Michael Robert Hogan

Michael Robert Hogan

Born in Oregon City, Oregon on September 24, 1946, Michael Robert Hogan has been a prominent judge in that state's court system for many years. After receiving a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon in 1968, he went on to obtain his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1971. After graduation, Michael Robert Hogan spent one year as a law clerk in the US District Court's division in Oregon under Judge Robert C. Belloni. From 1972-73, he engaged in private practice in the Portland year.

In 1973, Michael Robert Hogan began his public career in the court system acting as a magistrate in the U.S. District Court where he had previously served. From 1973 to 1980, he also acted as a judge in bankruptcy court for the District of Oregon. Michael Robert Hogan's career as a magistrate came to an end in June of 1991, when President George H.W. Bush created a new district judge position in the district of Oregon. Michael Robert Hogan was nominated and served in that capacity until 2002, after which he remained remained one of the three federal judges serving in the Eugene division of the federal court system.

One of the most prominent cases overseen by Michael Robert Hogan began in 2009, when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against the company Sunwest Management, which managed a chain of assisted living facilities. The company claimed that the global financial crisis beginning in 2007 made it impossible for Sunwest to meet its obligations to investors. The SEC wanted Sunwest's assets to be frozen, but Michael Robert Hogan declined, instead instituting a mediation process and subsequently putting the company into receivership.

Following this development, Sunwest began filing for bankruptcy for 300 separate assisted living facilities. In order to consolidate the proceedings, Michael Robert Hogan ruled that all 300 bankruptcies could be handled as a single bankruptcy case, thereby retaining control over the proceedings. By selling off its properties, Sunwest was able to pay off and recover approximately 60% of the interest and funds owed to investors.

In 2011, Michael Robert Hogan turned 65 and was classified as a "semiretired" judge with a reduced caseload while continuing his judicial duties in Oregon. In 2012, in acknowledgment of Sunwest's efforts, Michael Robert Hogan rejected another effort by the SEC to fine former Sunwest CEO Jon Harder an additional $180 million in civil penalties. In issuing this ruling, Michael Robert Hogan cited Harder's success in recovering a substantive portion of investment losses.

Aside from his work in the courtroom, Hogan is also well known for arguing since the 1990s that a new courthouse was needed for Eugene. In 2006, his efforts reached fruition when a new federal courthouse was opened in the city. Throughout this effort, Hogan collaborated extensively with the project's architect, Thom Mayn. The facilities included $1.2 million worth of public art.