What is a Promise Keeper? w/ Judge Vance Day EP 326

Judge Vance Day - President, Promise Keepers

Vance Day is a modern-day profile in courage who strongly believes in helping to raise a generation of leaders equipped to address an ever-changing world.

Day graduated magna cum laude from Warner Pacific University in 1984. He studied Biblical Historiography at the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem and Public Policy at Regent University before earning his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Willamette University College of Law in 1991.

An accomplished trial lawyer, he has tried over 300 bench and jury trials. 

Vance served the State of Oregon for nearly four years as the Chairman of the Oregon Republican Party. He has lectured on military history and leadership theory at The White House and before members of Congress.

In September 2011 Mr. Day was appointed to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in the Third Judicial District, and was electedto a full six-year term in November of 2012.

In 2012, Judge Day started a veteran’s treatment court in Salem, Oregon. The goal of these courts was to target the root causes of veterans’ criminal behavior through a program created collaboratively by the prosecutor, the defense attorney, the judge, other veterans, treatment providers, mentors, and support teams. While Day was running the program, there was a zero rate of recidivism, and beyond that, it transformed lives. One veteran said,

“I don't know how much more I can say. I mean he saved my life, you know.”[i]

In 2014 Judge Day, based on his Christian convictions, quitely recused himself from marrying same-sex couples—a decision that in no way prevented same-sex couples from getting married. As a result, he became the focus of a sustained, vicious attack that sought to end his career, take away his license to practice law, strip him of his possessions, ruin his reputation, and even have him imprisoned. In October 2018, the State’s criminal case was dismissed, and the house of cards constructed against Vance collapsed from the weight of its own preposterousness. Vance Day remained a Circuit Court Judge until January 7, 2019, when his term of office expired.

In December of 2018, Judge Day joined the leadership team at Promise Keepers as Chief Operating Officer.  In June of 2019, Day was elevated by the Board of Directors to the position of President.  He also serves as a Member of the Board of Directors and as Promise Keepers General Counsel.

Vance and his wife have been married for over 33 years, and are the proud parents of three adult children, and three grandchildren. They live in high desert of Central Oregon.