WASHINGTON – A Portland lawyer had to make a tough choice Monday – keep a previous commitment to give a luncheon speech or sit in on oral arguments at the Supreme Court that could determine who will be the next president.

Robert E. Hirshon, president-elect of the American Bar Association, was at the Supreme Court with a group of lawyers who were sworn in before the nation’s highest court so that, in the future, they may argue cases before the nine justices.

“It was a time of great excitement and great expectancy,” he said of the mood inside and outside the courthouse in a telephone interview late Monday night. “There was a feeling that now this election process will be resolved and we will have some finality.”Hirshon said there was some tension between Bush supporters and Gore supporters, as well as increased security around the capital. He added that he had seen heavier security in Washington in the past.

“There was a feeling throughout the city that whatever the Supreme Court decides, it will be right.” observed Hirshon. “I got no feeling that people believe we are in a Constitutional crisis. There seemed to be a great amount of respect for the rule of law among the people.”