{ "id": "ep22txe0z6", "slug": "ann-l-aiken", "title": "Ann L. Aiken", "updated": "2026-10-15", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law" }, { "id": "society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3", "label": "Article III judges (district and appellate)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi", "label": "Surnames A to Bi", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi", "label": "United States · 2021 and later: Surnames A to Bi", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021", "label": "United States · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law", "label": "Law and justice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice", "label": "Courts and legal practice", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people", "label": "Legal biographies", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us", "label": "United States judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal", "label": "US federal judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges", "label": "United States district court judges", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi", "label": "Surnames A to Bi", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2021.society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Ann L. Aiken, born 1951 in Salem, Oregon, is a United States district judge in Oregon since 1998, chief judge from 2009 to 2016, and in senior status since 2023.", "snippet": "Ann L. Aiken, born 1951 in Salem, Oregon, is a United States district judge in Oregon since 1998, chief judge from 2009 to 2016, and in senior status since 2023.", "node": "society.law.practice.people.people.judges.us.federal.article3.district-judges.alpha-a-to-bi", "markdown": "# Ann L. Aiken\n\nAnn L. Aiken (born 1951) is an American jurist and a senior United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, serving since 1998 and in senior status since 2023.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) She was appointed by President Bill Clinton.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) She served as chief judge of the court from 2009 to 2016.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) |\n| Appointed by | Bill Clinton[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) |\n| Confirmed | January 28, 1998 (Roll Call 67/30)[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) |\n| Senior status | December 29, 2023[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) |\n| Born | 1951, Salem, Oregon[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) |\n| Education | B.S., University of Oregon, 1974; M.A., Rutgers University, 1976; J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, 1979[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nAiken was born in 1951 in [Salem, Oregon](https://www.edgepedia.org/salem-oregon).[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) She received a [Bachelor of Science](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-science) from the [University of Oregon](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-oregon) in 1974 and a Master of Arts from Rutgers University in 1976.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) She earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1979.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586)\n\n## Legal career\n\nAfter law school, Aiken served as a law clerk to Judge Edwin Allen of the Oregon Circuit Court for Lane County from 1979 to 1980.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) She then engaged in private practice in Oregon from 1980 to 1982 and again from 1983 to 1988.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) In 1982, she worked as a fundraiser and field staff member for the Kulongoski for Governor campaign in Oregon.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) From 1982 to 1983, she served as chief clerk of the Oregon House of Representatives.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) She was a judge on the Oregon District Court for Lane County from 1988 to 1992, and then a judge on the Oregon Circuit Court for Lane County from 1992 to 1997.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586)\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nAiken was first nominated to the United States District Court for the District of Oregon on November 27, 1995, but no Senate vote was held on that nomination.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) She was nominated again by President Bill Clinton on January 7, 1997, to a seat vacated by James A. Redden.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) The Senate confirmed her on January 28, 1998, by a vote of 67 to 30, and she received her commission on February 4, 1998.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) She served as chief judge of the District of Oregon from 2009 to 2016.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) She assumed senior status on December 29, 2023.[1](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586) As a senior judge, she divides her time between the Eugene and Portland courthouses.[2](https://www.ord.uscourts.gov/index.php/court-info/our-judges/judge-aiken)\n\n## Public activities\n\nAiken had a critical role in launching the District of Oregon's Reentry Court, a pilot program for drug offenders, in partnership with U.S. Probation, the U.S. Attorney's office, the Federal Defender's office, and private and non-profit community organizations.[2](https://www.ord.uscourts.gov/index.php/court-info/our-judges/judge-aiken)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Ann L. Aiken, Biographical Directory of Article III Federal Judges](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1390586)\n2. [Judge Aiken, United States District Court for the District of Oregon](https://www.ord.uscourts.gov/index.php/court-info/our-judges/judge-aiken)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames A to Bi*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/ann-l-aiken", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/ann-l-aiken.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Ann L. Aiken\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/ann-l-aiken. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Ann L. Aiken](https://www.edgepedia.org/ann-l-aiken)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/ann-l-aiken](https://www.edgepedia.org/ann-l-aiken). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Ann L. Aiken\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/ann-l-aiken. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Ann L. Aiken, born 1951 in Salem, Oregon, is a United States district judge in Oregon since 1998, chief judge from 2009 to 2016, and in senior status since 2023." }