Diane Sykes for Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge

Meet Diane Sykes

For Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge, Position 2

My Story

I started my legal career as a public defender, developing significant jury and bench trial experience. I continued to serve my community as Legal Aid attorney over a 10-year period, serving low income clients employment, housing, consumer protection, 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. I had the honor of representing the State of Oregon to enforce employment protections for veterans, shut down consumer scams targeted at vulnerable populations, and enforce fair housing laws.

In 2013, I started the law office of Diane S. Sykes, Attorney at Law, P.C. As a private attorney, I brought my experience working in public and non-profit sectors to my advocacy on behalf of workers and consumers. Going to court can be a daunting experience for most. A core tenet of my practice is to empower clients to understand the legal process with a trusted ally at their side.

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 will be to foster a transparent, impartial, fair and accessible courtroom for all litigants. 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.