Juvenile Justice Collaboration

Written By Joe Hagedorn

Yesterday, I spent time in community with ALF Oregon Fellows. More than a decade ago, I took part in the ALF Juvenile Justice collaboration cohort, and it changed how I think about working together to improve systems. At the time, I was the chief supervising attorney for the Metropolitan Public Defender's juvenile unit. When the mother of a 9-yr-old girl wrongfully handcuffed by the police reached out to me, I knew I had to step up. 

I collaborated with Mark McKechnie (Former Executive Director, Youth Rights Justice) on changes to the city ordinance. One change would have been to prevent police from taking a child under 10 years old into custody without an order from a juvenile court judge. Although that effort was ultimately unsuccessful, the work underscores that when the justice system is led by people who care and who are committed to doing better, outcomes improve for everyone. I’ve devoted my career to public service and improving outcomes for our community.

Joe Hagedorn

My name is Joe Hagedorn, and I am running for Judge of the District Court in Multnomah County in the November 2026 election. My core values are compassion, integrity and fairness. As a public defender and judge pro tem/referee, I’ve worked on the issues that shape kids’ lives: custody, juvenile justice, and families in crisis. I hear cases every day involving people in crisis, and so I understand the difficult, high-stakes situations facing children and families who appear in court, especially those who lack the assistance of an attorney. I know that when people come before me in the courtroom, they must talk about and relive the worst day of their life. I keep this in mind to weave empathy and compassion through my interactions and deliberations. I operate with the hope that my trauma-informed, empathetic approach to the people who appear before me can provide a foundation to empowering people to make positive changes in their lives.

https://www.hagedornforjudge.com
Next

What is the difference between Family and General Bench?