Oral history interview with James A. Redden
Scope and Contents
This oral history interview with James A. Redden was conducted by Michael O’Rourke in Redden’s chambers at the U.S. District Court in Portland, Oregon, on January 27, 2006. In addition to the video recording of the interview, a transcript is available. In this interview, Redden discusses cases during his time as Oregon attorney general and as a U.S. District Court judge, including some involving treaties with Native Americans and fishing rights on the Columbia River, as well as the effects of the dams on salmon runs and other fisheries. He also discusses the history and impact of the U.S. District Court Historical Society; the war on terror, particularly the Patriot Act; and drug-related cases.
Dates
- 2006 January 27
Creator
- Redden, James A. (Interviewee, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Joint copyright is held by the Oregon Historical Society and the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society. In Copyright – Educational Use Permitted: https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Biographical note
James "Jim" Anthony Redden was born in 1929 and grew up in Massachusetts. In 1946, while he was in high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving two years as a medic stationed in Japan, where he saw firsthand the effects of the bombing of Hiroshima. In 1951, he married Joan Johnson. After earning a high school diploma, he attended Boston College and Boston College Law School, where he graduated with a law degree in 1954. He practiced law in Massachusetts for a year, then came to Portland, Oregon, where he worked for various insurance companies before moving to Medford, Oregon, to build his own law firm. He was a Democrat who represented the 19th District in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1962 to 1969, serving as minority leader from 1967 to 1969. From 1970 to 1972, he was chairman of the Public Employee Relations Board. From 1973 to 1976, he was state treasurer, and then attorney general from 1977 to 1980, before he was appointed to the U.S. District Court by President Jimmy Carter in 1980. He served as chief justice from 1990 to 1995, whereupon he took senior status.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (2 videocassettes (Mini-DV, 1 hr., 8 min., 33 sec.) + transcript (25 pages))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Oral history interview with James "Jim" Anthony Redden conducted by Michael O'Rourke on January 27, 2006, as part of the United States District Court Oral History Project. Redden was a judge on the U.S. District Court of Oregon.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Donna Sinclair, January 2008 (Lib. Acc. 26436).
Existence and Location of Copies
General
Forms part of the United States District Court Oral History Project.
Creator
- Redden, James A. (Interviewee, Person)
- O'Rourke, Michael (Filmmaker) (Interviewer, Person)
- United States District Court of Oregon Historical Society (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the oral history interview with James A. Redden
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sarah Stroman
- Date
- 2019; revised 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
- Sponsor
- This project is supported in whole or part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.
Revision Statements
- 2024-07-29: Collection guide revised to include completed transcript.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org