The Trump administration has hired Vance Day, a former Marion County Circuit Judge who gained notoriety for hanging a photograph of Adolf Hitler in the courthouse and for refusing to marry gay couples.
The 64-year-old Day will be the senior counsel for the US Office of the Deputy Attorney General. Since January 20, Emil Bove has served as the office’s acting chief.
Day confirmed that he began work on Tuesday in a text message, and he used a GIF to show that he was inundated with projects.
Day’s refusal to officiate same-sex weddings in 2015 sparked anger and prompted the state Judicial Fitness Commission to launch an investigation. Then it was revealed that Day had made a WWII collage for soldiers on the eve of a graduation ceremony for a treatment court, which included letters and old photos over an Adolf Hitler portrait.
According to Day, the show was a patriotic remembrance of America’s triumph in the war.
In 2018, the Oregon Supreme Court finally suspended Day for three years. In 2022, he stepped down from the bench and ran a failed campaign against Judge Darleen Ortega of the Oregon Court of Appeals.
The Oregon Conservative Caucus and other local Republican organizations applauded the appointment.
The Oregon Conservative Caucus used an abbreviation for the First Amendment to say, “Vance has been a staunch advocate for 1A rights and a wise source of counsel for us in many areas.” Vance was an early victim of political lawfare.
For The Oregonian/OregonLive, Zane Sparling reports on court proceedings and breaking news. You may contact him at [email protected], 503-319-7083, or pdxzane.
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