Meet
Will
Lathrop
Experienced prosecutor, proven leader, and dedicated public servant who has the vision and experience needed to restore our broken justice system by protecting children from abuse, reducing crime, holding drug traffickers accountable, and combating public corruption.
Oregon needs stronger, more effective leadership.
Will's executive leadership experience reflects his ability to manage multifaceted programs, drive strategic growth, and foster crucial relationships, all with the aim of improving community welfare. From prosecuting child sex-abuse cases in Oregon to leading efforts against human trafficking in Ghana, his focus on tangible outcomes highlights a relentless dedication to making a measurable difference in the communities he serves.
Oregon
Will embodies the values crucial for Oregon's progress. Hailing from six generations of Oregonians, his rural ranch upbringing instilled crucial traits—discipline, hard work, and integrity—foundational for community development. His extensive expertise in victim protection, law enforcement, and justice system reform fuels his ambition to tackle the surging crime and disorder in Oregon as our next attorney general.
Will's professional experience began in Marion County, Oregon.
He served as a deputy district attorney for nine years in Marion and Yamhill counties, specializing in prosecuting child sex abuse cases. During his time with Marion County, Will chaired the Sex Offender Protocol Board and served on the Oregon District Attorney Association's legislative committee where he reviewed crime legislation and testified as an expert to various legislative sub-committees.
His success as a prosecutor quickly took him to Alexandria, Virginia. In 2014 he was recruited by the National District Attorneys Association to provide technical assistance, best practices trainings, and innovative research and literature to district attorneys offices, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and child protective services across the nation.
Africa
Continuing his commitment to protecting victims and building functional justice systems, Will began working with a global human rights organization, International Justice Mission (IJM), in 2015 as an Office Director to lead its Northern Uganda office.
In Uganda, he led a multinational team to combat violent raids against widows and orphans after Uganda's 21-year civil war. His team was able to rescue hundreds of widows and orphans from violence and starvation, and work with police and prosecutors to convict several violent land raiders.
Who is Will Lathrop?
In 2018, Will was promoted at IJM to lead the West Africa anti-human trafficking operation based in Ghana, West Africa.
In collaboration with the U.S. State Department, the British Government, the German Government, and UNICEF, Will and his team of 70 professionals prosecuted child traffickers and rescued child slaves from the fishing industry on Lake Volta, the world's largest reservoir. His team also rescued women who were trafficked from West Africa to the Middle East for forced labor and sex. As a result of his team's work in Ghana, there has been an estimated 36% reduction in the number of children used as slaves in the fishing industry in Ghana, an unprecedented accomplishment in just a five-year period.
Will has the vision and experience needed to restore our broken justice system and rebuild trust in our government institutions.
Why now?
During his time in Ghana, Will made it a priority to return to Oregon every summer to visit family and friends. Each visit unveiled a concerning transformation in Portland's landscape, a gradual decay that gained momentum following the passing of ballot measure 110. Witnessing this accelerated decline in 2021, he resolved to take action and return to Oregon with the aspiration of becoming Oregon's next attorney general. His deep devotion to Oregon, combined with his desire to leverage his expertise in justice system reform, fuels his mission to curtail the deteriorating state of affairs and help revitalize this place we all call home.
Will now lives in Newberg with his wife Arminda and their 8-year-old son.
When not on the campaign trail, Will enjoys playing sports, the guitar, learning about foreign cultures and history, and spending time on his family's cattle ranch in Joseph.
