Attorney General John Kroger today announced his selections for two key positions in the Oregon Department of Justice.

Eugene attorney Jerome Lidz, a partner in the Harrang Long firm, will be the new Solicitor General, the top appellate lawyer in the Department of Justice. The Solicitor General argues significant cases in state and federal appellate courts, helps develop the state’s legal position and manages the Appellate Division’s team of 50 lawyers. Lidz worked for the Department of Justice from 1982 to 1996 in a variety of leadership roles.

Lidz received a B.A. in American Studies from Yale University and an M.A. in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He graduated from the University of Oregon Law School with honors in 1977. Lidz specialized in municipal law at Harrang Long. He served on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Environmental Council from 1997 to 2003.

John Dunbar, a partner in Portland’s Ball Janik firm, will head the Special Litigation Unit, which handles highly specialized litigation, including high-profile constitutional challenges, complex cases and environmental litigation.

Dunbar received an A.B. with high honors from the University of Notre Dame. He graduated from the University of Washington Law School with honors in 1984. He clerked for U.S. District Judge Owen Panner from 1984 to 1986. Dunbar handled numerous notable commercial, fraud and environmental cases in 22 years in private practice. Dunbar has been named an “Oregon Superlawyer” in business litigation and is listed in the Chambers Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in environmental law.

“I am pleased these two great lawyers are joining the department. My goal is to recruit the best attorneys in the country,” said Attorney General Kroger.

Contact:

Tony Green, (503) 378-6002 tony.green@doj.state.or.us |