Judge Matthew J. Leady: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Hon. Matthew J. Leady is a family and juvenile hearings referee for the 4th Judicial District Circuit Court of Oregon in Multnomah County. He joined the bench in 2021.

Prior to his role with the circuit court, Leady worked for six years as an assistant attorney general with the Oregon Department of Justice (2015 to 2021). As such, he represented the Child Welfare Section of the Department of Human Services in juvenile court in matters involving juvenile delinquency and foster care, including contested hearings and trials to terminate parental rights. Leady held assignments in the Pendleton and Portland offices.

He received a B.A. in political science from Pacific University in 2007. Leady then traveled to Rwanda, Africa, to work as a volunteer, building houses for the poor and assisting with community education as a consultant for Asante Ministries, Inc. After returning to the United States, he worked as an education case manager and behavior consultant for Chehalem Youth & Family Services (2008 to 2011) before completing a J.D. at Willamette University College of Law in 2014.

While a law student, Leady served as a clerk in the Civil Enforcement Division of the Oregon Department of Justice (2012 to 2014). Then, after graduating, he worked as a paralegal there until an assistant attorney general position became available (2014 to 2015).

Leady was born in Erie, Colorado, and later moved to Zaire, Africa, with his family, where his parents helped run a boarding school. He later attended high school in Colorado. In his free time, Leady enjoys fishing, running, cooking, and spending time with his wife and three daughters.