MEET CHRIS
For 25 years, Public Defender Chris Behre has represented some of the most vulnerable members of our community with careful judgment, steady compassion, and a deep respect for the power of the court to change lives.
Chris understands firsthand what a thoughtful judge can mean to a struggling family.
THE SAME IMPARTIAL, FAIR SYSTEM SHOULD WORK FOR EVERYONE
When he was a child, Chris' father—living with schizophrenia—was denied Social Security disability benefits again and again.
Only when an administrative law judge listened did his father finally receive the support he needed.
That decision changed the family's trajectory and put Chris on a path to law school.
ENDORSEMENTS
Chris Behre is endorsed for Position 2 by:
Oregon Supreme Court Justices:
Justice Bronson James
Justice Rebecca Duncan
Multnomah County Circuit Court:
Chief Criminal Judge Michael Greenlick
Sr. Judge Eric Bloch
Judge Adrian Brown
Judge Brian Francesconi
Judge Maurisa Gates
Judge Celia Howes
Judge Heidi Moawad
Judge Ben Souede
Judge Katharine von Ter Stegge
Portland Democratic State Legislators:
Representative Willy Chotzen
Representative Shannon Isadore
Representative Travis Nelson
Representative Thuy Tran
Representative Lamar Wise
County Commissioner Shannon Singleton
Organizations We Trust:
AFSCME Local 88
UFCW Local 555
Oregon Working Families Party
Oregon South Asian Bar Assoc.
OGALLA Bar Assoc.
Judicial Referees:
Chris Colburn
Jane Fox
Kami White
Attorneys:
Rosie Achorn-Rubenstein
Amanda Alverez-Thibeault
Shelley Aschenbrenner
Whitney Boise
Lindsey Burrows
Harry Carson
Nora Coon
Stephanie Damon-Moore
Brian Decker
Morgan Dethman
Stacy Du Clos
Kati Dunn
Steve Eberlein
Tristen Edwards
Erik Eklund
Stephanie Englesman
Drew Flood
Rhett Fraser
Amanda Garty
Frances Gieringer
Grant Hartley
Noah Horst
Conor Huseby
Aliza Kaplan
Samuel Kauffman
Jamie Kilberg
Casey Kovacic
Peyton Lee
Ann Leymon
Carl Macpherson
Rachel Maremont
Greg Margida
David McDonald
Sara Mulroy
Ted Occhiliano
Per Olson
Charlie Pierson, III
Jo Perini-Abbott
Rachel Phillips
Stacey Reding
Thalia Sady
John Schlosser
Greg Scholl
Katrina Seipal
Scott Sharp
Jessica Snyder
Mary Sophia
Katie Stanford
Nikki Thompson
Norah VanDusen
Joe Westover
Continuing a Legacy of Compassionate, Effective Justice
For 25 years, Public Defender Chris Behre has represented some of the most vulnerable members of our community with careful judgment, steady compassion, and a deep respect for the power of the court to change lives.
Chris understands firsthand what a thoughtful judge can mean to a struggling family.
When he was a child, his father—living with schizophrenia—was denied Social Security disability benefits again and again. Only when an administrative law judge truly listened did his father finally receive the support he needed.
That decision changed the trajectory of Chris’s family and started Chris on a path to law school with a focus on public service.
Chris became a Public Defender because he believes everyone deserves a voice, to be treated like a human being by our justice system, and to have someone in their corner.
Chris began his career as a legal aid attorney representing low-income parties in civil matters, including eviction defense, bankruptcy, and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence. Since 2013, he has served as a public defender at Metropolitan Public Defender, handling cases ranging from simple drug and property charges to complex, serious felony trials.
Over the past five years, Chris has focused much of his work in treatment courts, where judges, lawyers, and service providers collaborate to address the root causes of criminal behavior—addiction, mental illness, and instability.
He was instrumental in developing the Strategic Treatment and Engagement Program (STEP) Court, an innovative model designed to intervene early with treatment, structure, and accountability for first-time serious offenders. STEP Court has drawn national attention as a problem-solving court that improves outcomes while enhancing public safety.
With the retirement of Judge Nan G. Waller, Multnomah County deserves a Judge who recognizes that it takes both lawful accountability and meaningful rehabilitation to build lasting community safety.
Chris has spent years working inside that very framework—litigating cases, collaborating with treatment providers, and helping participants navigate the difficult path toward recovery and stability.
Chris is running for Judge to ensure the same impartial, fair system that changed the trajectory of his life works for everyone.
He brings to the bench:
- Decades of courtroom experience across thousands of cases
- Deep knowledge of treatment-court practice and collaborative justice models
- A reputation for preparation, fairness, and practical problem-solving in the face of clients in crisis
- The work ethic required to manage a public defender’s heavy caseload while giving each case the attention it deserves
Strong courts require both compassion and discipline. Chris Behre has dedicated his career to practicing both.
Chris is running for Multnomah Circuit Court Judge Position 2 to ensure Multnomah County’s courts remain places where people are heard, justice is applied thoughtfully, and outcomes strengthen the entire community.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH THE CAMPAIGN
Get in touch!
FOLLOW THE CAMPAIGN
PAID FOR BY BEHRE FOR JUDGE PAC ID # 24750