By Bryan Denson

From OregonLive.com | Original Article

A small group of protesters gather in front of Pioneer Courthouse to call for disciplinary action against Judge Jay S. Bybee, who sits on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Bryan Denson/The Oregonian

A small knot of protesters staked out a patch of sidewalk in front of Portland's Pioneer Courthouse this morning to protest the appearance of 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jay S. Bybee, who is hearing cases there this week.

Bybee was one of two Bush administration lawyers behind memos that ultimately authorized the use of a wide array of painful mental and physical measures -- including waterboarding -- to extract information from suspected terrorists. John C. Yoo, a University of California at Berkeley professor, authored the memos.

One of the missives, sent by Bybee to White House Counsel Alberto R. Gonzales, came to be known widely as the "torture memo."

The Department of Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility later concluded that Yoo and Bybee fell short of academically rigorous and professional obligations in providing information to the White House. But two years ago, a Justice Department official concluded that the two shouldn't be disbarred or disciplined.

Bybee remains a villanous figure to protesters who gathered in a light rain today at the downtown courthouse. Some carried signs reading, "Impeach Bybee," "Prosecute any and all torture," and, "Judge Bybee shame on Yoo."