Biography
Judge Cynthia L. Easterday was born in 1961 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and was raised in Portland, Oregon. She studied fine arts at the University of London and graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 1983 with a BA in Politics and Government. She graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law with a JD in 1989. While in law school she interned for the Public Defender Services of Lane County.
Judge Easterday began her legal career as a judicial law clerk for Judge Stephen Herrell in Multnomah County Circuit Court. Between 1990 and 2006 she served in the Yamhill County District Attorney’s Office and in 1994 was promoted to Chief Deputy District Attorney. In 1996 she was appointed by Governor Kitzhaber to serve as interim District Attorney for two months.
In 2006 Judge Easterday worked as Assistant General Counsel with the Oregon State Bar in the Client Assistance Office. She investigated and analyzed ethical complaints against lawyers and provided ethical advice to attorneys. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Easterday was in private practice with the law firm of Haugeberg, Rueter, Gowell, Fredricks, Higgins and McKeegan, P.C. and handled probate, business, domestic relations and criminal defense matters.
Here are some of her volunteer activities through the years:
A Family Place, Relief Nursery of Yamhill County, Founding Leadership Council Member;
CASA Legislative Task Force, Committee Chair;
Oregon Judges Charitable Foundation, Committee Chair.
She has also been honored to receive:
Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice’s Juvenile Court Champion Award;
Inaugural Women in Scouting Leadership Award.
Judge Easterday is married and has a daughter, a son and two stepsons.