Richard L. Unis (June 11, 1928 – February 10, 2016) was an American attorney in the state of
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
. He was the 89th justice of the
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court (OSC) is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States.Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
, attending Franklin High School.Leeson, Fred. New justices seen as moderate, progressive thinkers. ''
The Oregonian
''The Oregonian'' is a daily newspaper based in Portland, Oregon, United States, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 185 ...
'', February 7, 1990. After high school he attended and graduated from the
University of Oregon
The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...
on a basketball scholarship. On March 23, 1952, he married Gloria Lenore Schuster in Portland. In 1953, Unis graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law in
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, near the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.
As of the 2020 United States Census, Eu ...
law school
A law school (also known as a law centre or college of law) is an institution specializing in legal education, usually involved as part of a process for becoming a lawyer within a given jurisdiction.
Law degrees Argentina
In Argentina, ...
he began working at the city attorney's office in Portland.
Judicial career
In 1968 Unis began serving as a municipal court judge for Portland, remaining at that position until 1971.Leeson, Fred. Graber, Unis chosen for high court. ''
The Oregonian
''The Oregonian'' is a daily newspaper based in Portland, Oregon, United States, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 185 ...
'', January 31, 1990. That year the court was merged with the county district court where Unis would serve until 1976. Beginning in 1969 he began teaching at the Northwestern College of Law, while also teaching at the National Judicial College in
Reno, Nevada
Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border, about north from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino and tourism industry, Reno is the ...
. In January 1977 Richard Unis was appointed to the state circuit court.
On February 1, 1990, Unis was appointed to the
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court (OSC) is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States.Neil Goldschmidt to replace the retiring
Hans A. Linde
Hans Arthur Linde (April 15, 1924 – August 31, 2020) was a German Jewish American legal scholar who served as a justice of the Oregon Supreme Court from 1977 to 1990.
Born in Berlin, Germany, Justice Linde relocated with his family to Denmark i ...
United States District Judge
The United States district courts are the trial courts of the United States federal judiciary, U.S. federal judiciary. There is one district court for each United States federal judicial district, federal judicial district, which each cover o ...
Unis was awarded the Herbert Harley Award in October 1999 for his "outstanding efforts and contributions that substantially change and improve the administration of justice in their states." This national award is presented by the American Judicature Society. In October 2003, Unis helped finalize the settlement in the Louisiana-Pacific siding lawsuits as a special master appointed by the court.Rivera, Dylan. LP wrapping up payments on inner-seal siding claims. ''
The Oregonian
''The Oregonian'' is a daily newspaper based in Portland, Oregon, United States, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 185 ...
Gresham, Oregon
Gresham ( ) is a city located in Multnomah County, Oregon, in the United States of America, immediately east of Portland, Oregon. It is considered a suburb within the Greater Portland Metropolitan area. Though it began as a settlement in the mid- ...
, at the age of 87. He had lived in
Clackamas County
Clackamas County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 421,401, making it Oregon's third-most populous county. Its county seat is Oregon City. The county was named after the Native ...
along the
Sandy River Sandy River may refer to:
Rivers in the United States
* Sandy River (Chandler Bay), Jonesport, Maine
* Sandy River (Kennebec River) in Maine
* Sandy River (Mississippi River), a tributary of the Mississippi River in Minnesota
* Sandy River (Red Lak ...