Forms part of the United States District Court of Oregon Oral History Series.
Collection is open for research.
Gift of the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society, November 2021 (RL2021-099).
Thomas Michael Coffin was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1945. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from St. Benedict College in Atchinson, Kansas. In 1970, he earned a law degree from Harvard Law School. The next year, he began working as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. attorney's office in San Diego, California. In 1973, he and Penelope Teaff were married; they later had seven children. In 1980, he moved to the U.S. attorney's office in Eugene, Oregon, and in 1992, he became a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court of Oregon.
Sources: Vital records on Ancestry.com; information provided by Coffin in his interview.
Forms part of the United States District Court of Oregon Oral History Project.
Oral history interview with Thomas M. Coffin, by Makaela Kroin, SR 1399, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.
This oral history interview with Thomas M. Coffin was conducted by Makaela Kroin in Coffin's chambers at the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, from May 2, 2018, to November 1, 2019, as part of the United States District Court of Oregon Oral History Project. The interview was conducted in six sessions.
In this interview, Coffin discusses his family background and early life in St. Louis, Missouri. He talks about his college experiences at a Catholic seminary, at St. Benedict College in Atchinson, Kansas, and at Harvard Law School. He speaks at length about working as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. attorney's office in San Diego, California, from 1971 to 1980, and at the U.S. attorney's office in Eugene, Oregon, from 1980 to 1992. He then speaks at length about his service as a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court of Oregon.
Joint copyright is held by the Oregon Historical Society and the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society. Use of this interview is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Educational Use Permitted:
In the first interview session, conducted on May 2, 2018, Coffin discusses his family background at length, beginning in the year 1066. He talks about his early life in St. Louis, Missouri, including his education, his childhood role models, and playing sports.
In the second interview session, conducted on September 4, 2018, Coffin discusses his college experiences at a Catholic seminary, at St. Benedict College in Atchinson, Kansas, and at Harvard Law School. He shares his reasons for choosing to attend seminary, and speaks further about his early life. He shares how his childhood and college experiences shaped his world outlook. He speaks at length about a college roommate who was later murdered as a result of working as an informant for the FBI; shares anecdotes about serving in the Reserve Officer Training Corps during the Vietnam War; and discusses his political views. He talks about his experiences as a volunteer defense attorney while a student at Harvard.
In the third interview session, conducted on October 5, 2018, Coffin discusses working as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. attorney's office in San Diego, California, from 1971 to 1980. He speaks at length about cases he tried, particularly drug-related cases. He discusses how he grew as a trial lawyer and shares his prosecutorial philosophy. He also shares his thoughts about the U.S. government's treatment of immigrants and refugees at the U.S.-Mexico border at the time of the interview. He then talks about his marriage to Penelope Teaff, and shares a story about an encounter with the Hells Angels.
In the fourth interview session, conducted on April 17, 2019, Coffin shares his reasons for moving to the Pacific Northwest and discusses his work as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. attorney's office in Eugene, Oregon, from 1980 to 1992. He describes how the Eugene office grew, talks about his work on methamphetamine-related cases, and discusses his relationship with the district attorney's office. He talks about how he continued to develop as a prosecutor during his time at the Eugene U.S. attorney's office, and speaks further about his prosecutorial philosophy. He talks about raising a family in Eugene. He then talks about his service as a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court of Oregon. He discusses some of the cases he handled, particularly a case involving disability discrimination in golf. He describes the District Court's use of pre-trial conferences, and talks about working on settlements.
In the fifth interview session, conducted on May 9, 2019, Coffin continues to discuss his service as a magistrate judge. He talks about the importance of integrity as a judge, shares his concerns regarding the political climate at the time of the interview, and discusses how his work as a prosecutor prepared him for the role of judge. He speaks further about the case regarding disability discrimination in golf, discusses his process for writing opinions, and shares his reasons for occasionally delivering oral opinions. He also tells a story about a memorable case he prosecuted in San Diego. He speaks further about his reasons for moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1980.
In the sixth and final interview session, conducted on November 1, 2019, Coffin continues to discuss his service as a magistrate judge, talks about cases he heard, and shares his judicial philosophy. He speaks further about his concerns regarding the U.S. government's treatment of refugees and immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border at the time of the interview. He shares personal anecdotes, talks further about mediating settlements, and discusses his recreational activities. He shares his opinion of President Donald J. Trump and Republican politics at the time of the interview.