The Wayne Morse District Courthouse in Eugene strikes many with its modern design, large size, and astonishing combination of glass, steel and light. However, those few who enter it cannot escape noticing how empty and eerily quiet its halls are. Occasionally a lonely clerk will shift like a shadow across the corridor, which is filled with sunlight shining through the tall glass windows. All the doors are securely closed, and it seems like nothing in the world could disturb the quiet peace of this palace of justice.

        In spite of the seeming tranquility, within those walls, hundreds of decisions are made over people’s lives. Some of those people are found innocent; others are proven guilty. But no matter what crime they have committed, many of them have one thing in common. They have all presented their cases to Ann Aiken, a U.S. Judge for the District of Oregon.

        It has been over 10 years since Judge Aiken was appointed a U.S. District Judge; however, she still takes every sentencing very personally. "When you have a person’s life and community expectations in front of you, you oftentimes find yourself balancing accountability and hope," Aiken says. This work gives Judge Aiken an opportunity to give back to the community and affect people’s lives in a positive way.

        Aiken does not fit the stereotype of a district judge. Instead of a cold, impersonal public official, you find an energetic and lively person with a warm smile on her face and a welcoming look in her intelligent eyes.
        Although Aiken is in her 50s, she appears to be much younger and looks well put together in simple blue jeans and colorful flower-pattern blouse. However, this unconventional attire is an exception. Today is Aiken’s day off. There are no hearings to preside over, no arguments to hear, and no sentencings to announce.

        Her spacious office presents a welcoming atmosphere and warms with the palette of beige, brown and burgundy colors. One side of the wall is covered with tall wooden book shelves filled with publications on legal theory and politics and many pictures of her family, friends, and colleagues. The opposite side of her office is composed of wide glass windows through which a visitor can observe miles and miles of the Eugene community and Coburg Road leading to Interstate 5. 

        The coffee table in Aiken’s office is covered with national and local newspapers and books. Aiken says she is a firm believer in the First Amendment and free press. “I wish that the press was able to cover more sentencing and criminal dockets,” says Aiken. “If the public understood the complexities of some issues, many people would make different decisions.”

        An Oregon native, Ann Aiken, unlike many others in her field, did not pursue a legal career right away. Driven to go into medical school and help people in critical situations, Aiken worked through high school and college as a nurse at Salem Memorial Hospital. During seven years of working at the hospital, Aiken watched people going through tough times and making critical decisions. She learned the importance of human compassion, which prepared her for her legal career.
        “Being around people in those critical situations gives you a perspective on things,” says Aiken. “You understand the bigger picture. You try to find good in people, give them hope, and figure out what motivates people to do the right thing.”

        Her love for liberal arts eventually led her to political science. Upon graduating from the University of Oregon in 1974, Aiken joined a prestigious graduate program in political science at Rutgers University in New Jersey. After she gained experience in public policy while working as an intern for the U.S. Congress, she returned to Oregon and received her J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1979.

        Her law school diploma now proudly resides on a shelf in her office, along with rows of colorful photographs of her family and friends.

        Aiken says that her family inspired her to pursue a career in public service. “My parents raised me to believe when you have opportunities and privileges, you have to give back,” says Aiken. She says that Martin Luther King Jr., the Kennedys, and the political and social changes of the 1970s highly motivated her to address the issues of poverty and social wellbeing.

        Aiken rises from her chair, goes to the kitchen adjacent to her office and gets out a home-cooked lunch to bring to her colleague, a fellow judge. As the sun rises closer to noon, one notices the dark carpet in Aiken’s chambers that absorbs the light and calms the visitor’s eye. This carpet covers the floors of the entire building. As she walks through numerous corridors, Aiken is warmly greeted by those few who pass her.

        In civil and criminal cases, Judge Aiken believes in extending the community’s open hand to those who pay their debt and are willing to play by the rules. She describes her work as a judge as a “lifelong struggle between punishing people and giving them a chance.”

        What defines Aiken in her work is this sense of caring for the community and a sincere belief in the power of positive reinforcements. “Fundamentally, it is my love of people that motivates me in my work,” says Aiken. 

        The judge says that one of the main pressures that she faces while deciding a case is to find the right solution. “I know that each case and its consequences are incredibly important for the people in front of you, no matter how big the case is,” says Aiken.

        Although Aiken does not have any scheduled hearings today, she is fairly busy. Her desk, located at the farther end of her office, is surrounded by piles of documents, memos and papers for her present and future cases that have to be reviewed and organized.

        The judge says she loves her job because it is so intellectually challenging. “I can’t even describe what a privilege this is,” Aiken says. “It’s an incredible lifelong learning opportunity. But it also can be isolating - sometimes, you can feel removed from the community.”

        Upon returning to the office after visiting her colleague, Aiken starts organizing files. On her desk lay colorful postcards, famed photos of smiling faces, and numerous little souvenirs. This is the evidence of how much she and her work are appreciated by her colleagues, friends and the community.