who is the los angeles county district attorney

by Royce McLaughlin 9 min read

George Gascón

Who can fire the district attorney?

George Gascón is the 43rd District Attorney for Los Angeles County. He took office on Dec. 7, 2020, and immediately instituted a series of policies based on science, data and research to bring change within the criminal legal system. He is working to build a national model of criminal justice reform that supports and restores crime victims and survivors while addressing mass …

What is the purpose of district attorneys?

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is the largest local prosecutorial office in the United States. Members of the District Attorney’s staff strive to vigorously, effectively and fairly prosecute all those who break laws in Los Angeles County and see that those convicted are appropriately punished.

Does the district attorney have powers of arrest?

1 day ago · LOS ANGELES — Since taking over as Los Angeles County's district attorney, George Gascon had refused to compromise on sweeping changes he said were needed to remake an office he believed was ...

Are county district attorneys appointed or elected?

Dec 06, 2019 · District Attorney election in Los Angeles County, California (2020) George Gascón defeated incumbent Jackie Lacey in the nonpartisan election for Los Angeles County District Attorney on November 3, 2020 . In the nonpartisan March primary, Lacey and Gascón advanced with 48.7% and 28.2% of the vote, respectively.

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Who is the current District Attorney of Los Angeles County?

George GascónGeorge Gascón is the Los Angeles County District Attorney in California. He assumed office on December 7, 2020. His current term ends on December 1, 2024....Footnotes.Political officesPreceded by Jackie LaceyLos Angeles District Attorney 2020 - PresentSucceeded by NA1 more row

How many district attorneys are in Los Angeles?

Nearly 1,000 attorneys, known as deputy district attorneys, prosecute serious crimes called felonies throughout Los Angeles County. They also prosecute less serious crimes known as misdemeanors in unincorporated areas and in 78 of the county's 88 cities.

Who is Jonathan Hatami?

Jonathan aka Jon Hatami is an attorney. The public appreciates him mainly for suing Pearl Fernandez and Isauro Aguirre for the murder of 8-year-old Gabriele Fernandez in May 2013. Jon is also a father, armed force veteran, and kid misuse survivor.

Who is the new DA in California?

George GascónIn 2011, after Kamala Harris was elected California Attorney General, Newsom appointed him to be the San Francisco district attorney....George GascónIncumbentAssumed office December 7, 2020Preceded byJackie Lacey28th District Attorney of San Francisco22 more rows

Who is the district attorney in California?

— Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón ran on a vow to shake up America's largest law enforcement jurisdiction. Sweeping progressive changes followed — and so has the California backlash.Jan 25, 2021

Are district attorneys elected?

A district attorney is a public official who is appointed or elected to represent the state in criminal judicial proceedings in a particular judicial district or county; an appointed or elected officer who prosecutes cases in a particular judicial district.

How many district attorneys are there in California?

58In reality, California's 58 elected district attorneys largely use their power to promote statewide criminal justice policies that are in opposition to the wishes of their constituencies.Aug 2, 2017

August 16, 2021: Montgomery Honored for Project LEAD Dedication

Congratulations to Deputy District Attorney Melita Montgomery who was named Project LEAD Facilitator of the Year.

July 13, 2021: Deputy District Attorney Sisak Certified in Advanced Cybersecurity

Deputy District Attorney Luke Sisak, of the Cyber Crimes Division, has received a cybersecurity certification that will benefit the prosecution of complex high-tech cases.

June 10, 2021: Child Abduction Unit Reunites Father, Daughter

Clutching a fuzzy stuffed bunny, the 5-year-old girl peered at her father she had not seen since she was 2. His worries that she wouldn't remember him quickly vanished.

June 8, 2021: POALAC Honors District Attorney Employees

Congratulations to the deputy district attorneys, investigators and support staff members who were honored recently by the Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County (POALAC).

June 7, 2021: D.A. Investigator Recognized for Military Service

Senior Investigator Edgar Murguia was honored May 29 by Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger at her annual Tribute to Veterans and Military Families.

May 5, 2021: Prosecutors Craft Juvenile Three Strikes Reform Legislation

To Deputy District Attorney Michael Mallano, it just seemed wrong for youths to face California’s Three Strikes Law without being given the same rights as adults.

March 24, 2021: Prosecutors Receive Anti-Defamation League Award

Deputy District Attorneys John Chang and Reginald Neal were recognized by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of Los Angeles.

Election procedure changes in 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Candidates and election results

George Gascón defeated incumbent Jackie Lacey in the general election for Los Angeles County District Attorney on November 3, 2020.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.

Noteworthy endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes links to endorsement lists published on campaign websites, if available. Please note that this list is not exhaustive.

Campaign ads

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us .

County election history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2016.

About the county

The county government of Los Angeles County is located in Los Angeles, California. The county was first established in 1850. It covers a total of 4,084 square miles in southern California. The county's population was 10,116,705 in 2014.

How many District Attorneys are there in Los Angeles County?

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office was created by an act of the California State Legislature on Feb. 27, 1850. There have been 43 District Attorneys who have served the county, starting with William C. Ferrell. You may learn more about each District Attorney below.

Who was the first district attorney in San Diego?

District Attorney William C. Ferrell – elected April 1, 1850, in a contest in which three hundred seventy-seven votes were cast – was the people's prosecutor in the First Judicial District, which included San Diego and Los Angeles counties.#N#District Attorney William C. Ferrell – elected April 1, 1850, in a contest in which three hundred seventy-seven votes were cast – was the people's prosecutor in the First Judicial District, which included San Diego and Los Angeles counties.#N#In fact, he lived in San Diego for part of the one-year term that he actually served. He was age 39 when elected, and had just arrived from North Carolina, where he had been an attorney. His income as District Attorney was largely derived from a 10 percent cut of civil judgments as well as fees paid from guilty criminal defendants' fines. In October 1850, when it became clear that the state legislature would soon require a District Attorney in each county – drastically cutting his income – Ferrell promptly quit. He would serve in other public positions in San Diego through the mid-1850s, on the first County Board of Supervisors, as county assessor and as District Attorney of San Diego County. Then, apparently as a way to thwart his growing dependence on alcohol, in 1860 he moved to Mexico, building an adobe home with a vegetable garden and a large vineyard on a remote mesa south of Tijuana. He died in Mexico in 1883.#N#Reprinted from For the People -- Inside the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office 1850-2000 by Michael Parrish. ISBN 1-883318-15-7

Where did Volney Howard practice law?

Volney Howard practiced law in San Francisco, but was asked to leave after he opposed the local vigilance committee. He was a respected lawyer in Los Angeles and was elected to four two-year terms as District Attorney.

Who was Benjamin Eaton?

Benjamin Eaton, arriving from New England, became District Attorney in 1853 and subsequently served as county assessor in 1857. Eaton was a founder of Pasadena, then the Rancho San Pasqual, and later encouraged people from Indiana to migrate to the area in the land boom of the 1870s.

Who was the first attorney general of California?

Originally from Mississippi, Edward J.C. Kewen was California's first Attorney General. Later, he moved to Los Angeles and entered politics, becoming superintendent of the Los Angeles City schools in 1858 and District Attorney a year later.

Who was General Ezra Drown?

General Ezra Drown, a brigadier-general of the militia in Iowa , came to Los Angeles in 1853. He, his wife and two small boys were aboard the steamship Independence as it traveled up the Mexican coast from the Isthmus of Panama.

Who was Kimball Dimmick?

New Yorker Kimball Dimmick came west as a United States Army officer. He then became an alcalde and Judge of the First Instance in San Jose under the military to statehood in 1849.

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