Meet Deputy DA Deborah La Touche
In honor of Black History Month, which is celebrated throughout the month of February, the DA’s Office is featuring stories of employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service.
Meet Deputy District Attorney Deborah La Touche, who has been working at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office since 2004. She was born in the Bahamas and raised in Toronto, Canada. Prior to joining the DA’s Office, she was a Public Defender at the San Diego Public Defender’s Office. She is currently assigned to the Major Narcotics Unit but has worked in all the branches of the DA’s Office, including Family Protection and Insurance Fraud divisions. Currently, the bulk of her cases in the Major Narcotics Unit include drug trafficking and drug sales involving hard drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, fentanyl, and heroin.
What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office?
“There were several wonderful Judges who mentored me and urged me to consider the DA’s Office. When the opportunity to apply at the DA’s Office became open, I applied and was thrilled to be considered for a position. It was a great career move on many levels as I was able to expand my legal skills, work closely with victims, and pivot into various specialized areas of criminal law. Moreover, I was impressed with the community service work that the office does, and I had the privilege of heading up the Project LEAD program and spearheading the Success Agents program at the Juvenile Branch.”
What is your favorite part of the job?
“Every day is different and the job itself entails so much, that I don’t think there’s one favorite aspect of the job—maybe that’s what I enjoy so much—the variety.”
What does Black History Month mean to you, why is it important to you?
“I am impressed by the rich history that African Americans have made here in the USA—from building the White House to inventing peanut butter that is a staple in almost every household. As an attorney I appreciate the legacy that was built by Martin Luther King, Jr., Justice Thurgood Marshall, and Charles Hamilton Houston before him. They, along with countless others helped to lay the groundwork for me to witness history being made when the first African American man, Barack Obama, was elected as the 44th President of the United States. And later when the first woman of color, Kamala Harris, was elected as Vice President of the United States. We have a rich history in this country, and it is important that we celebrate it not only during Black History Month, but throughout the year.”
