The Hon. Paula M. Bechtold (Ret.) served as a judge for the 15th Judicial District Circuit Court in Oregon. Bechtold was elected to the bench in 1994. She retired on November 30, 2017.
The 15th Judicial District encompasses Coos County and Curry County. Over the course of her judicial career, Bechtold was instrumental in the creation of the Coos County Mental Health Court.
Bechtold earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Lewis & Clark College. She then completed a J.D. at Lewis & Clark Law School.
After graduating from law school, Bechtold entered into private practice.