Join a local expert for a discussion of the criminal justice system and how it has changed in Oregon for the 21st Century. What do average citizens need to know and understand?

Lorenzo Mejia is a retired judge for the Jackson County Circuit Court. Judge Mejia moved to Jackson County in 1988 to take a job with Jackson County Public Defenders and worked as a court-appointed attorney for just over 13 years. In 2002 he was appointed Circuit Court Judge by Governor John Kitzhaber and he retired from the bench at the end of 2022. Most of Judge Mejia’s work as an attorney and a judge was in criminal law. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Oregon and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon School of Law.

The monthly Big Ideas discussion series features prominent local experts speaking on relevant and timely issues affecting our community. Lectures are jointly sponsored by the Ashland Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Jackson County Library Services.