Hedlund served as Hennepin County State District Court judge for 33 years. She previously worked in the Minnetonka City Attorney’s Office, as an attorney in private practice, and as public defender. Hedlund taught Criminal Law at University of Northwestern – St. Paul as an adjunct professor for 20 years.
Upon her retirement, Hedlund lived in Xinyang, China for six months, teaching English to college students with China Service Ventures. She continues to travel to China and Ecuador for short term mission trips.
Hedlund serves on the board for Restoration Associates Inc. (RAI) and Hope for the Hurting Home (HHH), which offers Christian counseling for couples contemplating divorce. She is also board member for Tiny Houses in the Name of Christ (THINC), which builds affordable rental workforce housing in the form of individual houses grouped in small communities.
Hedlund volunteers for the South Whidbey Homeless Coalition on Whidbey Island in Washington state, providing free legal advice and representation to homeless individuals. Other volunteer activities include work with the Freeland Library and the Good Cheer Food Bank and Thrift store. Hedlund also 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. Native to Robbinsdale, Hedlund lives in Washington on Whidbey Island and has three adult children.