Joe Hagedorn
Candidate for:
Multnomah County Circuit Court - Position 14
What drives me to seek an elected position
I am seeking this position because I have years of experience hearing juvenile cases and I want to continue to make the family law bench work better for families. I have dedicated my entire 24-year law career to public service, starting out as an AmeriCorps attorney representing domestic violence survivors, and then as a public defender. As an advocate, I have broad experience: in both criminal and juvenile law, from trying murder cases to working in treatment courts, including mental health court.
Since 2020, I’ve been a Judge Pro Tem hearing juvenile cases and family law matters—essentially doing the same work of this position I am running for. Having served in the juvenile system for so long means I am acutely aware of its challenges. As a judge I will help tackle the problems of the court, including improving access to the court and to attorneys. In family law, 70% of the people who appear in court are unrepresented and need a judge who understands the complex needs of children and families. My fundamental philosophy is that all families deserve equal, respectful treatment in the courtroom, and I have been able to act on that in my rulings on thousands of cases.
The first three priorities or issues I want to tackle
I have spent a lot of time collaborating with the justice system partners to improve juvenile justice such as transforming juvenile probation and I see myself continuing that work as a judge on the family law bench. I also hope to continue reducing barriers such as access to court and resolving family law cases quicker. Lastly, I will continue to work on diversity, equity and inclusion in the justice system.
The experiences and insights I will bring to the office
For the past six years, I’ve served as a full-time Judge Pro Tem on the family law bench, hearing thousands of juvenile cases. As a public defender and juvenile attorney for 17 years, I tried more than 200 cases, many involving youth and families. This experience has given me a deep understanding of the complex issues families bring to court, along with patience, careful deliberation and a strong sense of fairness.
I’ve long been committed to improving the legal system. I’ve served on advisory groups focused on mental health and substance use, and on the Multnomah County Juvenile Justice Council. I co-authored a chapter in the Oregon State Bar’s Juvenile Law in Oregon: Dependency (2025) and helped develop standards for parent representation in dependency cases. I’m an American Leadership Forum Senior Fellow and serve on the diversity, equity and inclusion committees for both the Multnomah Bar Association and the court.
I’m also active in the community. I mentor young adults through Portland State’s Explore the Law program and the Imprint Project, and I support restorative justice efforts with Hands of Wonder. I’m a husband and father of three boys and have coached youth sports.
What being a Democrat in Multnomah County means to me
Judicial positions are nonpartisan. As a judge, it’s critical to be fair and that all parties are found equal under the law.
As an individual, it means a lot to me to fully participate in our democracy.