Judge John A. Wolf Appointed as Presiding Judge of 7th Judicial District

Dec 3

Written By Columbia Community Connection

From the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon:
By John Wolf

The Dalles, Ore., Dec. 3, 2025 — Circuit Court Judge John A. Wolf has been appointed by Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Meagan A. Flynn to serve as the next presiding judge of Oregon’s Seventh Judicial District.

Judge Wolf, who has served on the bench since 2011, will begin a two-year term succeeding Judge Karen Ostrye, who has held the presiding judge role since 2022.

As presiding judge, Judge Wolf will oversee the district’s judicial administration, including participation in court, county, and public safety committees. He will also supervise the trial court administrator on matters such as budgeting and court operations, while continuing to perform his regular judicial duties such as conducting hearings and trials, and reviewing warrants.

The Seventh Judicial District has four elected judges who preside over circuit court cases in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler counties. The presiding judge is nominated by fellow judges in the district and formally appointed by the Chief Justice with input from the other Justices of the Oregon Supreme Court.

Judge Wolf will continue to preside over a wide range of cases, including civil, probate, family law, juvenile, small claims, violations, and criminal matters across all five counties. He also oversees the district’s Family Treatment Court.

In addition to his judicial duties, Judge Wolf has served on the Council on Court Procedures, is the president-elect of the Oregon Circuit Court Judges’ Association, and is a member of the Judicial Conference Conduct Committee.

Prior to his election to the Circuit Court, Judge Wolf practiced law privately in The Dalles and served as a pro tem judge for The Dalles Municipal Court.