Series

Oral history interview with Otto Skopil

• 1985-08-19 - 1989-11-27 (Creation)

.1 cubic feet; 25 audiocassettes (22 hr., 8 min., 16 sec.) + index (91 pages)

This oral history interview with Otto Skopil was conducted by Rick Harmon and Jim Strassmaier in Skopil's chambers at the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, from August 19, 1985, to November 27, 1989. The audio for this interview is incomplete; Tape 26 was discovered to be blank in 2020, but its contents are reflected in an incomplete transcript and in an index.

In the interview, Skopil discusses his family background and early life in Salem, Oregon, including his time at Salem High School and the effect of the Depression and the New Deal on the Salem area. Skopil talks about attending Willamette University in great detail. He discusses his World War II experience in the Navy from 1942 to 1945, between earning his bachelor's degree in economics and returning to Willamette earn his bachelor of laws. Skopil describes practicing law in Salem for 26 years, from 1946 to 1972, including partnering with his uncle, Ralph Skopil, and later with Bruce Williams. He discusses some of the cases he argued, particularly his only U.S. Supreme Court case, which involved State Farm Insurance. He then briefly discusses his personal life, including his two marriages, first to June Johnson, then to Jan Lundy, and his involvement in various religious and civic organizations, including the Board of Governors for the Oregon Bar. He also discusses his involvement with the Republican Party and his opposition to both the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as how the draft affected his son, Ric Skopil. He talks about serving as a judge for the U.S. Circuit Court of Oregon, including his confirmation; the procedures of the court; sentencing; and the development of the magistrate system. He also discusses some of the cases he presided over on topics including the environment, white-collar crime, and securities. He talks at length about the case of Chuck Armsbury. He also discusses working with his fellow judges, particularly Gus Solomon and Robert Belloni, as well as his relationships with Mark Hatfield and Griffin Bell. Skopil then describes his time as a judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, including the relationship between that court and Congress; the increase of litigation during the 1980s; and the public perception of the court. He discusses some of the cases that came before the court on topics including mental health, capital punishment, timber, and drugs. He also talks about some of his fellow judges, particularly Ted Goodwin and James Browning. Skopil closes the interview by describing the importance of law clerks; discussing sentencing guidelines; and talking about his family life.

Joint copyright is held by the Oregon Historical Society and the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/

• English

Oral history interviews with Otto Skopil, by Clark Hansen, SR 11151, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Preferred citation: Oral history interview with Otto Skopil, by Rick Harmon and Jim Strassmaier, SR 1225, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Forms part of the United States District Court Oral History Project.

Incomplete transcript (314 pages) is available for in-person use in the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition.

Sarah Stroman

• Judges--Oregon
• Justice, Administration of--Oregon
• Lawyers--Oregon--Salem
• White collar crimes--United States--Cases

• Harmon, Rick (Contributor)
• Strassmaier, James (Contributor)
• United States. District Court (Oregon) (Subject)
• Republican Party (Or.) (Subject)
• United States. Court of Appeals (9th Circuit) (Subject)
• Willamette University (Subject)
• Belloni, Robert C. (Robert Clinton), 1919-1999 (Subject)
• Hatfield, Mark O., 1922-2011 (Subject)
• Solomon, Gus J. (Gus Jerome), 1906-1987 (Subject)

• Interviews