By Alex Paul
Linn County Communications
Senior Deputy District Attorney Ani Yardumian has devoted her entire career as a prosecuting attorney to helping the most vulnerable victims of society find justice.
On April 8, Yardumian’s commitment to her work was recognized in Portland, when she received the annual Joyce Harpole Award. It is presented to lawyers who work in pursuit of justice while maintaining a sense of balance between their legal career and their personal life.
Yardumian was nominated for the honor by Landri Sassaman, her legal assistant.
In her nomination, Sassaman noted that Yardumian is the type of person “everyone loves.”
“She always comes into work with a smile and most likely a McDonald’s breakfast sandwich to share,” Sassaman said, adding, “She is the best attorney in the office, hands down.”
In the courtroom, Sassaman said Yardumian puts 100% of herself into her case.
“She preps for each case like it’s the only case she has,” Sassaman said. “She watches, reads and talks with witnesses, victims and police who are involved. She will stay late and come in early on her big cases.”
Sassaman said that when Yardumian walks into a courtroom, three key things are certain:
She will be 100% honest, even if it affects her case.
Her moral consistency stands every day and never waiver. “In her you see humbleness, respect and admits faults,” Sassaman said.
Her confidence shows she knows exactly what she is talking about.
Sassaman added that Yardumian finds balance in her life with her adopted daughter, traveling and cooking. She knows how to have fun and laugh, even though her daily work is extremely serious and emotionally draining at times.
Yardumian said receiving the award was a “humbling experience.”
She said the concept of “work-life balance” was a laughable concept years ago, but something she has worked diligently at since adopting her daughter 10 years ago.
Yardumian said that although it is difficult to leave work at the office due to the nature of the work itself, she does so whenever her daughter needs her.
Yardumian knew she wanted to be a prosecuting attorney as a child growing up near Los Angeles.
She worked her way through Cal Poly Pomona where she earned a degree in English. She enrolled in an accelerated jurisprudence degree program at Southwestern University School of Law, graduating in two years.
She knew about Albany and Linn County because a good friend lives here. She found out there was going to be an opening at the District Attorney’s Office under Jason Carlile, interviewed and got the job.
She has not looked back, nor does she regret spending her career with one office.
“I got my dream job right out of law school, why would I go anywhere else,” Yardumian said. “I work for a really good man (DA Doug Marteeny) that I respect for his high values and leadership.”
Joyce Harpole graduated first in her class from Lewis and Clark Law School in 1979 and went on to a distinguished career at the firm of Stoel Rives. Harpole died in 1994 and her life inspired classmates to develop the Joyce Harpole Award, the Joyce Harpole Memorial Scholarship and the Joyce Harpole Lecture, whose theme this year was, “Dealing With the Difficult Client.”
“I am very proud of Ani. It is an honor to work with her,” Marteeny said. “She has handled many of Linn County’s most complex cases. Her upbringing and life experiences have shaped her into a very formidable advocate of justice.”
Marteeny added: “We are blessed to have Ani here in Linn County. It was great to see Ani recognized on a statewide level for her professional efforts and capacities.”