Honoring the 2026 Harpole Award Recipients

Keeping life stable, fulfilling, and grounded is challenging for anyone, and within the demanding legal profession, it can feel nearly impossible. The Harpole Awards annually go to two rare individuals who make this delicate balancing act look effortless.

Ani E. Yardumian and Doug Marteeny

Ani E. Yardumian received the 2026 Harpole Attorney Award for her three decades of work as a senior deputy district attorney in Linn County, Oregon. Since graduating from law school, she has devoted her career to prosecuting complex cases and protecting vulnerable victims in Oregon. Becoming a lawyer fulfills a dream she had as an 8-year-old child when her family escaped the civil war in Beirut, Lebanon, in the mid-1970s. She has been a pillar of strength, warmth, and legal excellence in her office, renowned for bringing absolute joy into the workplace.

Her warmth is matched by her fierce, meticulous advocacy in the courtroom. She prepares for every case as if it were her only one. She is a deeply respected mentor and also fiercely prioritizes her personal life, making time for her daughter, cats, and annual white-water rafting trips. As one defendant was even overheard telling his mother, “I’ve got the best DA in the state.”

Eva England ’27, Esther Martinez ’27, Leonie Fruehwirth ’27

Esther Martinez ’27 received the 2026 Harpole Scholarship Award. Esther is a true force of positivity and connection on the Lewis & Clark campus. As a rising 3L, Esther has already made an indelible mark on the law school community. This fall, she will be serving her second term as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) for the SBA, the Vice President for the Latiné Law Society, and is a founding member of the SBA Food Pantry. Aside from managing her time with these positions, Esther will be joining the Lewis & Clark Law Review as an Article Editor. Outside of law school, Esther is very involved in the legal community, constantly networking to better herself and provide mentorship to other law students.

This summer, Esther is a Certified Law Student at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, where she’s argued multiple motions and recently completed her first trial. As a minority student, Esther is incredibly passionate about incorporating the principles of equity and inclusion in her work, handling cases with the attention they deserve.

Those who know Esther describe her as incredibly open, curious, and thoughtful. Despite her packed schedule—which recently included a highly demanding externship for Judge Karin J. Immergut—Esther remains a deeply loyal friend and family member. She is a compassionate listener who regularly checks in on her peers’ lives and keeps her distant family close to her heart, frequently sharing updates about her parents, grandparents, and baby nephew. Esther’s ability to lift up everyone around her while pursuing academic excellence is the very definition of the Harpole spirit.

Professor Juliet Stumpf, Cheryl Kunde ’27, Esther Martinez ’27, and Professor Sandy Patrick

The Harpole Awards were established in memory of Joyce Ann Harpole ’79, a distinguished graduate who lived her life with a brilliant intellect, quiet insight, and an infectious delight for life. To support future generations of balanced legal advocates, consider making a contribution to the Harpole Memorial Scholarship Fund.