San Diego County District Attorney

The San Diego County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for San Diego County, California. This office is responsible for the prosecution of both felony and misdemeanor violations of California state law that occur within the jurisdiction of San Diego County, California. Courts within their jurisdiction includes the San Diego Superior Court, the California Court of Appeal for the Fourth District, and the California Supreme Court. Federal law violations are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. The current District Attorney (since 2003) is Bonnie Dumanis. Her predecessor was Paul Pfingst.

As in most of California, some misdemeanor crimes are prosecuted by local city attorneys. City attorneys prosecute misdemeanors and infractions that are violations of the municipal code governing the incorporated city's jurisdiction. All other misdemeanor, felony, and infraction violations that occur within San Diego County are prosecuted by the district attorney.

The main office is located in Downtown San Diego in the Hall of Justice, with three regional centers in El Cajon, Chula Vista, and Vista. As of 2011 the District Attorney's office employs 310 attorneys.^[1]

The District Attorney's office claims a 94.1 percent conviction rate.^[2] The conviction rate for driving under the influence (DUI) in 2010 was 98% of 11,000 people charged with felony or misdemeanor DUI.^[3]

History

In the first 20 years of San Diego County there were 23 men that held the office of district attorney, the first being William C. Ferrell.^[4]

Partial List of District Attorneys

District Attorney	Took office	Left office	Party	Notes
William C. Ferrell	August 19, 1801	May, 1851
Thomas W.Sutherland1	1851	1852
James W. Robinson	1852	1856
Joseph R. Gitchell	1856	1858
James Nichol	1858	1859
William C. Ferrell	1859	1859
Dr. David B. Hoffman	1859	1861
Unknown 1
Unknown 2
Unknown 3
Unknown 4
Unknown 5
Unknown 6
Unknown 7
William T. McNealy	1870	1873		Youngest District Attorney ever elected at age 21
William T. McNealy	1873
Unknown 1
Unknown 2
Unknown 3
Unknown 4
Unknown 5
Unknown 6
Unknown 7
Unknown 8
Unknown 9
Unknown 10
Unknown 11
Unknown 12
Martin L Ward
Adelbert H. Sweet	1894	1861

References

1. "Criminal Justice System". Retrieved 2011-11-21.
2. "Conviction Rate". Retrieved 2011-11-21.
3. "Fewer getting injured, killed in DUI crashes". Retrieved 2011-11-21.
4. Gayle Falkenthal. "The District Attorney's Office: A Brief History" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-11-21.

External links

Coordinates: 33°01′N 116°46′W / 33.02°N 116.77°W