Elizabeth Savage
Candidate for:
Multnomah County Circuit Court - Position 14
What drives me to seek an elected position
I am running for judge because I want to serve my community. I was born and raised in Multnomah County. Now, more than ever, we need judges who will restore the public’s trust in our systems, including our judiciary. That means providing fair and consistent rulings, communicating with parties and respecting unrepresented litigants. Our local community and our State are in need of emerging leaders that are willing to focus on those fundamentals. I want to address that need. Before I was an attorney, I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon. After that, I spent several years teaching in the Mississippi Delta and in post-Katrina New Orleans. My father was a legal aid attorney, and I grew up in a household where public service was prioritized. It remains central to who I am.
The first three priorities or issues I want to tackle
As a nonpartisan candidate running for judge, I’m prohibited by the rules of judicial ethics from responding to this question (that is, connecting my values to the values of a particular party). That said, here are my priorities:
1. Listening to parties. One of my top priorities is ensuring that all parties are heard. I consider it a judge’s responsibility to listen intently to parties and consider all the relevant evidence. If the judiciary is to be respected by the public, then the judiciary needs to earn that respect. By just listening and exhibiting patience, folks can come away with an appreciation that you (the judge) actually heard them, and that goes a long way, no matter the outcome.
2. Compassion. Court can be scary, and people are rarely there because things are going well. Litigants need to be treated with compassion. That means recognizing where there is a need for resources and taking steps to ensure litigants are put in touch with those resources that are out there. It also means taking a trauma-informed approach, rather than a punitive one, when interacting with children and families.
3. Putting children first. As a former teacher and coach (and a mom), I care deeply about children. In family law and juvenile cases, their wellbeing comes first.
The experiences and insights I will bring to the office
Position 14 is a family law and juvenile seat. I’ve practiced family law since 2014. In that time, I’ve represented children and adults from all walks of life. I’ve also handled many family law cases on appeal, so I’ve seen what happens when judges get it wrong — and what legal principles must be applied to get it right. For the last two years, I’ve been a pro tem judge in Washington County, where I hear domestic violence and stalking cases. Many of the parties who come before me cannot afford an attorney and come to the legal system with distrust and fear. It is always my goal that leave the courtroom with a better impression of the judiciary than when they came in. I’ve learned to take the time to explain the process to litigants at the outset of the proceedings and the application of the facts to the law at their close. That communication makes a world of difference to the people that come into my courtroom, and I’m grateful to be able to provide them with that understanding. As a former teacher, I know that youth aren’t mini adults, and that the approach to administration of justice with respect to juvenile offenses should not match the criminal justice system. Young people want personal responsibility and deserve respect. I am committed to giving them both.
What being a Democrat in Multnomah County means to me
The rules of judicial ethics prohibit me from answering this question; however, I hope that my endorsements and my track record of public service can communicate for me.