“We succeeded in offering voters a rare choice for a judicial office, one committed to the principles of Equality, Freedom, and the Rule of Law as being vital to regaining trust in our system of justice…Though this marks the end of this particular race, it is only the beginning of raising public awareness and giving voters a voice in their judicial system.”

REDMOND, OREGON —Vance Day’s campaign released the following statement following the election results from his challenge to 19-year incumbent Darleen Ortega for position #3 on the Oregon Court of Appeals:

“On Tuesday, we came up short of our goal of introducing diversity of judicial philosophy to a state’s second-highest court. However, our spirited challenge succeeded in offering voters a rare choice for a judicial office, one committed to the principles of Equality, Freedom, and the Rule of Law as being vital to regaining trust in our system of justice. I am proud of the valiant effort we undertook to mount this challenge with limited resources and time against the long odds of a dismissive media and an opponent with the word ‘incumbent’ after her name on the ballot. Though this marks the end of this particular race, it is only the beginning of raising public awareness and giving voters a voice in their judicial system.”

“There is a reason Oregon is supposed to elect its judges rather than have the Governor appoint most of them in a perpetual powerplay to maintain control of our state’s judiciary. As Judge Ortega stated during the Portland urban league forum last week, it is important for judges to ‘be close to the people, be curious, and listen.’ That is exactly what I did by visiting all 36 counties, listening to people of all backgrounds and experiences, and connecting their concerns with the principles that guided my campaign. Our campaign even prevailed in some of these counties and certainly outperformed others, where many people explained to me that they feel forgotten by those running our justice system for the past two decades. I urge Judge Ortega and her colleagues to finally start venturing out to all parts of the state and hear from people other than those residing near the corridors of power in Portland and Salem.”

Former Circuit Court Judge Day concluded by adding:

“Last week, I challenged my opponent, Darleen Ortega, to join me in condemning these despicable and potentially illegal intimidation tactics by street mobs aimed at Justices of our nation’s highest court, and their families, in a mob-like effort to change the outcome of a case currently being deliberated. It remains my fervent hope that she not only joins me in this condemnation but that she also uses the next six years of her quarter-century on the appellate court to denounce all forms of mob rule and the coercion of judges to distort our justice system to please these mobs. I’m confident that my campaign helped raise public awareness of the importance of our appellate court and what guides the judges that sit on them. As a result, I also know all of us will continue to pay attention to the judicial branch of our government in the months and years to come.”

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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

May 19, 2022
CONTACT: Kevin Hoar, Communications Director
Media@TeamVanceDay.org | 541-714-3646