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Angel Lopez was 11 years old and living in a Los Angeles barrio when the Watts riots broke out in 1965. Fire raged just a block from his home, and he recalls his amazement that people would intentionally burn down their city in desperation.

Lopez, now a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge, was even more astounded when marshal law forced everyone to be inside their homes by 8 p.m., despite the sweltering heat that August week.

鈥淚t occurred to me that the freedoms we take for granted aren鈥檛 absolute, and unless we fight to protect them we could lose them,鈥� he says. 鈥淟aw is an opportunity to keep our society safe and fair.鈥�

Lopez earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology at Occidental College in 1971 and a law degree from Willamette University in 1978. He worked for Metropolitan Public Defender and Community Law Office before starting a private criminal defense practice with his wife, Wendy Squires. Former Gov. Ted Kulongoski nominated Lopez to the Circuit Court Bench in 2009.

Throughout his career, Lopez has encouraged more minorities to join the profession and has worked to implement institutional changes that increase diversity on the bench. The first person of color to serve as the Oregon State Bar鈥檚 president, Lopez has long been involved in the bar鈥檚 affirmative action and other diversity programs. He served on the Oregon Supreme Court Task Force on Racial Issues in the judicial system, and he drafted a report on court interpreter certification that led to major improvements in Oregon鈥檚 system.

Lopez, a mentor to many, presides over the renowned STOP (Sanction Treatment Opportunity Progress) drug court, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in December. He says it allows him to put his psychology training to work.

鈥淪TOP court is different because you get to know people as human beings: what led them to drug abuse, what their family interactions are like and who is supporting them in the community,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he psychology part of it really comes into play not only in understanding addiction and other issues, but also in being able to ask questions in a therapeutic way.鈥�

A previous recipient of the Oregon Hispanic Bar Association鈥檚 Justice Paul De Muniz Professionalism Award, Lopez will receive the 2012 Mercedes Deiz Award Friday evening from Oregon Women Lawyers during its 20th annual Roberts-Deiz Awards Dinner.