From Duin-
Roberts apparently understood the rules -- particularly the rules of punctuation -- and the details of You's living arrangements better than her neighbor...

Thats such a load of crap...is Duin saying that You didnt know when she moved here less than three years ago? I moved here 15 years ago, and I still remember the date.

And as for Robert's actions being called "shameless" and "cruel"...about the only thing I can come up with is "DUH". Its politics as usual in the USofA.

Now, I wonder if Ted K knew when he appointed You in the first place...

Even if you think Roberts would have blown the whistle on You irrespective of her own judicial ambitions, to have acted honorably Roberts should have made her complaint against You prior to the filing deadline so others could have run for the seat. Roberts didn't just stab her old friend You in the back; she also manipulated the system and cheated the voters out of the opportunity to make an informed decision in the judicial race

I like to think all the critics are saying is, it would have been better had Roberts not sat on the information until the filing deadline, so that others could file to oppose her in the election. I think that's fair criticism on moral, if not legal, grounds. On the other hand, I suppose nothing would have prevented other enterprising and ambitious hopefuls to check out You's (Your?) credentials.

Being from New Jersey, I have no problem with You's. As in, youze guys shoulda checked her out beforehand.

While Roberts may flunk the "good neighbor" test, one can make the case that You flunks the "play by the rules" test.

I think, for a judge, I'll take the former.

Just making a leap here, but does this constitute Democrats eating their young.

"one can make the case that You flunks the "play by the rules" test."

Apparently, one did.

". . . she also manipulated the system and cheated the voters out of the opportunity to make an informed decision in the judicial race."

No - the system failed to detect that Judge You didn't meet the residency qualification. The reason that the voters don't get to make an informed decision, or in fact any decision, about this seat (now that it has just one candidate, Ms. Roberts) is that no other lawyer in the county was brave or foolhardy enough to run against a sitting judge. That's not Ms. Roberts' fault.

Duin's a boob.

This was a total knife in the back job if I ever saw one. Roberts has been trying to get on the bench for years without success and the only way she could pull it off was by ratting out her neighbor. If Roberts had concerns that Judge You missed the residency requirement by a mere three months, then she could have pointed that out to her directly rather than laying in the weeds like a snake for the perfect moment so she could personally gain from the situation. Profiting from the information in the manner she did smells really really bad and has "I'm a sleazy lawyer who won on a technicality" written all over it. I think she will be held in very low regard by a significant number of her fellow judges and members of the bar when she gets elected.

If Roberts had concerns that Judge You missed the residency requirement by a mere three months, then she could have pointed that out to her directly....

She actually did, according to the Oregonian, and she likwise did as well quite a while back - to Ted's selection committee - before she was first appointed to fill Wyer's vacant seat. We know the outcome in both situations - no one had the guts to take it on.

I don't think Roberts did much wrong at all.

People can say """it would have been better had Roberts not sat on the information until the filing deadline, so that others could file to oppose her in the election"""
But the same goes for the frequent cases where judges retire before their term is up so their pal the gov can appoint a replacement who can then run as an incumbent.

It would be better if the Judge served out his/her term allowing others to file and run for the upcoming open seat.

Roberts appears savvy and capable while You demonstrated poor judgment.

Duin crying for You is ridiculous.

Touche' to Roberts for a pretty cool move.

And that neighbor thing is way over blown and an easy fix. One of them move.

Isn't the husband actually an ex-husband - and isn't he the one who encouraged You to run for the seat as well?

(I thought I read that in an earlier O article, buried near the end of the piece...)

Rettig is correct, Roberts did bring the residency requirment up prior to You being appointed by Gov Ted. According to the Big O, this was checked out by those in charge of checking and since You moved back into her old house they thought she had always maintained her residency. They failed to pickup on the fact that You sold her Oregon home thus breaking her residency in the state. A good move by Roberts.

The more I read comments on this, the more discouraged I become. It appears many -- including fellow lawyers & judges -- are willing to vilify Ms. Roberts without so much as a fare-thee-well to the facts. What ever happened to the presumption of innocence, and the value of gathering the facts before jumping to conclusions? From what I've been able to gather, Ms. Roberts did -- in fact -- raise her hand regarding residency requirements many months ago. Once the court of appeals issued an opinion that made the disqualification even clearer, it appears Ms. Roberts was required by professional ethical principles to inform the pertinent authorities. Why folks are so willing to vilify someone in these circumstances is a sad comment on our society -- and an awful reminder of the societal repercussions for whistle-blowers :-(

It is hard not to feel sorry for either of the women so publicly discussed due to a screwup in the governor's office review process. However, it must be recognized that You ignored the statue, and refused to reveal or concede her lack of statutory qualifications (because she felt she was otherwise qualified..and could ignore the law?) and was too ambitious to be scrupulous. She did not plead ignorance of the law.., hardly a recommendation of elevation to the Court of Appeals or any judgeship so ignoring or ignorant did not earn any points!..
She resigned rather than go thru the motions of disputing the facts.
This, no doubt, reduces her risk of exposure to censure or suspension from the practice of law by the bar..For,had she actually taken the oath of office and exercised the powers of a judge while possessed of the knowledge of being legally unqualified, she likely would have been. Also she would have jeopardized the legitimacy of the outcome of any cases in her court, subject to challenge on the basis of her not being qualified by statue. Not in the public interest to have that happen.
Judges are not above the law and are expected to know it and once aware of the law, comply with it.

Arent there other Asian attorneys who are qualified and who may be trusted to not selectively read the law,and to comply with it ?
We have distinguished attorneys of all backgrounds who are as deserving.. Look at all those running for judicial office legitimately.

Jack,

This discussion took the next step over at our blog. Take a look. We'd be interested in your input (being an attorney and all)...

http://portland.metblogs.com/archives/2006/09/was_roberts_lay.phtmlf