This oral history with James L. Sutherland was conducted by Kelly A. Zusman at Sutherland’s office in Portland, Oregon, on July 13, 2006. In this interview, Sutherland briefly describes his family background and early life in California and his college experiences at University of Oregon and the University of California, Los Angeles. He discusses practicing law in Portland with Morrison and Bailey and taking depositions; working in the Multnomah County district attorney’s office and jury selection; and relocating to Medford and practicing at the Frohnmayer and Deatherage law firm. He also briefly talks about teaching trial law at the University of Oregon.

Sutherland discusses working as an assistant U.S. attorney beginning in 1978. He talks about the types of cases he worked on, particularly regarding forest fires and civil disobedience. He also talks about his passion for running, his involvement with the Oregon Bar Association, and his plans for retirement. He discusses his work as chief of the civil division at the U.S. attorney’s office. He closes the interview by describing some of the judges and lawyers he’s worked with.