Deborah Hedlund is a retired Hennepin County District Court judge, with more than three decades of service. A graduate of the University of Kansas, Hedlund pursued her Juris Doctor degree at the University of Minnesota Law School. Since 1997, she has taught Criminal Law at University of Northwestern as an adjunct professor. Upon her retirement, Hedlund lived in Xinyang, China for six months to teach English to college students with China Service Ventures, a mission organization started by retired, third generation missionaries to China. She now frequently travels to China and Ecuador for short term mission trips. Hedlund serves on the board for RAI (Restoration Associates Inc.) and HHH (Hope for the Hurting Home). She also volunteers for the South Whidbey Homeless Coalition, Good Cheer Food Bank and Thrift store, and the Freeland Library. She continues to marry couples and do mediations and arbitrations as a judge. Hedlund has served on the University of Northwestern Board of Trustees since 2016.