Melvin Orr '93

Melvin Oden-Orr '93 was appointed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown to the Multnomah County Circuit Court, effective Jan. 1. Oden-Orr was previously Chief Hearings Officer for the city of Portland, where he had worked since July 2016. In that role, he adjudicated land use disputes, city code violations, and other municipal matters.

From 2005 to 2016, Oden-Orr operated his own law practice, representing clients in civil disputes and business transactions. From 2000 to 2004, he served as Assistant General Counsel at TriMet.

Oden-Orr began his career as an associate attorney at a predecessor to the firm Lane Powell LLP. He attended law school at the University of Illinois after receiving his B.A. degree in political science at UCLA. He is the founding chair of the Oregon State Bar’s Diversity Section and has served on boards and committees for the City Club of Portland, Youth Employment Institute, Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon, and the State Construction Contractors Board.

Read the complete news release here.