Meet Judge Jim

“Early in life, Jim learned to balance compassion and responsibility with service to his family, his community, his state, and his nation.”

Jim became a father as a teenager. In early adulthood, he received compassion from many of those around him. He held himself to a high standard of responsibility. He worked his way through college while supporting his family. He worked as a grocery store clerk, as a sanitation worker in a meat packing plant, and as a bus driver in Salem where he graduated from Willamette University in 1979.

Jim entered the United States Marine Corps while he was still in college. He and his young family served tours in Quantico, Virginia, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Camp Pendleton, California. After years of commissioned service, Jim returned home (now with three children) to attend law school at the University of Oregon where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1985.

Giving back to his community is something that Jim instilled in his children. During law school, Jim coached his children’s T-ball teams. As a lawyer, he coached all of his kids in baseball, softball, and basketball. The family worked on community projects together. He volunteered at all of their schools. Jim and his wife, Michelle, have a blended family of eight adult children and nine grandchildren.

Jim and Michelle are very proud of their adult children who work in the law, social services, community services, teaching, and counseling. The Egan family is proudly committed to justice, passionate to serve, proudly compassionate and ensconced in responsibility to their communities.