Oral history interview with Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain

Collection

Identifier: SR 11214

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Diarmuid O’Scannlain was conducted by Michael O’Rourke in Portland, Oregon, from June 20, 2008, to April 10, 2010, as part of the United States District Court Oral History Project. The interview was conducted in nine sessions, and a transcript is available. Sessions 7 and 8 were recorded as digital video; the rest of the interview was recorded as digital audio. Session 9 is restricted until 2037.

In sessions 1 through 5, O’Scannlain discusses his family background, including his father’s involvement in the Irish Republican Army and his Irish heritage; talks about his education at St. John’s University and Harvard Law School; and about his career as a lawyer for Standard Oil, and for private law firms in Portland, Oregon. He speaks at length about his involvement in Republican politics, including his service as Oregon deputy attorney general under Lee Johnson, as Oregon public utility commissioner, and as director of the Department of Environmental Quality. In addition, he talks about his 1974 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, and his role on President Ronald Reagan’s transition team.

In sessions 6 through 9, O’Scannlain discusses his service as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1986 to the time of the interview. He talks about cases he heard, about his judicial philosophy, and about his 1986 confirmation to the court.

Dates

Creation: 2008 June 20-2010 April 10

Creator

O'Scannlain, Diarmuid F. (Interviewee, Person)
O'Rourke, Michael (Filmmaker) (Interviewer, Person)
United States District Court of Oregon Historical Society (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Session 9 is restricted until 2037, and that portion of the interview has been redacted from the transcript. The rest of the collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Joint copyright held by the Oregon Historical Society and the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society. Use of this interview is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Educational Use Permitted: https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/

Biographical note

Diarmuid Fionntain O'Scannlain was born in New York, New York, in 1937. In 1957, he earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University. In 1963, he earned a juris doctorate from Harvard Law School. That same year, he and Maura Nolan were married; they later had eight children. From 1955 to 1978, he served in the U.S. Army Reserve. After passing the New York Bar in 1964, he worked as a tax lawyer for Standard Oil, and in 1965 he came to Portland, Oregon, to join the law firm now known as Stoel Rives. In 1969, he became deputy attorney general for Oregon, and in 1971, he became Oregon public utility commissioner. From 1973 to 1974, he was head of the Department of Environmental Quality, and in 1974, he ran unsuccessfully for the First Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He then returned to private practice. He was on President Ronald Reagan’s transition team, and served as Oregon Republican Party chair from 1983 to 1986. He also served on the Northwest Power Planning Council, which is now known as the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. He served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 1986 to 2016, when he took senior status. In 1992, he also earned a master of law degree from the University of Virginia.

Extent

1.46 Gigabytes (7 audio files (MP3, 7 hr., 26 min., 39 sec.) and 4 video files (MP4, 2 hr., 59 min., 32 sec.) + transcript (195 pages))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain conducted by Michael O'Rourke from June 20, 2008, to April 10, 2010. O'Scannlain discusses his service as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, beginning in 1986.