Oregon bar keeps ban on Guard ads

Klamath Falls, Ore. The board of directors of the Oregon State Bar has voted to continue its ban on Oregon National Guard advertising in its bulletin because of the military stance on homosexuality.

In an 11-3 vote Friday the board rejected a recommendation from an advisory committee that would have allowed the Oregon State Bar Bulletin to resume accepting recruitment ads.

The committee had urged the board to exempt the military from the bulletin’s policy of prohibiting ads for employers that discriminate in hiring.

“I don’t believe the board was willing to basically gut its diversity policy to make an exception for the military,” said bar president Nena Cook, a Portland attorney.

The bar licenses and regulates Oregon lawyers.

Col. Mike Caldwell, deputy director of the Oregon Guard, called the decision “unfortunate.”

“They obviously have their reasons, but it’s clear it’s going to make it more challenging for us,” he said.

The Guard used the publication to recruit judge advocates. Now, Caldwell said, the Guard will depend more on law schools and word of mouth.

Ex-ISP trooper may sue over hospital bill

Challis, Idaho

A former Idaho State Police trooper is considering a lawsuit against the agency to force it to pay a $19,000 hospital bill the officer acquired after a training exercise in which he voluntarily became drunk.

Brad Strom, a 26-year veteran of the force, had already retired when he agreed to take part in a “drunken-driver detection” seminar in Challis. He had participated in such events frequently as an ISP officer, Strom told the Idaho Falls Post-Register.

During a March 9 exercise, Strom suffered alcohol poisoning after drinking several vodka tonics and had to be hospitalized. He was transported via helicopter to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls for an overnight stay that led to the high hospital tab.

Strom’s insurance won’t pay for the bill because it’s alcohol-related, he said, and the department isn’t budging either.

“I gave the department 26 years,” said Strom, 57. “I respect the State Police. I was doing this to help my fellow officers.”

ISP officials say they shouldn’t have to pay medical bills for someone who no longer works for them, even if he was volunteering for an event sanctioned by the agency. Strom signed a waiver prior to participating in the exercise.