First Meeting

Kathy Evans, President of the Marion County Bar Association, Tom Elden, CLE Chair, Hon.
Steven S. Trott, Mike McClinton, President of the Inn, and Dan Ritter, Historian of the Inn
at first meeting September 17, 1992

Willamette Valley American Inn of Court was the idea of Chief Justice Ed Peterson and was begun by Judge Greg West, Mike McClinton, Don McCann and Kathy Evans. The American Inns of Court Bencher article from May 1993 describes our first meeting September 17, 1992. The one page outline is from that first program presented by Chief Justice Peterson's team. It was called "The Clash of the Titans" Tom Elden's friend Judge Trott from the Ninth Circuit was in town to do a CLE for the Marion County Bar and helped MCBA raise a lot of money at a time MCBA really needed funds. It was by chance the same day as the very first Inn meeting and we were able to work him into the program.

Chief Justice Carson's team got recognition for a program in the January/Feb 1999 Bencher. Part of the submission of the program to the American Inns of Court is included. This April 16, 1998 program won an award as one of the best programs in the country and was the first such award given to a Willamette Valley American Inn of Court program.

- Tom Elden

Willamette Valley Inn Historical Documents