Forms part of the United States District Court Oral History Project.
Collection is open for research.
Gift of the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society (Lib. Acc. 25578).
John Francis Kilkenny was born in Heppner, Oregon, in 1901. He grew up on a farm and was sent to Portland, Oregon, to attend Columbia Preparatory. He attended Notre Dame Law School, earning his bachelor of law degree in 1925. He then returned to Oregon, where he practiced law in Pendleton. In 1934, he and Virginia Brannock were married; they later had two children. He served as city attorney for Pendleton from 1930 to 1934. In 1959, he was appointed to the U.S. District Court of Oregon by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In 1969, he was appointed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Portland by President Richard Nixon. In 1971, he took senior status. He died in 1995.
Forms part of the United States District Court Oral History Project.
Typescript index (41 pages) is available for in-person use at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
Oral history interview with John F. Kilkenny, by Rick Harmon, SR 1218, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
This oral history interview with John F. Kilkenny was conducted by Rick Harmon in Portland, Oregon, in 15 sessions from June 12 to October 3, 1984. A transcript is available. The original audio of the recording is incomplete due to irretrievable damage to Tape 14, side 2. Tape 17 is a re-enactment of that audio. The re-enactment was created after the damage to the original tape was discovered. It was based upon an earlier transcript created before the damage occurred, which no longer exists. The accuracy of the re-enactment cannot be verified.
In this interview, Kilkenny discusses his family background and early life on a sheep farm in Heppner, Oregon, his education, and his early law career in Pendleton. He talks about his service as a judge on the U.S. District Court of Oregon from 1959 to 1969, his service on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1969 to the time of the interview in 1984, and his involvement in the preservation of the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland.
Joint copyright for this interview 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,
In the first interview session, conducted on June 12, 1984, Kilkenny discusses his family background and early life on a sheep farm in Heppner, Oregon. He talks about the Heppner community's relationship with local Native people; describes the sheep-cattle wars; and talks about his recreational activities.
In the second interview session, conducted on June 15, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss his early life, including his early education in a one-room school, his Catholic upbringing, and his family's political beliefs. He describes his experiences attending Columbia Preparatory, a boarding school in Portland.
Tape 3, Side 1, through Tape 4, Side 1. In the third interview session, conducted on June 21, 1984, Kilkenny briefly discusses his memories of World War I. He speaks further about sheep ranching, then talks about attending the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, including playing football under Knute Rockne.
Tape 4, Side 2, through Tape 5, Side 1. In the fourth interview session, conducted on June 26, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss attending Notre Dame in Indiana, including studying law and his social life. He talks about preparing for the Oregon Bar by taking prep courses at Northwestern College of Law. He discusses his early law career in Pendleton and notable cases he worked on, including bankruptcy and Prohibition cases. He also talks about his political views and Republican affiliation.
Tape 5, Side 2, through Tape 6, Side 1. In the fifth interview session, conducted on June 29, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss his political views and Republican affiliation. He describes the effects of the Depression on his family. He talks about serving as city attorney for Pendleton from 1930 to 1934; speaks about his marriage to Virginia Brannock; and discusses working as a lawyer in private practice.
Tape 6, Side 2, through Tape 7, Side 1. In the sixth interview session, conducted on July 5, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss working as a lawyer in private practice and talks about some of the cases he worked on. He speaks about how World War II affected people in Eastern Oregon.
Tape 7, Side 2. In the seventh interview session, conducted on July 27, 1984, Kilkenny discusses his involvement with the Oregon State Bar.
In the eighth interview session, conducted on August 3, 1984, Kilkenny speaks at length about his 1959 appointment to the U.S. District Court of Oregon.
In the ninth interview session, conducted on August 9, 1984, Kilkenny discusses serving as a judge on the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He briefly describes judges he worked with, including Hall Lusk and Gus Solomon, and discusses cases involving admiralty law.
In the tenth interview session, conducted on August 21, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss serving as a judge on the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He talks about cases involving labor law.
Tape 11, Side 1, through Tape 12, Side 1. In the eleventh interview session, conducted on August 28, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss serving as a judge on the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He talks about cases involving the first amendment and criminal law. He also speaks further about serving with Hall Lusk. He then discusses his 1969 appointment to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Tape 12, Side 2. In the twelfth interview session, conducted on September 4, 1984, Kilkenny discusses serving as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He discusses cases involving the draft and talks about procedures of the court.
In the thirteenth interview session, conducted on September 11, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss serving as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He talks about serving as a guest judge in other circuit courts, about his senior status, and about his decision-making process.
In the fourteenth interview session, conducted on September 27, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss serving as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He talks about how his sentencing style has changed over time and about new precedents set by recent courts. (Note: The part of the session recorded on Tape 17 is a re-enactment made after the discovery of irretrievable damage to Tape 14, side 2; it is based on a transcript that no longer exists and its accuracy cannot be verified.)
In the fifteenth interview session, conducted on October 3, 1984, Kilkenny continues to discuss serving as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He shares his thoughts on the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. He discusses his involvement in the preservation of the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland. He closes the interview by talking about his recent activities and family life.