★ Vote Paul Neese for Clackamas County Circuit Court — Ballots Due May 19 ★

Elect

PAUL
NEESE

FOR JUDGE

Clackamas County Circuit Court
Position 13
5th Judicial District

A Judge for Clackamas County — bringing fairness, experience, and balance to the bench.

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About the Candidate

Experience.
Integrity.
Justice.

As a dad, grandfather, husband, and attorney who has spent over 20 years protecting children and problem solving for families, Paul Neese is running for the newly created position on the Clackamas County Circuit Court because he believes our bench needs a judge with balanced experience, independence, and a commitment to fairness for every person who enters the courtroom.

Paul is currently a Senior Assistant Attorney General, and during his career has been a public defender, the founder and leader of a juvenile defense organization serving Clackamas County, a legal ethics attorney and adviser, and law firm owner. Few judicial candidates can claim such deep experience on multiple sides of the courtroom — and that perspective is essential to judging fairly and sensibly.

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Professional Background

A Career of Service

Present

Senior Assistant Attorney General

Oregon Department of Justice

Child Advocacy and Protection Division — representing the Oregon Department of Human Services in complex, high-volume litigation, agency advising, caseworker training, and attorney mentorship.

Present

Multnomah County Model Court Team

Oregon Department of Justice rep

Works alongside judges, practitioners, and other stakeholders to improve court operations and outcomes for children and families navigating the court system.

2014–2019

Clackamas County Dependency Workgroup and Delinquency Workgroup

Court Improvement

Worked alongside judges and practitioners to improve court operations and outcomes for children and families navigating the court system.

2015–2019

Founder & Administrator

Juvenile Advocates of Clackamas

Built a defense consortium from the ground up with other experienced practitioners to improve the quality of legal representation in dependency and delinquency cases in Clackamas County.

2007–2012

Assistant General Counsel

Oregon State Bar

Evaluated and made initial determinations in ethics complaints against Oregon lawyers, advised attorneys throughout the state on ethics and professional responsibility, and presented continuing legal education statewide.

2013–2019, 2004–2007

Public Defender

Juvenile Court — Dependency and Delinquency

Represented children and parents from many backgrounds at some of the most difficult moments of their lives — a foundation of Paul's commitment to pursuing fairness, compassion, and principled decisions from the bench.

Education

Law and Conflict Resolution

J.D. — University of San Francisco School of Law B.A. — University of California, Berkeley, Peace & Conflict Studies

Over 22 years practicing law in Oregon, in juvenile court matters, legal ethics, state agency representation, family law, and general practice. Paul also brings his background and training in conflict resolution and an interdisciplinary approach to problem solving in every case.

Service

Volunteer Leadership & Community Involvement

Oregon State Bar · American Bar Association · Asian Family Center Advisory Board (IRCO) · Oregon Repertory Singers

Why Paul Neese

A Judge for the People of Clackamas County

Dedicated to Children & Families

Over 22 years of protecting and problem solving for Oregon's most vulnerable — as an Assistant AG, a public defender, a founder and administrator of Juvenile Advocates of Clackamas, and community volunteer.

Balanced Courtroom Experience

Paul has represented individual children and parents, as well as a large state agency, advised families, evaluated legal ethics matters, and helped improve the courts for Oregonians of all backgrounds — a perspective essential to judging fairly, effectively, and sensibly.

Ready from Day One

As a Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Oregon DOJ, and being a problem solver and systems improver in his work on Model Court and other court groups over his career, Paul brings to the bench his deep practical experience, multifaceted life experience, and firm dedication to the rule of law to do the work of the court each day, right from the start.

Community Support

Endorsed By Our Community

"Paul is driven to make the process better for all. His ethics and integrity are impeccable. Oregon would be lucky to have him on the bench."

— Deanne L. Darling, Senior Circuit Court Judge

"For years I have been impressed by Paul's exceptional work, commitment to our community, and understanding of the impact of decisions judges make. Paul is superbly qualified."

— Scott Healy, Clackamas County First Assistant District Attorney