Skip to Content
  • Home
  • About the Bar
  • Mission
  • Forms
  • Sitemap
    • Member Directory
      Last Name:
      First Name:
      Bar Number:
      City:


    • Login
OSB Logo
Oregon State Bar Bulletin — APRIL 2006

Profiles in the Law
By Day and by Night
By Melody Finnemore

“I try to treat [the] court … with the hope that people sitting in the courtroom will learn from other people’s mistakes.”

By day, Multnomah County Circuit Court Referee Terry Hannon works in downtown Portland, alternating every couple of years between the county’s landlord/tenant court and traffic trials. Fresh off a stint in landlord/tenant court, Hannon, 67, says he handled about 800 cases a month. The majority of people appearing before him – 90 percent of the landlords and their tenants – chose to represent themselves.

"It’s just a beehive there," he says. "You’ve got to be quick and process people efficiently and make decisions on the fly."

After his mornings downtown Hannon takes what he calls a "four-hour lunch hour," during which he walks three miles each day. The break also gives him time to write for an investment newsletter called "The Turtle and the Rabbit" Hannon established with his oldest son, Mike, an investment advisor and actor in Los Angeles.

By night, Hannon oversees Multnomah County’s only night court. He handles all traffic, alcohol and other citations issued within the county east of 122nd Avenue. At an average of 50 cases each weeknight, he estimates he’s arraigned at least 60,000 people since the night court opened in 2001.

Born in Portland and raised in Klamath Falls, Hannon hardly anticipated ever sitting on the bench. He earned an undergraduate degree in business administration at the University of Oregon. Hannon then worked as an investment officer and vice president at First National Bank during the day and attended evening law classes at Lewis & Clark College.

"Our entire class was working during the day and going to law school at night. It was a long four years," he says.

He graduated with his law degree in 1968 and, in 1971, established a practice in Gresham. Hannon’s work ranged from business law and wrongful death cases to initiating Oregon’s dram shop law. The law holds taverns and other establishments liable for selling alcohol to minors or intoxicated people who kill or injure others in alcohol-related accidents.

"When you practice in a small town like Gresham, you pretty much specialize in whatever your clients need" he says, adding he especially enjoyed being a trial lawyer. "It was fun to do, and I was good at it. You’re on stage all the time and it really helps if you’re right. I think that’s part of why I like being a judge – I’m on stage all the time."

In 1981, Hannon closed his practice to work as in-house counsel for an investment advisor. Five years ago, he filled his first judgeship as Tillamook County’s justice of the peace. The previous J.P. quit to join the Peace Corps, so Hannon stepped in for a very short-lived term.

"I hadn’t even thought about being a judge, but I owned a business there at the time," he says. "I applied and the governor appointed me, but I promptly lost in an election four months later."

Multnomah County Presiding Circuit Court Judge Jim Ellis learned that Hannon hadn’t won re-election and asked him to preside over Gresham’s night court. Hannon, who celebrated his five-year anniversary there Feb. 1, says he views each case as an opportunity to strengthen the community.

"As a judge, in a lot of respects you are the conscience of the community," he says. "I try to treat that court like Judge Terry’s Traffic School with the hope that people sitting in the courtroom will learn from other people’s mistakes."

As Gresham’s Hispanic population began to grow, Hannon noticed an increasing number of Spanish-speaking people pass through his court for traffic violations. Hannon contacted a Spanish-speaking driving instructor and initiated weekend classes that he offers as an alternative to paying traffic fines. At $145, the classes are much less expensive than the hefty traffic violation fines and probably do more to improve traffic safety."

Gresham’s night court has become increasingly important for Multnomah County. Its hours of service quickly expanded from one day a week to five in order to handle East County’s caseload. Hannon says he expects the court to become even busier as the area’s population continues to boom.

The county is in the process of building a new justice center in Gresham, an area that includes about 150,000 people, Hannon says. "Eventually you’ll see a full-service court in east Multnomah County."

Of the courts he oversees, Hannon is partial to landlord/tenant court, despite a caseload that grows even heavier during tough economic times as more people struggle to pay their rent.

