De Muniz Apologizes to Lawmakers

Paul J. De Muniz
By NIGEL JAQUISS

Former Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul De Muniz issued a written mea culpa to lawmakers today in the wake of a story that appeared in the current print edition of WW.

At issue is the role that De Muniz, who retired from the Supreme Court in January, is playing in the Capitol. As a highly-respected senior court judge for more than 20 years, he built strong relationships with lawmakers and often testified in front of them as the state's top judicial officer for nearly seven of those years.

But earlier this month, De Muniz registered to lobby for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. That group opposes Senate Bill 814, which would compel insurers to settle faster in environmental clean-up situations such as the Portland Harbor Super Fund site.

In his letter (below), De Muniz offered his "sincerest apologies for not making abundantly clear the capacity in which I appeared in my recent legislative testimony and conversations regarding SB 814."

 


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