for the Oregon Supreme Court.[2] On February 19, 1980, Jason Lee died in office at the age of 64.[2]
^ abcdefghijklmVollmar, Valerie J., Amy Morris Hess, and Robert Whitman. An Introduction to Trusts and Estates. American casebook series. St. Paul, MN: Thomson/West, 2003. p. 201-207.
^ abcSwarthout, John M. “The 1956 Election in Oregon”, The Western Political Quarterly, Vol. 10, No. 1 (Mar., 1957), pp. 142-150, p. 143. Western Political Science Association.
^Green, Ashbel S. "Appellate courts incumbency gives judges a definite edge when the ballots are cast", The Oregonian, April 28, 2004, p. A8.
^Committee to Retain Judge Jacob Tanzer v. Lee, 270 Or. 215, 527 P.2d 247 (1974).
^ abOregon Blue Book: Earliest Authorities in Oregon - Appeals Court Judges of Oregon. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on September 17, 2008.
^ abSadler v. Oregon State Bar, 275 Or. 279, 550 P.2d 1218 (1976).
External linksedit
April 12, 2024
jason, judge, other, people, with, similar, name, jason, jason, dwight, june, 1915, february, 1980, american, politician, judge, state, oregon, controversial, lawyer, served, oregon, court, appeals, made, unsuccessful, attempt, joining, oregon, supreme, court,. For other people with a similar name see Jason Lee Jason Dwight Lee June 2 1915 February 19 1980 was an American politician and judge in the state of Oregon A controversial lawyer he served on the Oregon Court of Appeals and made an unsuccessful attempt at joining the Oregon Supreme Court and was the defendant in several cases that made their way to the state s highest court His attorney records were the subject of a lawsuit that opened lawyer discipline records up for public scrutiny Jason Dwight LeeJudge on the Oregon Court of AppealsIn office 1975 1980Preceded byJacob TanzerSucceeded byJohn C WardenPersonal detailsBorn 1915 06 02 June 2 1915DiedFebruary 19 1980 1980 02 19 aged 64 Salem OregonPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseDorothy B LeeOccupationAttorney jurist Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Oregon Supreme Court 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editLee was born on June 2 1915 the son of Myrtle Lee 1 He was not related to the Jason Lee of the Methodist Mission from Oregon s pioneer history 2 He married Dorothy B Lee and the two were divorced on July 17 1969 1 with the couple having three children while married including Vena Patricia Elizabeth Anne and David 3 The family resided in Salem Oregon where Lee was an attorney 4 Political career editA Democrat Lee ran for Congress in 1956 to represent Oregon first congressional district 4 He won the Democratic Primary but lost to incumbent A Walter Norblad by a 54 8 to 45 2 margin 4 In 1965 he was admonished for ethics violations and narrowly avoided being suspended from practicing law for one year 2 5 In 1974 he won a primary election over incumbent judge Jacob Tanzer for a seat on the Oregon Court of Appeals 2 As of 2004 this was the last time an incumbent appellate judge in Oregon lost an election 6 Tanzer s campaign committee then sued claiming Lee had lied to voters in campaign statements in violation of Oregon s election laws 2 7 Lee lost the jury trial but the Oregon Supreme Court reversed the decision and ordered the Secretary of State to put him back on the fall ballot 2 He won the election as the only person on the ballot defeating Tanzer who waged a write in campaign 2 8 Tanzer won election to the court in 1976 and the two served on the court together until January 1980 when Tanzer was elevated to the Oregon Supreme Court 2 8 Oregon Supreme Court editJason Lee filed to run for an open seat on the Supreme Court in 1975 2 This led reporter Russell Sadler to request Lee s disciplinary records from the Oregon State Bar OSB 2 The OSB refused even after the Oregon Attorney General ordered the agency to release the files under Oregon s public records disclosure law 9 Sadler then sued OSB with a jury finding in the OSB s favor but the Oregon Supreme Court overturned the decision and ordered the release of the records in June 1976 9 Once released the files contained many complaints a letter of reprimand for improperly contacting a judge and weighed a total of 15 pounds 2 Meanwhile in March 1976 Lee lost another decision in the Supreme Court with the court ruling he had misappropriated funds from his daughter s trust fund 2 3 He then withdrew from the race for the Oregon Supreme Court 2 On February 19 1980 Jason Lee died in office at the age of 64 2 References edit a b Lee v Lee 1 Or App 115 459 P 2d 442 1969 a b c d e f g h i j k l m Vollmar Valerie J Amy Morris Hess and Robert Whitman An Introduction to Trusts and Estates American casebook series St Paul MN Thomson West 2003 p 201 207 a b Jimenez v Lee 274 Or 457 547 P 2d 126 1976 a b c Swarthout John M The 1956 Election in Oregon The Western Political Quarterly Vol 10 No 1 Mar 1957 pp 142 150 p 143 Western Political Science Association In re Lee 242 Or 302 409 P 2d 337 1965 Green Ashbel S Appellate courts incumbency gives judges a definite edge when the ballots are cast The Oregonian April 28 2004 p A8 Committee to Retain Judge Jacob Tanzer v Lee 270 Or 215 527 P 2d 247 1974 a b Oregon Blue Book Earliest Authorities in Oregon Appeals Court Judges of Oregon Oregon State Archives Retrieved on September 17 2008 a b Sadler v Oregon State Bar 275 Or 279 550 P 2d 1218 1976 External links editOregon Benchmarks Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jason Lee judge amp oldid 1079790305, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