"Landlord/tenant court is by far the hardest, the biggest challenge, and it’s probably still my favorite," he says. "It’s not a pleasant court – you’ve got a lot of unhappy people dealing with some very serious money issues."

With a pair of signature red glasses and a multifaceted caseload in hand, Hannon is prepared for whatever new challenges may arise.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Melody Finnemore is a Portland-area freelance writer and a frequent contributor to the Bulletin.

© 2006 Melody Finnemore


— return to top
— return to Table of Contents

  • For The Public

      Public Legal Information

    • Public Information Home
    • Legal Information Topics
    • Oregon Juror Guide
    • Submit Ethics Complaint

    • Getting Legal Help

    • Finding The Right Lawyer
    • Hiring A Lawyer
    • Lawyers Fees

    • Client Services

    • Client Assistance Office
    • Client Security Fund
    • Fee Dispute Resolution
    • Public Records Request
    • Locating Attorney Files

    • Unlawful Practice of Law

    • UPL Information
    • UPL FAQ

    • Volunteer Opportunities

    • Public Member Application
  • For Members

    OSB Login

    • Log In To OSB Site
    • Member Account Setup
    • Non-Member Account Setup
    • Reset Password

    OSB Resources

    • Attorney's Marketplace
    • Career Center
    • Events
    • Forms Library
    • Online Resources
    • OSB Group Listings
    • Performance Standards
    • Rules Regulations and Policies
    • Surveys and Research Reports
    • Unclaimed Client Funds
    • Voting Regions and By-City
      County Information

    Fastcase™

    • Log in to Fastcase
    • Overview
    • Scheduled Webinars
    • Inactive Member Subscriptions

    Legal Ethics

    • Legal Ethics Home
    • Find an Ethics Opinion
    • Bulletin Bar Counsel Archive

    Company Administrator

    • Company Administrator Home
    • Company Administrator FAQ
    • Authorization Form

    State Lawyers
    Assistance Committee

    • SLAC Info

    Volunteering

    • Volunteer Opportunities

    Court Information

    • Judicial Vacancies
    • Court Info | Calendars | Jury Info
    • Oregon Attorneys
      in Federal Court
    • Tribal Courts of Oregon

    OSB Publications

    • Bar Bulletin Magazine
    • – Bulletin Archive
    • – Legal Writer Archive
    • Capitol Insider
    • Disciplinary Board Reporter

    PLF Programs

    • (OAAP) Oregon Attorney
      Assistance Program
    • Practice Management Attorneys
    • Malpractice Coverage
  • CLE/Legal Publications

    CLE Seminars

    • CLE Seminars Home
    • Online Seminar Registration
    • General Info/FAQ

    My Account

    • My Content
    • My Events
    • Order History

    Legal Publications

    • Legal Publications Home
    • Log in to BarBooks®
    • BarBooks® FAQ
    • Online Bookstore
    • Legal Pubs Blog
  • Bar Programs

    Diversity & Inclusion

    • Diversity & Inclusion Home
    • Diversity Story Wall
    • D&I Programs
    • ACDI Roster
    • D&I Staff Contacts
    • D&I Links

    Legislative/Public Affairs

    • Legislative Home
    • Committee Contacts
    • Legislative Sessions
    • Staff Contacts
    • Useful Links

    Legal Services Program

    • LSP Home

    Oregon Law Foundation

    • OLF Home
    • Partners in Justice

    Fee Dispute Resolution

    • Fee Dispute Resolution Home

    Pro Bono

    • Pro Bono Home
    • Pro Bono Reporting
    • Volunteer Opportunities

    Lawyer Referral and Information Services

    • RIS Login
    • Summary of Referral and Information Services Programs
    • Lawyer Referral Service Info and Registration Forms
    • Modest Means Program Registration Forms
    • Military Assistance Panel Training Info and Registration Form
    • Problem Solvers Registration Form
    • Lawyer To Lawyer Registration Form

    (LRAP) Loan Repayment Assistance Program

    • LRAP Home
    • LRAP FAQ
    • LRAP Policies
  • Member Groups

    Sections

    • Section Info/Websites
    • Joining Sections
    • CLE Registration Services
    • Standard Section Bylaws (PDF)
    • Leadership Resources
    • Treasurers Tools

