This oral history interview with Edward Leavy was conducted by Clark Hansen, in six sessions from March 2 to April 13, 2004, in Leavy’s chambers at the U.S. District Courthouse (known as the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse) in Portland, Oregon, as part of the United States District Court Oral History Project. Session 5 was simultaneously recorded on audiocassette and video.

In this interview, Leavy discusses his family background and early life on a hops farm in Butteville, Oregon, including his memories of the Depression and his education. He talks about attending the University of Portland and studying at Notre Dame Law School. He discusses serving as a deputy district attorney for Lane County and some of the cases he prosecuted. He talks about serving as Lane County District Court judge and Circuit Court judge, and about some of the cases he heard. He discusses the differences between state and federal courts. Leavy describes the magistrate system during the years he was a U.S. Magistrate for the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He then speaks at length about mediating cases and reaching settlements. He discusses serving as a judge on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, beginning with his appointment in 1987. He discusses some of the cases he heard, including on Rajneeshpuram. He describes the various duties of federal judges; the processes and procedures of the Court of Appeals; and how it differs from the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He talks about his experience as a senior judge on the Court of Appeals since 1997, including mediating for U.S. v. Wen Ho Lee. He then talks about serving on the Surveillance Court of Review from 2001 to 2008. He closes the interview by sharing his reasons for taking senior judge status in 1997, and by discussing the right to privacy.