Thomas Balmer
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Thomas Balmer is an associate justice (holding Position 1) of the Oregon Supreme Court, a position to which he was initially appointed in 2001 by then-Gov. John Kitzhaber, a Democrat.
Balmer ran unopposed in 2002 to hold his seat. He was re-elected in May 2008 to a second full six-year term on the court. His current term expires in 2014.[1]
Education
Balmer received his B.A. from Oberlin College in 1974, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago Law School in 1977.
Legal career
On September 20, 2001 Balmer was selected for the Oregon Supreme Court, becoming the court's 96th justice. Governor John Kitzhaber appointed Balmer to replace Ted Kulongoski (who Balmer worked for at the Oregon Department of Justice) after Kulongoski resigned to campaign for governor, which he then won (and as a result, replaced Kitzhaber). Balmer was subsequently elected to a full six-year term in 2002. In 2005, he joined the board of directors to the Oregon Law Institute.[3]
Political affiliation
Per his "Follow the Money" pages, Balmer has made multiple contributions to the Democratic Party over the years.[4][5][6] According to state law, candidates running for the Oregon Supreme Court are listed as "non-partisan."
Campaign Contributions
In his 2002 election bid, Balmer raised $43,259, $25,851 of which came from lawyers and lobbyists.[7]
Opinions
- Justice Balmer wrote the unanimous opinion in a 2005 [State of Oregon v. Travis Lee Gibson, (TC 200005422) (SC S48323)] case that affirmed the judgment of conviction and sentencing of death by trial courts against Travis Lee Gibson.[8]
