Richard Unis

Oregon Supreme Court Justice[25]

What is Richard Unis known for?

Richard Unis, born June 11, 1928, in Portland, Oregon, was an esteemed American attorney who marked his steps as the 89th justice of the Oregon Supreme Court from 1990 to 1996. This distinguished alumnus of Franklin High School in Portland laid the foundation of his impressive legal career after finishing up school and earning a basketball scholarship to the University of Oregon.

Unis further honed his legal acumen at the University of Oregon School of Law, graduating in 1953. He first delved into the public service realm by working at the city attorney's office in Portland, pushing his journey up the judiciary ladder.

His judicial career began in 1968, where he served as a municipal court judge for Portland till 1971. Following this tenure, he served at the county district court until 1976, amidst which he also started teaching at the Northwestern College of Law and at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. His burgeoning experience prepared him for his appointment to the state circuit court in January 1977.

Unis' most notable position came into being on February 1, 1990, when he was appointed as a justice of the Oregon Supreme Court by Governor Neil Goldschmidt. He secured a full six-year term later that year and served until June 30, 1996, when he decided to step down to oversee the settlement of a class action lawsuit against Louisiana-Pacific.

Beyond his judicial commitments, Unis was also lauded for his outstanding contributions to justice administration. His relentless commitment to improving the judicial system led him to receive the Herbert Harley Award in October 1999. In 2003, he was instrumental in finalizing the settlement in the Louisiana-Pacific siding lawsuits as a special master appointed by the court.

After more than thirty years of living along the Sandy River in Clackamas County, Oregon, Richard Unis breathed his last on February 10, 2016, at the age of 87 in Gresham, Oregon. His remarkable career trajectory, pivotal legal decisions, and persistent dedication to bettering the justice system will forever echo in the halls of Oregon's legal institutions.