Tag Archive for: Assistant District Attorney

Rachel Solov, Assistant District Attorney

DA Stephan Appoints Rachel Solov as New Assistant District Attorney

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that she has appointed Rachel Solov to the position of Assistant District Attorney following the retirement of Dwain Woodley this month. She is the first woman to hold the number two post in the District Attorney’s Office.

During her time in the District Attorney’s Office, Solov has served in management roles as a team leader in North County, division chief of the Collaborative Justice Division, chief of Mental Health and Criminal Justice Reform Strategies, and as Chief Deputy District Attorney. As a Chief Deputy, Solov has supervised many divisions including Special Operations, Superior Court, Gangs, Juvenile, Economic Crimes and Consumer Protection, Insurance Fraud and Workplace Justice, Case Issuing, and Collaborative Justice.

In addition, she has worked closely with County Behavioral Health and other parts of the County to promote innovations that have advanced public safety.

“Rachel Solov brings exceptional leadership and prosecutorial experience, sound judgment and unique expertise to this critical public safety position as second in command in our office,” DA Stephan said. “Rachel’s statewide expertise in threat assessment and criminal justice innovations that address the intersection of mental health, addiction, homelessness and public safety are needed now more than ever. I look forward to working alongside Assistant DA Solov to fulfill our mission of pursuing a fair and equal justice for all, protection of victims of crime, prosecution of those who harm our neighborhoods and smart crime prevention.”

Solov, a career prosecutor, began in the DA’s Office as an intern with the Victim Witness program in 1994. She started her prosecutorial role in 1999 and has worked across numerous divisions in the DA’s Office including Superior Court, Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking, the North County branch, East County branch, Case Issuing, and the Collaborative Justice Division. Throughout her career Solov has prosecuted misdemeanors and felonies, sexual assault, sexually violent predators, stalking, threat, and homicide cases. She is a certified threat manager and has been recognized nationally for her significant contributions to the field of threat assessment and management.

“I am deeply honored to be selected by District Attorney Summer Stephan to serve as Assistant District Attorney,” Solov said. “Having spent my career as a prosecutor, I am committed to using my experience to advance public safety, support victims of crime, and ensure justice is pursued fairly and thoughtfully. It is a privilege to serve the residents of San Diego County and to work alongside the dedicated prosecutors and staff who carry out this important mission every day.”

Solov, 54, grew up in Los Angeles but has been part of the San Diego Community since attending and graduating Cum Laude from San Diego State University. She attended the University of San Diego Law School, graduating in 1998. While there, she served as executive editor of the San Diego Law Review.

The appointment is effective immediately.

Dwain Woodley spent 24 years in the District Attorney’s Office and had been Assistant DA since 2021.

“It is with deep gratitude that I bid Assistant DA Dwain Woodley a wonderful retirement,” DA Stephan said. “I’m so proud of all of ADA Woodley’s accomplishments that helped keep San Diego County one of the safest regions in the country through ethical prosecution and public service.”

American Bar Association Honors Assistant DA Woodley with Prestigious Award

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that Dwain Woodley, the Assistant District Attorney, was honored Friday with the American Bar Association Justice Section Curtin-Maleng Minister of Justice Award at a ceremony during the Criminal Justice Section Spring Meeting in Miami, Florida.

The Curtin-Maleng Award is bestowed on a prosecutor who embodies the principles enunciated in the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice, Prosecution Function, particularly that “the duty of the prosecutor is to seek justice, not merely to convict.”

Woodley was recognized because his continued and tireless work exemplifies three important principles: the prosecutor’s obligation to protect the innocent as well as to convict the guilty; the prosecutor must guard the rights of the accused as well as enforce the rights of the public; and the prosecutor’s commitment to the legal and ethical standards must be unwavering.

