This oral history interview with John A. Jelderks was conducted by Donna Sinclair from December 19-27, 2006, and Jan Dilg from May 28 to September 16, 2009, as part of the United States District Court Oral History Project. The interview was conducted in five sessions. The first two sessions were recorded on audiocassette; Audiocassette 1 is missing, but its content is reflected in the interview transcript. The third and fourth sessions were recorded as digital audio files. The fifth session was recorded simultaneously as digital audio files and on videocassette; the audio files contain additional content.

In this interview, Jelderks discusses his family background and early life in Salem, Oregon, his law school education at Willamette University, and his early law career as a district attorney for Marion and Hood River counties. He speaks about serving as a judge in Oregon’s 7th judicial district, about hearing cases regarding the Rajneeshees, and about his unsuccessful 1988 campaign for a seat on the Oregon Supreme Court. He speaks at length about serving as a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court of Oregon from 1991 to the time of the interview, particularly focusing on his decision in the Kennewick Man case, which regarded the custody of ancient Native American remains.