Oral history interview with W. Michael Gillette, 2012 May 16-2014 December 10

In the first interview session, conducted on May 16, 2012, Gillette discusses his early life in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, including his education and family life. He describes a childhood trip to Washington, D.C., which inspired him to pursue a career in public service. He talks about his college experiences at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, including his marriage to Judy Saima Cox and becoming a parent while studying. He speaks at length about his experiences studying law at Harvard University.

In the second interview session, conducted on June 12, 2012, Gillette discusses practicing law at the Rives and Rogers firm in Portland and working with Herbert Schwab. He shares his reasons for leaving the firm to work for the Multnomah County district attorney's office. He talks about cases he worked on as a lawyer, about lawyers he worked with, and about working for District Attorney George Van Hoomissen. He then shares his experiences during his service as assistant attorney general for American Samoa from 1969 to 1971.

In the third interview session, conducted on July 10, 2012, Gillette discusses his service as chief counsel of the Consumer Protection Division of the Oregon attorney general's office from 1971 to 1973, and as solicitor general of Oregon from 1973 to 1977. He talks about cases he worked on and about working for Oregon Attorney General Lee Johnson.

In the fourth interview session, conducted on September 26, 2012, Gillette continues to discuss his service as chief counsel of the Consumer Protection Division of the Oregon attorney general's office from 1971 to 1973, and as solicitor general of Oregon from 1973 to 1977. He describes arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court, talks about people he worked with, and discusses cases he worked on. He then discusses his service as a judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals from 1977 to 1986. He talks about his appointment in 1977, and about judges he served with, including Betty Roberts.

In the fifth interview session, conducted on August 7, 2013, Gillette continues to discuss his service as a judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals from 1977 to 1986. He speaks further about serving on the bench with Betty Roberts and other judges. He talks about his role as a presiding judge, about cases he heard, and about opinions he wrote.

In the sixth interview session, conducted on December 4, 2013, Gillette continues to discuss his service as a judge on the Oregon Court of Appeals from 1977 to 1986. He speaks about a case he heard regarding term limits. He also talks about the manner in which the selection of judges varies between states. He briefly discusses the careers of some of his law clerks. He discusses his service as a justice on the Oregon Supreme Court from 1986 to 2010. He discusses his ability to help his fellow justices reach a consensus, and shares his reasons for retiring in 2010. He talks about practicing law at the Schwabe, Williamson, and Wyatt law firm in Portland since 2010, and about his marriage to Toni Boone. He also talks about playing basketball.

In the seventh and final interview session, conducted on December 10, 2014, Gillette discusses serving on the Oregon Supreme Court from 1986 to 2010. He talks about judges he served with, including Hans Linde, and about cases he heard, including one regarding the death penalty. He also discusses the transition from serving on the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court.