“Assistant District Attorney Dwain Woodley epitomizes the principles of integrity that every prosecutor should aspire to. He treats everyone with dignity and respect, leads with the clarity of purpose that justice demands and gives voice to the People of San Diego County. He has worked tirelessly to deliver fair and equal justice for all, protect victims of crime, build trust with the public and develop direct access to our office for all the communities we serve,” DA Stephan said. “I am proud to work alongside ADA Woodley to lead the fifth largest District Attorney’s Office in the nation and continue to build a model prosecutor’s office that balances the rights of victims, the rights of the accused and the right of the community to be safe.”

Assistant DA Woodley helped develop and lead the DA’s Community Partnership Prosecutors program which has been especially successful connecting the public with much-needed services around domestic violence, child abuse and hate crimes. He also works with the advocacy organization “For the People” on reviewing cases that might qualify for prosecutor-initiated resentencings.

A former public defender, Woodley joined the DA’s Office as a Deputy DA in 2001. He began his management track in 2008 serving as Assistant Chief of Central Pretrial and Disposition Division, Assistant Chief of Superior Court Division, Chief of Superior Court Division, Chief of the Juvenile Branch, and Chief of the South Bay Branch. In 2018, DA Stephan named Woodley Chief Deputy DA and in 2021 he was selected as the Assistant District Attorney.

Woodley served honorably in the United States Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1989-1995, where he was both a prosecutor and defense counsel. His last assignment in the military was a staff attorney for Office of General Counsel at the National Security Agency. He then served as a San Diego Deputy Public Defender before joining the District Attorney’s Office in 2001.

Woodley grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated from McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) and University of Maryland Law School and completed the Prosecutors for Now course at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Assistant District Attorney Dwain Woodley Receives Bayard Rustin Award

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that Dwain Woodley, the Assistant District Attorney, was honored Wednesday night with the San Diego Human Relations Commission’s Bayard Rustin Honors award at a ceremony at City Hall. [WATCH HIS AWARD SPEECH HERE]

The Bayard Rustin Honors awards celebrates San Diegans who work tirelessly as advocates or activists for equality and equity, social justice and community. Bayard Rustin was an American civil rights activist who was an adviser to Martin Luther King, Jr., and who was the main organizer of the March on Washington in 1963.

Woodley was recognized for his continued and tireless efforts in enhancing the equity, safety, and overall wellbeing of San Diego communities.

 “Dwain Woodley treats everyone with dignity and respect, giving a voice to the entire team and to the People of San Diego County,” DA Stephan said. “His leadership focuses on internal accountability and community-based partnerships. He has worked tirelessly to deliver fair and equal justice, support victims of crime, build trust with the public and develop direct access to our office for all the diverse communities we serve. I am proud to work alongside Assistant DA Dwain Woodley to continue to build a model prosecutor’s office that balances public safety and responsible criminal justice reform.”

Assistant DA Woodley helped develop and lead the DA’s Community Partnership Prosecutors program which has been especially successful connecting the public with much-needed services around domestic violence, child abuse and hate crimes. He also works with the advocacy organization “For the People” on reviewing cases that might qualify for prosecutor-initiated resentencings.

A former public defender, Woodley joined the DA’s Office as a Deputy DA in 2001. He began his management track in 2008 serving as Assistant Chief of Central Pretrial and Disposition Division, Assistant Chief of Superior Court Division, Chief of Superior Court Division, Chief of the Juvenile Branch, and Chief of the South Bay Branch. In 2018, DA Stephan named Woodley Chief Deputy DA and in 2021 he was selected as the Assistant District Attorney.

Woodley served honorably in the United States Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1989-1995, where he was both a prosecutor and defense counsel. His last assignment in the military was a staff attorney for Office of General Counsel at the National Security Agency. He then served as a San Diego Deputy Public Defender before joining the District Attorney’s Office in 2001.

“Dwain has been instrumental in further developing our office as one that reflects the diversity of the community we serve by striving to recruit and retain the most talented, diverse and inclusive workforce in order to improve our pursuit of a fair and equal justice for all,” DA Stephan said.

Woodley grew up in Baltimore Maryland and graduated from McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) and University of Maryland Law School and completed the Prosecutors for Now course at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.