Oral history interview with Alfred T. Goodwin
Scope and Contents
This interview with Alfred Goodwin was conducted by Michael O’Rourke at Goodwin’s home in Sisters, Oregon, on August 26, 2006. In the interview, Goodwin discusses some of the topics that often come before the U.S. District Court, including immigration, fishing rights, and environmental law. He also discusses national legislation regarding terrorism; proposals to split the Ninth Circuit; technology in the court; and the War on Drugs. He closes the interview by talking about his personal life and family background.
Dates
- Creation: 2006 August 26
Creator
- Goodwin, Alfred T. (Alfred Theodore), 1923-2022 (Interviewee, Person)
- O'Rourke, Michael (Filmmaker) (Interviewer, 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: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Biographical note
Alfred Theodore Goodwin was born in Bellingham, Washington, in 1923 and grew up in the Pacific Northwest, graduating from high school in the eastern Oregon town of Prineville. Goodwin served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946, and attended the University of Oregon, earning degrees in journalism (1947) and law (1951). Goodwin was appointed to the Oregon Circuit Court for Lane County in 1955, to the Oregon Supreme Court in 1960, to the U.S. District Court in 1969, and to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1971. From 1988 to 1991, he served as the Ninth Circuit Court's chief judge. He took senior status in 1991. Judge Goodwin's professional activities have included the Oregon Constitutional Revision Commission, Alpha Tau Omega, the Oregon Bar-Press Broadcasters Committee, where he showed an interest in promoting cooperation between the bar and the media, and the American Bar Association, particularly its committees on relations between bench and bar and on legal education. His support for his alma mater, the University of Oregon, earned him several distinguished service awards. Goodwin died in 2022.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 videocassette (Mini-DV, 1 hr., 2 min., 59 sec.))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Oral history interview with Alfred Goodwin conducted by Michael O'Rourke on August 26, 2006, as part of the United States District Court Oral History Project. Goodwin was a judge on the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Donna Sinclair, January 2008 (as Lib. Acc. 26436).
Existence and Location of Copies
General
Forms part of the United States District Court Oral History Project.
General
Incomplete transcript (20 pages) available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Subject
- United States. Court of Appeals (9th Circuit) (Organization)
- United States. District Court (Oregon) (Organization)
- Goodwin, Alfred T. (Alfred Theodore), 1923-2022 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to oral history interview with Alfred T. Goodwin
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sarah Stroman
- Date
- 2019
- 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.
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