    Committees

    • Home
    • Leadership Resources
    • Professionalism Commission
    • Volunteer Opportunities

    House of Delegates

    • HOD Home
    • HOD Resources
    • Meetings
    • Rules (PDF)
    • Roster (PDF)
    • Staff Contacts

    Board of Governors

    • BOG Home
    • Meetings & Agendas
    • Members
    • Liaisons
    • Committees
    • Resources
    • Task Forces

    Oregon New Lawyers Division

    • ONLD Home
    • Law Students
    • Student Loan Repayment
    • Committees
    • Upcoming Events

    Task Forces and Special Committees

    • Task Forces Home

    Volunteer Bars

    • List/Contacts
    • Leadership Resources

    Volunteering

    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Licensing/Compliance

    Admissions

    • Admissions Home
    • Alternative Admittance
    • Applicants for Admission
    • Admissions Forms
    • Past Bar Exam Results

    Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination

    • SPPE Home

    Licensed Paralegal Program

    • LP Home

    Lawyer Discipline

    • Discipline Home
    • Disciplinary Board Reporter
    • Disciplinary Boards
    • Client Assistance Office
    • (SPRB) State Professional Responsibility Board

    Membership Records

    • Address Changes
    • Good Standing Certificate
    • Request Discipline File Review

    MCLE

    • MCLE Home
    • Program Database
    • Forms
    • Rules (PDF)

    IOLTA Reporting

    • IOLTA Home
    • IOLTA FAQ

    Licensing Fees

    • Licensing Fee FAQ
    • Licensing Fee Payment

    Status Changes

    • Status Changes FAQ
    • Inactive Status Form
    • Retired Status Form
    • Active Pro Bono Status Form
    • Reinstatement Forms
    • Resignation Form A
    • Pending Reinstatements

    Unlawful Practice of Law

    • UPL Information
    • UPL FAQ

    Pro Hac Vice/Arbitration

    • Pro Hac Vice
    • Arbitration

    New Lawyer Mentoring Program

    • New Lawyer Mentoring Program Home

    Professional Liability Fund

    • Professional Liability
      Fund Website
For The Public

Public Information Home
Legal Information Topics
Oregon Juror Guide
Finding The Right Lawyer
Hiring A Lawyer
Lawyers Fees
Client Assistance Office
Public Records Request
Unlawful Practice of Law
Fee Dispute Resolution
Client Security Fund
Volunteer Opportunities
for the Public

For Members

BarBooks®
Bulletin Archive
Career Center
Fastcase™
Judicial Vacancies
Legal Ethics Opinions
OSB Group Listings
OSB Login
OSB Rules & Regs
SLAC Info
Surveys and Reports
Volunteer Opportunities

CLE/Legal Pubs

CLE Seminars Home
Legal Publications Home

Bar Programs

Diversity & Inclusion
Fee Arbitration/Mediation
Legal Services Program
Legislative/Public Affairs
Loan Repayment
Assistance Program

Oregon Law Foundation
Pro Bono

Member Groups

Board of Governors
Committees
House of Delegates
Volunteer Bars
Oregon New
Lawyers Division

OSB Sections
Professionalism
Commission

Volunteer Opportunities

About The Bar

About the Bar
ADA Notice
Contact Info
Copyright Notice
Directions to the Bar
Meeting Room Rentals
Mission Statement
OSB Job Opportunities
Privacy Policy
Staff Directory
Terms of Use

Licensing/Compliance

Admissions
Client Assistance Office
Client Security Fund
IOLTA Reporting
Lawyer Discipline
MCLE
Member Fee FAQ
New Lawyer
Mentoring Program

Professional Liability Fund
Status Changes

Oregon State Bar Center

Phone: (503) 620-0222
Toll-free in Oregon: (800) 452-8260
Facsimile: (503) 684-1366

Building Location:
16037 SW Upper Boones Ferry Road
Tigard, OR 97224

Mailing Address:
PO Box 231935
Tigard, OR 97281

Oregon State Bar location Map

Copyright ©1997 Oregon State Bar  ®All rights reserved | ADA Notice | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use