Elect Diane Sykes
Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge, Position 2
Hardworking, fair and committed to the rule of law
As an attorney with 28 years of experience, Diane has dedicated her career to representing individuals and families throughout Multnomah County.
Diane has a wide range of experience as a public defender, Legal Aid lawyer, Oregon Department of Justice Sr. Assistant Attorney General and attorney in private practice.
Diane Sykes is an experienced litigator who has successfully litigated civil rights cases before juries, the court and administrative bodies. Diane will bring decades of civil practice experience to the bench.
As an Oregon Department of Justice attorney, Diane created and led the first Civil Rights Unit. Diane is dedicated to public service on behalf of all Oregonians.
Justice for All- a core priority for Diane is to create a welcoming and productive atmosphere where members of the public feel heard and are treated in a respectful manner.
Diane is Bilingual in Spanish.
My Story
I started my career as a public defender. I continued my advocacy as an attorney for Legal Aid Services of Oregon and Oregon Law Center over a 10 year period. As a Legal Aid lawyer, I represented low-income clients in employment, housing, consumer, domestic violence and public benefits cases.
In 2009, I was hired as a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Oregon Department of Justice to create and lead the department’s first Civil Rights Unit to protect the civil rights of Oregonians.
In 2013, I started the law office of Diane S. Sykes, Attorney at Law, P.C. As a private attorney, I specialize in employment discrimination, retaliation and whistleblower claims. A core tenet of my practice is to empower clients to understand the legal process with a trusted ally at their side.
Diane lives in Portland with her husband, Nathan, and their dog, Maeve. She is the proud mother of two college students, Maya and Drew.
Why I want to be a Judge
I am deeply dedicated to public service and upholding the rule of law. As a circuit court judge, my guiding principles are to foster a transparent, impartial, fair and accessible courtroom for all litigants. Appearing in court can be a daunting task for most. I want to ensure that my work on the bench reflects positively on the court system and the legal profession. The breadth of my legal experience will allow me to bring a balanced perspective to the court’s important work.
Awards & Recognition
Oregon Attorney General’s Excellence in Justice Award (2012)
Oregon State Bar Diversity and Inclusion Award (2017)
Multnomah Bar Association Diversity Award (2020)
Oregon State Bar President’s Public Service Award (2022)
Oregon League of Minority Voters Liberty and Hope Award (2023)
Volunteer Activities
Oregon Law Foundation, Chair of the Grant Subcommittee
Oregon State Bar Labor & Employment Section, Chair-Elect
Civics Learning Project Constitutional Team Coach-Cleveland High School
Membership
Oregon Trial Lawyers Association
Oregon Women Lawyers Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Hardworking, fair and committed to the rule of law
Endorsements
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Judge Melvin Oden-Orr
Multnomah County
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Judge Xiomara Torres
Multnomah County
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Judge Cheryl Albrecht
Multnomah County
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Sr. Judge Angel Lopez
Multnomah County
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Sr. Judge Kenneth Walker
Multnomah County
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Honorable Aruna Masih
Oregon Supreme Court
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Sr. Judge Robert Durham Jr.
Oregon Supreme Court
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Sr. Judge Ramón Pagan
Oregon Court of Appeals
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United States Representative Janelle Bynum
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Christina Stephenson, Commissioner
Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries
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Multnomah County Commissioner Meghan Moyer
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Bonnie Richardson
Allegiant Law, LLP
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Talia Guerriero
Beacon Employment Law
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Maria Witt
Maria Witt Law
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Ashlee Albies
Albies and Stark, LLC
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Whitney Stark
Albies and Stark, LLC
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Robert Beatty-Walters
Law Office of Robert Beatty-Walters
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Josh Ross
Partner, Keller Rohrback
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Beth Creighton
Creighton and Rose
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Dana Sullivan
Buchanan, Angeli, Sullivan & Ferrer, LLP
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Elizabeth Savage
Elizabeth Savage Law, P.C.
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Shenoa Payne
Attorney at Law, P.C.
Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge
For inquiries, volunteer opportunities and endorsements, please reach out via email:
Paid for by Diane Sykes for Judge
PO Box 42307
Portland, Oregon 97242