Longtime Salem-area judge Charles Luukinen dies
Longtime Salem-area judge and community volunteer Charles Luukinen died Friday at the age of 75.
"Judge Luukinen’s professional life was dedicated to serving the people of Polk County and the citizens of Oregon," Polk County Circuit Court officials, now led by President Judge Norman Hill, said in a statement.
Born and raised in Astoria, Luukinen worked his way through Oregon State University and Willamette University School of Law as a commercial fisherman.
His judicial career began in 1986 at the Polk County District Court. A year later, he was appointed to the 12th District Court in Polk County, where he served for nearly all of his 25 years on the bench as a presiding judge.
Luukinen is survived by his wife, Val Luukinen, and their three children and four grandchildren.
Luukinen and his wife were longtime volunteers, serving with Hoopla every summer since its inception in 1999.
He was active as a high school and college basketball referee and served as scheduler and commissioner of the referee’s association. He also served as a board member with Family Building Blocks and Oregon Pers Retirees, Inc. He was a member of the Willamette Valley Inns of Court and the West Salem Rotary.
Luukinen oversaw hundreds of civil and criminal cases in his courtroom and continued as a mediator after retirement.
Former Chief Justice Paul DeMuniz commented during Luukinen’s retirement in 2010 that he helped settle 19 aggravated murder trials in 11 different counties, saving millions of dollars for Oregon taxpayers.
"As a jurist, Charlie Luukinen was known for his judicial knowledge, honesty and fairness," court officials said. "Hisjudicial decisions were consistent with the law but always grounded in common sense and practicality. He was a mentor and role model to lawyers, law clerks and judges throughout the state."
Luukinen's family said a celebration of life will be held in his honor on Friday, September 29, 2023, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Zenith Vineyard at 5657 Zena Road NW in Salem.
A memorial scholarship will be established in his name. Those interested can email cluukinenscholarship@gmail.com for more information. Read his full obituary, share memories and photos, and see other links at bit.ly/charlesluukinen.
For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter at @wmwoodworth
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Longtime Polk County judge Charles Luukinen dies at 75
